COVID19 FAQ

                     By Haeley Griffin

Contents

• Introduction
• Common FAQs
  • What is COVID-19?
  • Who is most at risk?
  • How do I find out where the outbreak is?
  • What are the symptoms?
  • What can I do to protect myself?
• Health tips do at home
• Healthy food habits to boost immunity
• Healthy breathing practices

Introduction

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread, understanding of the virus causes and complex elements continues to evolve. The vitalness of becoming an informed citizen is key to helping the emotions such as afraid, angry, uncertainty, and anxiety be controlled. Here are some common questions and healthy tips.

Common FAQs

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is caused by a new coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. This can then affect and spread between people. For more information, click here.

Who is most at risk?

The people most at risk are adults 65 years and up and those with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or compromised immune systems. For more information, click here.

How do I find out where the outbreak is?

You can find this US information section here.

What are the symptoms?

Fever. Cough. Shortness of breath. In some people anosmia (losing sense of smell and taste) and/or body ache. For more information, click here.

What can I do to protect myself?

Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the World Health Organization website and through your national and local public health authority such as CDC.

Healthy tips do at home

• Exercise Daily. W.H.O recommends 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week. Online classes, walking, and bodyweight lifts are perfect activities to take part in while staying quarantined.
• Prioritize fresh products when cooking meals at home. Prioritize fruits and vegetables over non-perishables.
• Avoid food waste. Consider freezing leftovers to have as another meal.
• Limit salt intake. Since it is more common now to rely on canned or processed foods, make sure to watch how much salt is in the foods you are eating. WHO recommends consuming less than 5 g of salt per day.
• Clean surfaces and commonly touched surfaces multiple times a day.

Healthy food habits to boost immunity

• Citrus fruits. These fruits help to build your immune system.
• Eating fruits and vegetables with every meal. This part of the food group is packed with essential vitamins and nutrients.
• Stay hydrated. Good hydration is very important for optimal health.
• Include leafy greens in your meals. Arugula, kale, and spinach are perfect examples to increase disease-fighting cells.
• Eating low-fat yogurt. This is a great mid-day snack that is high in vitamins.

Healthy breathing practices

Something as simple as breathing can help both your body and your mind. It can lower your heart rate, decrease blood pressure, reduce tension and help you feel less stressed overall. Here is one exercise to try out:

• To begin, sit in a chair in a comfortable position. Place your hands on your lap, with your back straight and your feet on the floor. You can also lie down on a couch or bed. Close your eyes if you wish.
• Tune in to how you're feeling. Are you relaxed or stressed? Is your mind calm or full of racing thoughts? Is your breath slow and full or fast and shallow? Is your body at ease or are your muscles tense?
• Breathe slowly and deeply through your nose to the count of 1...2...3...4.
• Now breathe out slowly through your mouth to the count of 1...2...3...4.
• Repeat this four times.
• Feel the release in your body and mind as you breathe in, and feel all the tightness leave as you breathe out. Like an ocean wave, let your breath gently carry any thoughts or tension away.
• When you're ready, slowly open your eyes and bring your attention back to the room around you.

Click here for more information on healthy breathing by US News Health.