A chance for relief from long COVID-19
In April 2022, actress Alyssa Milano, 50, told “NBC New York” that she was still struggling with symptoms of the COVID-19 infection she contracted more than two years ago. “Every symptom that they list … I have had. Shortness of breath, heart palpitations, brain fog, exhaustion at 4 o’clock in the evening, tingling in my hands and feet and just forgetfulness.”
That persistent struggle to feel like your old self again after recovering from COVID-19 is something one in every 13 adults in America is contending with.
Thank heavens there’s some good news for folks battling the chronic condition. The University of Leeds in the U.K. says that following a program of a gradual return to physical activity delivers “impressive results.” Over six weeks, their 31 study participants, who initially reported three “crashes” a week that left them physically, emotionally and/ or cognitively exhausted, said they were crashing only once a week.
What’s the program?
The first phase involves breathing exercises and gentle stretching. It then progresses to slow walking, then faster walking and resistance exercises and on to swimming, cycling and/ or dancing — heading to getting you back to whatever you were doing before you were ill. You remain at each level for at least seven days and are careful not to overexert yourself.
If you have long COVID-19, ask your doctor if this makes sense for you and together design a routine that takes you through the phases.
Beating diabetes
It’s never too late to make positive, life-enhancing changes. That’s what I told Barbara Walters back in 1999 when I appeared on ABC’S “20/20.” I said, “It’s only too late when they start to lower you 6 feet under.”
During the early stages of 2023, I can’t think of any resolution more important than having your family resolve to help reverse the tsunami of adolescent Type 2 diabetes that’s headed our way. A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded study says that by 2060, 220,000 kids under age 20 — that’s eight times as many as today — could have Type 2 diabetes and be facing its life-shortening health challenges.
So make a resolution that you’ll help your children avoid premature heart, kidney and nerve disease:
■ Build a strong social network that offers your kids emotional stability.
■ Provide quality nutrition, and require a quantity of physical activity (300 minutes a week).