Tag Archives: COVID-19

Coping with COVID-19: Managing Stress and Anxiety

Posted on by

It’s hard to escape news updates about coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The constant headlines may make some people anxious. In particular, older adults, people with chronic health conditions, and caregivers are likely to be at higher risk for increased stress and anxiety, since they face a higher risk of illness if they contract the virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here’s what stress during an infectious disease outbreak can look like:

  • Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
  • Changes in sleeping or eating habits
  • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
  • Worsening of chronic health problems
  • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

You may not be able to control the virus, but you can help control your emotional reaction to it. Here are some smart strategies from the CDC to help you manage your anxiety: Continue reading →

12 Ways to Ease Isolation While You’re Practicing Social Distancing

Posted on by

To avoid the coronavirus, public health experts are advising people of all ages to stay home and practice social distancing as much as possible. This is particularly true for older adults and those with chronic medical conditions.

Those actions will go a long way to helping limit the spread of the virus and its impact on our health as well as on our health care systems, advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But social distancing and staying home may put some at greater risk for the unintended consequence of social isolation, a health concern that can be avoided or reduced with proper, proactive steps.

According to the National Institute on Aging, social isolation and loneliness are linked to higher risks for a variety of health problems. These include high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death.

“Social isolation is very harmful to your health and contributes to poor health outcomes, especially for older adults,” says Laurie Theeke, PhD, a nursing professor at West Virginia University and a nurse practitioner at WVU Medicine, in Morgantown, West Virginia.

These steps can help you stay connected with others and prevent loneliness during the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading →

How to Practice Social Distancing

Posted on by

Headlines and news reports are devoted to covering coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It’s easy to become overwhelmed and frightened, especially if you’re an older adult or have a chronic medical condition. For people in this group, the virus can be life-threatening or even fatal.

The current guidance for staying inside our homes may seem like an extreme overreaction. You may not know anyone who has actually caught the virus. Perhaps it hasn’t affected your community yet. However, public health experts such as the Centers for Disease Control say “social distancing” is essential for our personal and the public’s health. Social distancing means strictly limiting our contact with the outside world and keeping about six feet apart from other people. In fact, social distancing is the most effective action we can take to curb this potentially deadly virus.

Public health experts who have studied social distancing tell us that it works better to curb the spread of COVID-19 than even strictly enforcing quarantines. (This graphic simulation published by the Washington Post shows how well social distancing can work against the spread of an imagined virus).

“Every single reduction in the number of contacts you have each day with relatives, friends, co-workers, in school, will have a significant impact on the ability of the virus to spread in the population,” said Dr. Gerardo Chowell, chair of population health sciences at Georgia State University, to the New York Times.

Practices that can minimize the spread of COVID-19 include:

  • Practice social distancing
  • Avoid taking public transportation or making non-essential trips
  • Work from home if possible
  • Avoid social gatherings
  • Don’t patronize bars, restaurants, or movie theaters or visit places where people gather

When you must make essential trips, such as to the grocery store, pharmacy, or other public spaces:

  • Use a disinfectant wipe to cleanse anything you touch or use a tissue/napkin as a barrier
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and don’t touch your face
  • Most importantly, wash your hands vigorously and frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing “happy birthday” twice) as soon as you return home

How long will this last? We don’t know right now. But practicing good habits such as social distancing and careful hygiene will play a role in how well we manage to slow the spread of the virus.

Stay Empowered, Stay Informed

Five Things to Know Right Now About Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Posted on by

You may have heard a lot recently about “coronavirus” or COVID-19, the virus responsible for a current global outbreak. Scientists and health experts are still learning more, but here are five things to know to keep yourself and those you care for safe and informed.

1. What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a type of coronavirus, which is a family of viruses common in humans and many different animals. Viruses in this family can cause respiratory illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Cases of COVID-19 in particular can be mild, but others can be more severe and occasionally deadly—especially for those living with other chronic health conditions.

2. Where is it?

Click here for a list of countries impacted by COVID-19.

3. What are the symptoms and what should I do if I experience them?

In general, COVID-19 causes a respiratory illness that ranges from mild to severe, though for some it can be deadly. Symptoms, which usually appear 2 to 14 days after someone gets infected, can include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

If you have these symptoms, call your healthcare professional first, before visiting an office. Your healthcare professional will determine if your symptoms match COVID-19 and whether you should be tested. Also contact your healthcare professional if you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 and/or have recently traveled to an area where COVID-19 cases have occurred.

If you develop emergency warning signs such as difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately. Let the 911 operator know that you may have COVID-19 symptoms.

4. How does it spread?

Scientists are still learning more, but coronavirus appears to spread person-to-person during close contact with someone infected, specifically from respiratory droplets when that person coughs.

It appears COVID-19 may also be able to spread on household surfaces and in the air, so it’s always best to exercise as much caution as possible while scientists learn more.

5. How can I protect myself and others?

For now, the CDC recommends that older adults or those with chronic medical conditions consider postponing travel, especially to areas impacted by COVID-19.

Additionally, the CDC recommends everyone follow these everyday practices:

  • Stay at home as much as possible and avoid crowds or poorly ventilated areas.
  • Make sure you have access to several weeks of medications and supplies in case you need to stay home for prolonged periods of time.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water (or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol) for at least 20 seconds. Soap up and then sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice before you rinse off the soap. You should especially wash your hands after going to the bathroom; before eating; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and after encountering anyone who is or may be sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If a tissue isn’t readily available, sneeze or cough into your elbow to reduce the risk of spreading infection with your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning product.

Stay Empowered, Stay Informed