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The Incredible Ramification of Exercise on Diabetes

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Exercise on Diabetes

As of 2020, over 35 million Americans have diabetes and at least 88 million others have symptoms of pre-diabetes. The cumulative medical costs that are related to the chronic condition have exploded to 327 billion annually. The benefits of exercise on diabetes is immense and need to be taken seriously by millions of Americans and people worldwide.

These are worrying statistics that spark many questions about what is happening in the current health world. For anyone with diabetes or almost any other disease, the benefits of exercise cannot be underrated.

Exercise helps lower blood pressure, control weight, raise healthy HDL cholesterol, minimize harmful LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, reduce anxiety, strengthen bones and muscles, and enhance general well-being.

Benefits of Exercise on Diabetes

There are more benefits for anyone with diabetes; exercise reduces glucose levels in the blood and boosts the body’s sensitivity to insulin which counters insulin resistance. Moreover, exercise is considered to be a transforming pill that comes without any side effects.

Although exercise is normally seen to help in diabetes prevention, not many patients with the disease engage in the recommended level of physical activity. In the United States, only 40% of diabetes patients engage in exercise therapy which just 28.2% of them achieve the recommended physical activity levels.

Physical activity is proven to play an integral role in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes but many people with this chronic disease are not regularly active. Although the data from that survey is a small percentage of the general population, it reflects an expensive predicament in modern-day society.

Health and wellness education has evolved among media platforms recently. But, patients and susceptible people are still failing to meet the call. The data from the study should not be depressing and is not meant to instill any fear.

In reality, many barriers prohibit people with chronic conditions from exercising and it is not their fault. Society should inspire a message of hope and the experts should simplify exercises to make them attractive.

The Reality

The future is bright for those who are serious about fighting chronic diseases with physical activity.

Exercise is the diabetes medication that is free if you administer it correctly. But, it is a part of a bigger puzzle that also includes proper nutrition, sleep, and stress management practices.

All these factors must be considered to minimize the prevalence of the chronic disease. Always speak to health professionals before starting exercise regimes to ensure that you are doing it correctly.

Many benefits are associated with exercising your body.

In the field of chronic disease, exercise helps in the:

· improvement of blood glucose control

· prevention of type 2 diabetes

· decreasing the rate of cardiovascular events · increase of mitochondrial biogenesis

· lowering of blood pressure

· positively affecting lipid levels

Beyond all these factors, there is a physiological mechanism that is outstanding. Doctors say that exercise can work nearly as powerful as insulin in regards to diabetes.

The Exercise Pill While resting, regulation of muscle glucose uptake relies mainly on the insulin hormone. The uptake happens through GLUT 4 transporters. These transporters carry glucose out of the bloodstream. In the case of type 2 diabetes, there is a mismanagement of blood glucose as a result of issues with insulin production or resistance.

The imbalance results in various symptoms like hunger, thirst, fatigue, urination, and multiple fluctuations in the levels of blood glucose. But, all this can be prevented or managed if one is already diabetic.

Exercise on Diabetes

Research has proven that exercise can change calcium and ATP levels in a manner that manages GLUT 4 transporters and proper glucose uptake into skeletal muscle irrespective of the prevailing insulin levels.

Acute exercise is proven to activate alternative molecular signals that can easily bypass the defects in insulin signaling in skeletal muscle. That results in an insulin-independent increase in glucose absorption.

According to Standford & Goodyear, exercise-induced adaptations to skeletal muscle are necessary to prevent and fight type 2 diabetes.

The best part of it all is that this exercise routine is free.

Doses Can Even Be Ten Minutes Only

The benefits of exercising are many and complex but the effort put in is quite simple. For instance, 150 min/wk of physical activity coupled with diet-induced weight loss reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 58% in an at-risk population. More findings indicate that exercise alone is a great strategy for mitigating and preventing this condition.

The recommended guidelines for Type 2 diabetes are the 150min/week spread across at least three days in a week in 10-minutes segments or more. Doctors suggest that individuals with severe cases of obesity can target the 200–250-minute mark per week as time goes.

Starting an exercise habit can be quite intimidating but it is always good to start even small by even walking just 10 minutes per day. You can go on a bike ride, walk regularly in the morning, engage in a new sport, play outside with the children more often, or even join a training team.

Exercise on Diabetes

Getting into a routine even a healthy habit involves more of psychology than physiology. But once a rhythm is formed, there is always room for growth. Thus, 10-minute walks if done consistently can go a long way to open doors for many health benefits. Some of the

benefits include prevention of other chronic diseases, enhanced emotional regulation, elevated mood, and so much more. The small sacrifice results in astronomical gains.

The Takeaway

Whether you feel healthy or have a chronic disease like type 2 diabetes, exercise is for everyone. It combats a lot of illnesses, and it is entirely free to acquire. But the real challenge lies in consistency. It is easy to start exercising but quite challenging to keep up the habit in the long-term.

Healthy living should be a norm for anyone, and everyone who wishes to avoid various illnesses, and exercise is a component of the life-changing ‘pill’.

Are You Guilty of These Negative Health Behaviors?

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This year has made it clear how important it is to take care of your health. With all the differing opinions on what’s best and all the work you have to put in, it can be easy to slip into negative health behaviors. Here are three such behaviors you should avoid falling into.

Relying Too Much on Natural Medicine

Natural medicine isn’t inherently a bad thing. Despite what some would have you believe, modern medicine isn’t inherently bad either. It is unwise to rely too much on natural medicine though.

To do so ignores the enormous amounts of research and progress that has been made regarding the best healthcare practices. This has the potential to put your health at risk if you refuse treatments that have proven effective in favor of natural remedies that may or may not work.

Instead, as BetterHealth suggests, supplement modern treatments with natural medicine under the direction of your doctor.

Self-Diagnosing

With a wealth of information about different diseases literally at your fingertips, it can be tempting to do a quick search of any symptoms you might be experiencing to figure out what’s going on. This isn’t always the best idea though.

According to Podium, while the internet is a great resource, it also contains a lot of inaccurate medical information. Self-diagnosing based on information obtained on Dr. Google can lead to inaccurate assumptions and unnecessary stress.

This can compound whatever it is that you’re dealing within the first place. Diagnoses are best left for healthcare professionals. If you think they got it wrong, get a second opinion in lieu of a self-diagnosis.

Making Excuses

Taking care of yourself takes work and discipline. It’s often difficult to get the right amount of exercise and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Too often, people tend to make excuses for living an unhealthy lifestyle.

While it may make them feel better in the short term, this unhealthy behavior perpetuates an unhealthy way of living. Instead of finding all the reasons why you can’t or shouldn’t take care of your health, find ways to overcome those obstacles.

You’ll empower yourself to live a healthy life, complete with the knowledge that you made it happen.

It’s important for you to do your best to take good care of your health and avoid negative behaviors that can cause you harm. Relying too much on natural medicine, self-diagnosing, and making excuses for poor behaviors will only hurt you in the long run.

Take action now to kick any negative health habits or behaviors you might have to reap the benefits of living a healthy life.

Read this next: How to Take Care of Your Health in School This Semester

Who is Helping Develop a Vaccine for COVID-19?

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Concerns about the coronavirus abound. Many people are fearful, and understandably so. There is so much we don’t know about how it works and what treatments can be used to help those who contract COVID-19. In an attempt to combat the illness, there are many people who are working to develop a vaccine.

Pharmaceutical Companies

For all the complaints about Big Pharma and the conspiracy theories surrounding it, there are some definite advantages to wielding that degree of power and amount of money. Currently, it means that pharmaceutical companies are well positioned to undertake the enormous task that is research and development for a vaccine.

Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, and Pfizer are among the pharmaceutical companies who have begun working to develop a vaccine to varying degrees of success. Johnson & Johnson had begun a human trial but stopped it due to unexplained illness in a participant. Sanofi has begun human trials, though results likely won’t be forthcoming until the end of the year.

Pfizer, who teamed up with Germany’s BioNTech, has also been performing human trials and have reported a measure of success in producing an immune response.

Government Agencies

Government agencies aren’t sitting idly by either. The CDC has a broad mission to promote various avenues of public health. The Department of Health and Human Services is getting involved as well through the National Institutes of Health.

More specifically, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is involved in the clinical research process of developing a vaccine. They are also able to provide support and funding for external research institutions who can further research and development efforts.

NIAID has a vaccine they have developed in partnership with Moderna Inc, a biotechnology company, that is currently in clinical testing. 

Universities

The United States is far from alone in attempts to develop a vaccine. Universities from around the world are participating in research and development. The University of Oxford in England and the University of Queensland in Australia are hard at work trying to create a viable vaccine.

Oxford partnered with AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical company. They began clinical testing in April. It was stopped in September due to possible side effects, but later resumed. Queensland expects to enroll participants in their trial from December 2020 through March 2021 and anticipate rolling out a vaccine later in the year if the trial is successful.

There are many people involved in the process of developing a vaccine to combat COVID-19 and the coronavirus that causes it. Pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and universities are all heavily involved in research and development projects that will hopefully lead to success soon. For those suffering or at high risk, it can’t come soon enough.

Read this next: How to Calm Your Pandemic-Related Anxiety

How to Calm Your Pandemic-Related Anxiety

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Pandemic -related anxiety is running rampant for many in the midst of COVID-19. Not only are anxiety-provoking situations becoming more and more common, many people’s lives have completely changed in the last few months.

While it can be overwhelming and an unsure experience for everyone, pandemic-related anxiety is more common than you may think. If this is an issue you are dealing with, there are many things that you can do to help.

Follow a Routine

Following a routine, especially during such uncertain times as a pandemic, will help you to feel some sense of normalcy. Making sure to get the work you need to get done finished earlier in the day, if possible, will help you to be able to wind down at night and avoid extra stress.

Covid Anxiety

Keeping a schedule written down will help you have something to physically check off in order to avoid getting too stressed about the things that you need to get done. Having a routine will help you to stay in the same habits you had before and help to readjust to the post-pandemic world.

Get Better Sleep

Going to bed earlier and unplugging from the screens at least thirty minutes before bedtime will help you to unwind from the day and fall asleep faster. Playing nature sounds or soft music can help people fall asleep as well as weighted blankets. Guided meditation and apps that will help you to calm down before sleeping are also helpful.

Journaling, baths, and meditation are calming and quieter options that will allow you to think through things and destress before bed and may help you feel less anxious in the morning. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it is relaxing and not a source of stress for you.

Use CBD

CBD is a great form of anxiety relief for many people. Not only does it have many benefits for anxiety, but it can also help those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and insomnia.

Covid Anxiety

CBD should only be used where it is both legal and doctor supported if needed. While CBD can work for many people, there are still some that may have side effects from it such as fatigue or digestive issues. Use caution and speak to a healthcare provider before use and stop if any side effects happen.

Adopt an Emotional Support Animal

Animals are a great source of anxiety relief for many people, but they can be a problem if you have allergies. However, there are hypoallergenic animals that could be a good fit for you.

There are many different breeds of puppies with unique qualities and personalities. Getting a puppy, or a senior dog, may be a great fit for you and will help you to lower your anxiety. If you’re not a fan of dogs, or if you’re allergic, cats and other animals can also make good companions for those with anxiety.

Emotional Support Animals, or ESAs, are commonly used for those with mental health concerns and make good companions that can help you stay grounded and calm when anxiety attacks hit. You’ll want to research the process of getting an ESA in your area and work with a professional to get the paperwork done.

See a Therapist if your fighting Pandemic-related anxiety

Talking to a therapist about what you’re thinking, and feeling is one of the best ways for many people to treat their mental health concerns. Whether it is a one-time visit, or ongoing care, a therapist can help you work through what you’re feeling and help you develop healthy and effective coping strategies to use now and in the future.

Talking with a therapist can be very helpful to all people, whether you’re struggling with anxiety or not. If you’re concerned about seeing a therapist in person, there are some places that offer care through apps and phone calls.

Limit Media Exposure

Social media can make anyone feel overwhelmed, but if you’re already struggling with pandemic-related anxiety, you should consider limiting your time behind the screen as much as possible.

Pandemic Induced Anxiety
Pandemic induced Anxiety

Setting app time limits is a good way to help you stay away from apps and not waste time and energy by scrolling through the Facebook arguments on your feed.

Limiting the amount of screen time you have that isn’t necessary for work or for school can help you to sleep better at night and reduce your overall anxiety level by a significant amount.

Get Outdoors

Getting outside more often and soaking in the sun and fresh air is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety. Going on walks around the block, going for a hike, swimming with family at the lake, walking to the mailbox, or even just sitting on the front porch for a few minutes are all ways to get outside for a few minutes.

Not only is it better for your overall mental health to be outside more often, but it can also help give your eyes a break from looking at a screen. Whatever activities you choose to do, making sure to spend time away from the distractions and taking a second to check in with yourself can help lower your anxiety.

Be Patient with Yourself

Dealing with anxiety under normal circumstances can be exhausting and difficult, but adding a global pandemic just makes it a lot worse. However, you have to be patient with yourself and with your mental health during this time, especially.

Knowing that you’re not alone might help you feel a bit better about struggling with pandemic-related anxiety. Being patient with yourself will help you to get through the day a little easier and to know that it is okay to be stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed during so many changes in the world.

Anxiety is a scary thing for anyone to deal with, and pandemic-related anxiety is no different. If you are currently struggling with anxiety, know that you are not alone and that there are things you can do and people who can help.

Whether that’s speaking with a therapist or adopting an emotional support animal, there are things that you can do to help ease your anxiety and make life a little easier.

Read this next: What to Look for When Shopping for a Cannabis Product

How to Take Care of Your Health in School This Semester

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When in college, health in school was easy. Now become consumed with homework and projects. It might seem like classes take up all of your time, but there’s a lot more to keep track of. Make sure you are evaluating and attending to all your health needs.

Protect your Health in School During the Pandemic

On a college campus it can be difficult to maintain social distancing. Even with the measures that have been taken, you are still likely to interact with many people. For example, if you have in person classes it’s important to take safety measures.

Health in School

Wash your hands frequently and make sure you are wearing a mask. Try to maintain six feet of distance when possible. Always sanitize where you’re sitting since you have know way of knowing how well the last person sitting there sanitized. Take precautions everywhere you go to prevent contracting or spreading COVID-19.

Don’t Forget Your Mental Health

For college students, it can be easy to overlook certain aspects of health. You already have a lot to fit into your schedule and it can be difficult to balance it all. However, it is essential that you still look after your mental health.

Your mind needs attention too and if you don’t look after it then everything else will suffer. Your brain needs adequate sleep and physical activity to perform school tasks. Set aside time in your schedule to get plenty of sleep. Keep track of your stress levels and find activities that help you relax. Take study breaks often and don’t forget to socialize (safely).

Make Sure You’re Moving

You might groan at the thought of exercise, but it can really benefit your education. When you exercise your brain releases endorphins. These endorphins are known to be relaxing and stress relieving. If you’re feeling worried about a test or overwhelmed by schoolwork, try getting your heart rate up for 30 minutes. Go for a walk or run. Do a quick dance routine.

Maybe you can take a couple of swings at a punching bag. It’s also possible to fit exercise into your schedule. Walk or bike to class. Add workout classes to your schedule or join an intramural team. Keeping your body moving can help lower stress as well as improve your mental health and sleep quality.  

Getting an education might be the main focus of college, but you shouldn’t let everything else fall to the side. Above everything else, you should be taking care of yourself. Find a good balance and make sure you address all your health needs.

Read this next: Tools That Every Person Should Use to Fight COVID-19

What to Do About Terrible Tooth Pain

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Suffering tooth pain is one of the worst things you can experience. It can be even worse if a younger child or family member is suffering from mouth pain. Thankfully, there are some tactics you can do to alleviate and fix your toothache. Here are some expert recommendations.

Temporary Pain Relief

These are by no means perfect solutions to toothaches, but if you are unable to find a dentist in time, these can be great ways to ease pain until you can. Pain medication is something you should first try. If you do not have pain medication, you can try saltwater rinsing.

By mixing a half-teaspoon of salt into a glass of water, you can alleviate pain by swishing the water around in your mouth. This is a great alternative for kids if you do not feel comfortable giving them medication. If you are still looking to numb, you can use an ice bag and place it against the sore area of your mouth.

Find a Dentist

Finding a dentist is the preferred way of tackling painful toothaches. If you already have a preferred dentist, call them immediately to get an appointment. If not, there are a few different resources you can use to find one.

Checking online for a dentist is practical and timesaving. If a dentist lists membership in professional organizations on their profile, it could be an indication of a good fit. You might want to ask close friends and family members for recommendations for dentists. These suggestions can be the most useful to you.

Daily Tooth Care

While this may be more preventative, occasionally your teeth will hurt because they have something irritating them. By ensuring daily dental care, you will have a lower chance of toothaches which will ultimately save you money.

Tooth Pain

Make sure you are brushing your teeth every day. Dentists generally recommend you brush once in the morning and once in the evening. Flossing should also be done regularly, and will clean the impossible to reach areas your brush cannot. If you have a retainer, make sure you wear it regularly, as not wearing it can cause your teeth to shift into painful positions.

There are many ways to fight off toothaches. However, most of them can be prevented. Treat your teeth with respect by scheduling cleanings and daily efforts to keep your oral hygiene in good health. If you do have one, contact your dentist—he will be able to help you feel better.

Read this next: How Your Teeth Affect Your Health

Tools That Every Person Should Use to Fight COVID-19

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Fight Covid-19

COVID-19, or the coronavirus, has been turning the world on its head. It has been destructive. You’re probably constantly bombarded by pandemic numbers every day, so this article won’t be focusing as much on the numbers. Instead, it will focus on what you can do to fight COVID-19—both to protect yourself and those around you.

Social Distancing

Social distancing is putting physical distance between you and others. This prevents unneeded contact between people so that if either party is infected with the virus, they will not spread it to the other.

Studies have shown that particulates (such as spit when somebody coughs) can fly up to six feet. That is why the recommended distance to stay apart is six feet. However, just because you are maintaining your physical distance does not mean you should not have any social interaction at all.

In fact, it’s more important than ever to continue talking to friends and doing things with other people. Get creative about things you can do with others online or at a distance. There are many social activities you can do while still maintaining your distance.

Mask Wearing

COVID-19 transmission is most likely to happen before symptoms appear. This means that you or others around you could be carrying the virus without you knowing. And that’s a little scary. How do people keep from getting others sick if they don’t know if they are sick?

That is why mask wearing is especially important, even when you are feeling well. Mask wearing can prevent you from spreading your germs to others, and it could even protect you. Please wear your mask whenever in public, especially if you are indoors or if keeping a six foot distance will be an issue.

Sanitation

Now is not the time to stop practicing good hygiene. It is time to wash your hands more than ever, clean surfaces frequently, wash your food properly and safely, clean your home and simply be a clean human. It may seem impossible to not touch your face. This is a way to combat that habit. Good cleaning practices help to kill the virus, and keeps the virus from staying anywhere long enough to get into your system. This is a great time to jump on that New Year’s Resolution to be a little cleaner.

COVID-19 is causing a lot of damage, but some of that damage extends beyond the disease itself. Don’t forget to take care of yourself in other ways. Eat well, exercise, get enough sleep, and spend time with your loved ones. People need you as much as you need them. Reach out, and you can pull through this. It isn’t the time to give up. It’s time to fight COVID-19.

Read this next: How to Protect Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

How to Keep Your Senses Sharp as You Get Older

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keep your senses sharp

Aging brings with it a whole other realm of different medical issues, physical changes, and lifetime milestones. As you head into this exciting phase of life, it’s important to allocate specific attention to keeping your senses sharp. This article will walk you through three areas of your health to pay particular attention to.

Vision

It’s a no-brainer that you’ll want to maintain your vision as long as possible and there are a few key things that you can do to ensure that your eyes stay healthy. Get into the habit of doing little things like wearing sunglasses outside and using eye drops to moisturize your eyes. Doing these little things can make a big difference when maintained over a longer period of time.

In addition to making simple lifestyle habits, it’s important to be aware of certain eye issues that you might face in the future. Some of these include cataracts and glaucoma. According to UCF Health, when you know the warning signs for these particular issues, you’ll be able to spot and treat them quicker which will allow you to maintain strong eyesight over a longer period of time.

Hearing

Maintaining your hearing becomes increasingly important as you age as hearing loss can have many adverse effects. For example, according to Audien Hearing, hearing loss can contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia.

In order to maintain your hearing and prevent the onset of certain diseases, be sure to avoid loud noises. Getting into the habit of listening to quiet music and turning the TV down a bit will help you prolong your hearing. If you can’t always avoid loud noises, use ear plugs or earmuffs as a way to block out some of the sound.

Mental Faculties

Of all things that you want to maintain as you get older, your memory and your sharpness of mind are among those most important. Engaging your brain in different exercises can help you keep those faculties functioning well.

One extremely beneficial exercise to incorporate into your routine is chess. According to Mind Lab Pro, playing chess engages the problem-solving and reasoning sections of the brain. It also improves memory and can increase attention span.

As you age, it may seem overwhelming to ensure that you are doing all that is necessary to keep up on your health. With so many suggested check-ups, medications, and exercises, where do you start? If you’re struggling with figuring it out, the above things are great ways to start.

Read this next: How to Protect Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

How to Protect Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Mental health during Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on more than just people’s physical health. The increased fear and worry, combined with the decreased option for in person interactions with friends and others outside of your immediate household has threatened the mental health of many.

Social distancing measures that restrict physical contact haven’t helped either. It’s important that you take steps to protect your mental health during this pandemic. So what can you do?

Take Breaks from the News

The news is in a majority sense a very negative platform. It’s not healthy to take in excessive negativity. It can actually damage your brain chemistry. Because of this, it’s a good idea to take breaks from the news periodically.

Things won’t suddenly get worse because you stop monitoring the news for a short while. If you feel an overwhelming need to stay informed, designate someone else to give you important updates periodically until you’re done with your break.

Work on your Mental Health during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Speaking of communicating with people, staying social is an important part of protecting your mental health. True, social distancing has kind of put a bit of a halt on getting close to other people, but it doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to socialize.

Social distancing doesn’t mean cutting off contact from friends and family. There are lots of ways you can still connect with other people. Use social media to keep up with friends and update them on how you’re doing.

Take some time to connect with people over the phone. If you’re feeling a bit old fashioned, try writing a letter. You can even try masking up and spending some time in the physical company of other people. Just make sure you stay at least six feet away.

Practice Self Care

With the increased isolation, you might think that taking some time for yourself might be the opposite of what you need to protect your mental health, but that’s far from true. Self care is an important part of maintaining your mental health.

This can include things like staying physically active, making an extra effort to eat healthy, and taking some time to do something that you enjoy. These healthy practices will help you feel better mentally and physically.

The negative emotions brought on by excessive news coverage, the isolation that can result from social distancing, and the tendency to neglect yourself can take a serious toll on your mental health.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, it’s more important now than ever for you to take steps to protect your mental health. By doing so you will empower yourself to more readily face the challenges that face you.

Read this next: How to Make Your Relaxation Techniques More Effective

Is it Safe to Visit a Doctor’s Office?

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One of most frequently asked questions during the COVID-19 pandemic has been whether or not it’s safe to visit a doctor’s office. There are some inherent risks of going to a doctor’s office, but in some cases, a visit is necessary.

Here are some points to think about to help you decide whether or not to visit your doctor.

Know the Risks

Before you decide to visit a doctor’s office, you should educate yourself on the risks of doing so. Every individual will experience a different amount of risk when visiting a doctor’s office. Your risk level will be determined according to your age, location, occupation, and current physical health.

If you are immunocompromised, you will be at a higher risk level than someone who is not. If you are at a high-risk level and your doctor’s visit is not essential, it may be a good idea to wait until your risk level decreases.

Precautions You Can Take

If visiting a doctor’s office is essential for you, make sure to take the necessary precautions before traveling. Wearing a mask, washing or sanitizing your hands often, and limiting the size of your party to only the essential people are examples of precautions you should consider taking. You can also make sure to eat healthy, drink lots of water, and get enough vitamins and nutrients.

Doctors across the country are also striving to stay safe by taking precautions. Many doctor’s offices are implementing phone screenings prior to appointments, limiting staff and accompanying family members, regular deep cleaning, video visits, and staff PPE.

The CDC has provided doctors with many recommendations for how to prevent the spread in waiting rooms. While you still might experience the risk of contamination in a waiting room, you can generally trust that doctors are doing their best to keep you safe.

When Should I See a Doctor in Person?

There are some situations where physically visiting the doctor’s office is absolutely necessary. If you are experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, or other heart attack symptoms, call 911.

Do this if you experience sudden numbness, weakness, confusion, loss of vision, or other stroke symptoms as well. If you are having difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, high fever, or traumatic injuries, head to the doctor right away. Don’t avoid your doctor, especially in the case of a medical emergency.

In this time of uncertainty, it might not be easy to tell whether or not you should visit your doctor or not. However, as you weigh the risks, take the necessary precautions, and prioritize safety, you will be as protected as possible.

Read more great advice in this other article: The E-Healthy News Guide to Covid 19