GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, a local internal medicine specialist says it is still important to stay healthy while living in the pandemic.
Dr. Abha Gupta Varma, MD, says COVID is not a reason to ignore your health; in fact, it is a call to get on top of it.
She offered us some tips on healthy living and lifestyle, like going out for a walk, making sure you are staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep.
If you are looking for a way to relax, she recommends downloading an app like CALM, which is a 10-minute daily guided breathing exercise.
She says mental health is of paramount importance. Getting sleep and meditating, walking, exercise all lead to mental well being. But do not be afraid to talk to your caring doctor about the need for a therapist, an antidepressant, or tools for getting through these tough times.
Dr. Varma says her personal COVID distraction was starting a YouTube channel called Culinary Karma- One Dish with Dr. Abha.
You can watch one of her videos below:
Some other tips to keep in mind:
Do not avoid your physician appointments. Instead, pay attention to hypertension, diabetes, weight, sleep apnea, COPD. smoking and physical well being, which are all more important than ever before.
Do not avoid the emergency room should you have concerns about stroke, heart attack, or any other possibly life-altering conditions. The fear of COVID-19 must be weighed against the fallout from unaddressed ailments. This makes attention to your overall health more pressing.
Do NOT smoke more or pick up vaping. We know that smoking already damages lungs, making them more susceptible to a COVID19 infection. Do not use this time of stress or uncertainty to pick up habits that have never been medically sound or healthful.