Immune enhancers for COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2, also known as COVID-19, is a novel coronavirus that began sweeping the globe at the end of 2019, causing mild illness in some patients while leading to devastating shock, immune dysregulation, multiorgan failure, and even death in others. Immune dysregulation may lead to increased susceptibility to severe disease from COVID-19. Immune enhancers could aid in immune regulation and protect against severe COVID-19 infection. Herbal supplements, spices, and lifestyle modifications have been shown to enhance immune responses to a number of pathogens, which may include COVID-19. These immune enhancers could be used adjunctively with vaccines, social distancing, and pharmacologic treatments to prevent life-threatening infection in susceptible patients. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Changes in lifestyle, adiposity, and cardiometabolic markers among young adults in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on public health in several ways. The aim of the study was to investigate changes in lifestyle, adiposity, and cardiometabolic markers among young adults in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic and their determinants. METHODS: The study included 1 004 participants from the population-based birth cohort BAMSE. Anthropometrics, body composition (bioelectric impedance analyses), pulse, and blood pressure were measured before (December 2016-May 2019; mean age 22.6 years) and during (October 2020-June 2021; mean age 25.7 years) the COVID-19 pandemic. Lifestyle changes during the pandemic were assessed through a questionnaire. RESULTS: All measures of adiposity (weight, BMI, body fat percentage, trunk fat percentage) and cardiometabolic markers (blood pressure, pulse) increased during the study period (e.g., body fat percentage by a median of + 0.8% in females, p < 0.001, and + 1.5% in males, p < 0.001). Male sex, non-Scandinavian ethnicity, BMI status (underweight and obesity), and changes in lifestyle factors, e.g., decreased physical activity during the pandemic, were associated with higher increase in BMI and/or adiposity. CONCLUSION: Lifestyle factors, adiposity and cardiometabolic markers may have been adversely affected among young adults in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the preceding years. Targeted public health measures to reduce obesity and improve healthy lifestyle are important to prevent future non-communicable diseases.

Improving Prevention: From Screening to Qualified Rehabilitation

In recent health care studies an alarming increase of lifestyle-associated risk factors (such as obesity and physical inactivity) was observed in general population;the corona pandemic will increase this development. Therefore, better educational efforts (particularly in populations with low socioeconomic status) and governmental measures (e.g. smoking prevention and regulations for healthy diet) are needed.For cardiovascular screening and risk stratification in individuals, the European guidelines recommend SCORE2 and risk modifiers (imaging by carotid ultrasound or coronary computer tomography, psychosocial and ethnic factors, comorbidities). More complex tools of risk stratification (including genetics, artificial intelligence) can be expected in the future;however, they are currently not recommended for routine use.In most patients with cardiovascular diseases long-term risk factor control does not meet the targets of international guidelines. Intensive prevention programs, performed by prevention assistants under physician supervision, have demonstrated in clinical studies that they are effective to improve risk factor control and reduce events as well as costs. Therefore, a curriculum for cardiovascular prevention assistance was introduced in the last year in Germany as a standard of education for prevention assistants, who can now improve long-term prevention efforts in clinical practice.

The impact of physical activity on well-being, lifestyle and health promotion in an era of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 variant.

We must recognize the limitations of the current situation and vaccines where SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to transform and spread and need to build strategies to maintain and promote health in adherence to the suggested recommended action of the WHO. The purpose of this review is to examine the literature and latest research on the effects of physical activity (PA) on health in preparation for the SARS-CoV-2 strain and future infectious diseases era. In addition, it provides some general guidelines for actionable PA. We performed a literature search using Scopus, Riss, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar, this review method was a narrative literature review of the available literature and latest literature regarding health and PA-related factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, PA suggests opportunities to not only maintain and promote health by strengthening the immune system in an era where the COVID-19 variant is a crisis but also implement opportunities for well-being (WB), healthy lifestyles, and long-term health improvement. In particular, maintaining a regular PA routine outdoors or at home could be an important means to lower infection rates and maintain health during the potential impact of the current COVID-19 crisis and future pandemics (i.e. dramatic moments). The clinical relevance of the present review is crucial to understanding the impact of PA on WB, lifestyle, physical and mental health, maintaining regular PA, and important preventive factor to better prepare for the era of COVID-19 variants and similar pandemics in the future as it is emphasized as a prevention strategy and key strategy for continuous health promotion.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Dubai.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on glycemic control and accompanying laboratory parameters in patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. METHODS: This study is a retrospective cohort study that was done on a multicenter level. It was conducted during the lockdown in 341 individuals. HbA1c was tested to measure glycemic control immediately before and after the lockdown period that lasted for 13 weeks. RESULTS: The primary outcome was the improvement of mean HbA1C after 13 weeks of lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown HbA1C. It was found that the mean HbA1C improved from 7.5±1.5 to 7.3±1.5 with a p-value of 0.001. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus exhibited an improvement in their glycemic control after the period of lockdown.

Promoting healthy lifestyles using information technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this pandemic era there exist a relationship between a sedentary lifestyle during lockdown with periods of anxiety and stress among the population. Moreover, the population with chronic disease will be vulnerable to the ill effects of a physically inactive lifestyle. Besides, social media platforms and technological advances also appear to be another potential tool for promoting health and wellbeing, however, the capability of these interventions during the pandemic era is largely unknown. To explore the possible role of technological advances and social media platforms as an alternate tool in promoting a healthy living style during the COVID-19 era. The studies with the predefined criteria were used to synthesize information regarding the opportunities and challenges. Studies delivering lifestyle intervention using social media platforms, technologies for health promotion were considered for the review. The studies included to synthesize evidence were randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Database like Medline, Scopus, and Science Direct were searched independently by two reviewers. A total of 17 studies were included in the review, Internet and lifestyle modification n = 2, mHealth and lifestyle modification n = 3, Social media and lifestyle modifications n = 3, technology adoption for lifestyle modification n = 4, and hazards = 5. Technology and social media-based interventions appear to be a promising technique for promoting health and wellbeing and it is the only effective method for delivering an intervention during a pandemic situation. However, there also appears a need for the development of guidelines for social media usage to prevent probable hazards.

Ramadan Fasting During the COVID-19 Pandemic; Observance of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Criteria for Improving the Immune System.

Fasting is one of the religious rituals of Muslims worldwide who refrain from eating foods and liquids every year during Ramadan. This year (2020), Ramadan is very different from previous years due to the outbreak of a terrible microscopic giant called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The pandemic COVID-19 has made Ramadan very important this year because the virus has infected millions of people around the world and killed thousands, especially people with immunodeficiency. In dealing with COVID-19, maintaining good hygiene and supporting the immune system are effective, preventive approaches. Moderate exercise training and proper nutrition are the most important factors to support immune function. Lack of facilities, poor health and many traditions that lead to public community gatherings have made many Islamic countries susceptible to this dangerous virus. In such an unprecedented situation, there are many Muslims who doubt whether they can fast or not. Therefore, the proposal of usable exercise programs and effective nutritional strategies is imperative. In this study, we will look at the proposed health effects of fasting and its impact on the immune system, the effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on resting values and responses of immunological/antioxidant biomarkers in elite and recreational athletes, together with the important health, nutrition, and exercise advice that fasting people need to follow in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.