Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Other Health Issues
It’s now more than a year since the
COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, even though it feels like we have been
in this for ages. While we have taken significant steps to fight back
against the pandemic, the virus continues to spread like wildfire in
various parts of the world. However, the impact of this pandemic hasn’t
been restricted to high rates of infection, death, and widespread social
and economic disruption; it has also resulted in several other health
issues.
Medical professionals from the world over
have reported various other health conditions people are facing as a
direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a previous article, we had
discussed how the ongoing pandemic has led to a rise in some eye-related
issues like dry eyes, convergence insufficiency, corneal abrasions, and
more. Turns out, living in the pandemic era has also made people deal
with some other unexpected health conditions. While delayed care and
stoppage to annual doctors’ appointments have played a part, the stress
and fear of the disease, too, have had a major impact. Here’s a brief
look at some health issues that the COVID-19 pandemic made more common.
1. Mental health issues
It isn’t particularly surprising mental
health problems have arisen, as the coronavirus pandemic has instilled a
considerable degree of fear and anxiety across populations all over the
world. Older adults and people with underlying health conditions, in
particular, have been exhibiting symptoms of anxiety and depression.
What has made matters worse is that quarantine regulations have forced
people to stay indoors for a long time, impacting their usual activities
and leading to loneliness and depression.
Furthermore, the fear of not being able to be with your loved one
suffering from COVID-19 in the hospital has taken a massive toll on
people’s mental health. Not to mention the fact that the pandemic has
also caused income loss, social isolation, and the pressure of working
from home with kids, leading to more stress.
According to a study that was published last year, “high rates of
symptoms of anxiety (6.33% to 50.9%), depression (14.6% to 48.3%),
post-traumatic stress disorder (7% to 53.8%), psychological distress
(34.43% to 38%), and stress (8.1% to 81.9%), have been reported in the
general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in China, Spain, Italy,
Iran, the US, Turkey, Nepal, and Denmark”. As we continue to deal with
the disease, countries will also need to find a proper way to address
the general public's mental health during this pandemic phase.
If you are struggling to cope with the stress of the pandemic, seek an
appointment with a mental health care professional. Our article on
emotion-focused coping techniques to Handle Excessive Stress During The
Pandemic might also be helpful.
2. Neck and Back Pain
As more and more people have been forced to
work from home, neck, back and shoulder pain issues have become more
regular. This is because people have adopted different workstations
while working from home than they were used to in their office
environment – like soft couches, beds, and even kitchen counters – where
maintaining a good posture for long periods isn’t possible. The poor
posture has caused regular stress on the back, shoulder, and neck.
If you have been experiencing repetitive neck and back pain issues after
you started working from home, then try doing some stretching and
shoulder shrugs in between breaks. If the pain refuses to go away, then
consider getting physical therapy. Also, try and change your workstation
and invest in a good set of chairs and desks. That should ease the
pressure on your neck and back.
3. Diabetes
With people staying largely indoors during
the pandemic phase, maintaining a healthy lifestyle has become
difficult. Moreover, there has also been a lot of unhealthy eating and
increased alcohol use as people have used food and alcohol to help deal
with the stressful situations in this pandemic. This has led to weight
gain in several people and many of those have been diagnosed with
diabetes.
Being overweight or obese increases a person's risk of developing type 2
diabetes. Furthermore, according to the MayoClinic, “too much alcohol
may cause chronic inflammation of the pancreas which can impair its
ability to secrete insulin and potentially lead to diabetes”. What has
made matters worse are missed physicals, which has put people at a
higher risk of being unable to detect the disease in time.
So, first of all, try and make sure you maintain a healthy lifestyle
during this phase, which means regular exercise and healthy eating.
Also, don’t forget to go for your health checkup as soon as you can.
4. High Blood Pressure
According to doctors, cases of high blood
pressure have also been on the rise ever since the pandemic began. For
many, this has happened because they haven’t been able to see their
doctor regularly and get their primary care. However, for many others,
high blood pressure is being found because of an unhealthy diet and lack
of exercise as they struggle to adapt to a work-from-home lifestyle.
Stress, of course, has also played a role in this as social isolation
and constant news of death and disease can take a toll on people’s blood
pressure. Our body produces a surge of hormones when we are in a
stressful situation. According to the MayoClinic, “these hormones
temporarily increase your blood pressure by causing your heart to beat
faster and your blood vessels to narrow”.
You can keep your blood pressure in check by eating a healthier diet
with less salt, exercising regularly, and taking medication if
necessary.
5. Dental Problems
One of the lesser-discussed consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has
been its impact on people’s oral health. Earlier this year, the FDI
World Dental Federation (FDI) declared that one year into the pandemic,
they are witnessing the effect of the virus on the health of people’s
teeth and gums around the globe. “Let’s call it for what it is—a dental
disaster,” said Dr. Gerhard Konrad Seeberger, president of FDI World
Dental Federation.
During the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, dental practices were
among the most affected essential health services as they were forced to
close. The World Health Organization reported that 77 percent of
countries reported partial or complete disruption of their oral health
services. This resulted in people missing their dentist appointments for
more than a year and many went on to develop advanced tooth decay, gum
infections, and related complications. What hasn’t helped, according to
dentists, is that people have been skipping twice-daily tooth-brushing
and have also been snacking between meals at home.
This is why you must give importance to your annual dentist appointments
and teeth cleanings again.
6. Hair Loss
Physicians and dermatologists have found a
rise in hair loss cases, particularly in women, over the last year.
Experts say that the stress of the pandemic and quarantine regulations
has worsened the psychological state of many people, leading to severe
hair shedding. This condition, called telogen effluvium, is a common
form of hair loss caused by emotional or physical trauma, nutritional
deficiencies, pregnancy, or surgery.
While an average person loses about 50 to 100 hairs per day, someone
experiencing telogen effluvium might lose about 300 hairs per day. If
the condition becomes uncontrollable, it can cause considerable hair
thinning. The Henry Ford Health System says that those whose lives have
been severely disrupted in some way or the other by the coronavirus
might have been experiencing telogen effluvium.
Though scary, this type of hair loss is temporary, and usually goes away
on its own in three to six months. But if you are worried, an
appointment with your dermatologist would be a good idea.
7. Mask-Induced Acne
Mask-induced acne, also dubbed as ‘maskne’,
has been a common issue found among people across all age groups during
the pandemic. You might have dealt with acne in your teenage years, but
maskne is different.
Masks are, of course, essential for COVID-19 prevention. However, when
you wear a mask all day, your lower face, chin, and lips are soaked with
moisture and bacteria. This can cause your skin pores to be blocked and
oil and dead skin cells to be trapped on the skin’s surface. Over some
time, an ideal environment for acne breakouts or dermatitis can then be
developed. Furthermore, your skin may become inflamed from the fibers of
the mask after continuous use.
Health care and front-line workers have been dealing with maskne and
other skin-related issues since the coronavirus pandemic began. Others
who have to wear masks all day long have also been facing similar
problems. Hence, it’s important that you keep your skin clean and
well-hydrated always. Dermatologists recommend washing your face before
putting on your mask and cleaning your face several times a day with a
gentle cleanser. Antibacterial cleansing pads might be helpful too in
preventing oil buildup on the skin surface. Also, make sure that you
wash your mask with antibacterial soap and dry it completely before
using it again.