A neurologist shares 5 ways to stay safe from Delhi's air pollution: ‘Keep windows, doors closed; open at…

To protect against Delhi's worsening air pollution, neurologist Dr Chawla offers 5 ways, including staying indoors, using N95 masks, and more tips. 

Air pollution has become a major concern for those living in North India, particularly in Delhi. Several parts of Delhi have been recording pollution levels in the 'severe' category. Amid this, it is essential to adopt measures to protect yourself and your family from toxic air pollution. 

 Dr Rahul Chawla, a neurologist trained at AIIMS, shared 5 ways to protect yourself from Delhi's air pollution in an Instagram post on November 4. Sharing these measures, Dr Chawla criticised, “While Beijing’s AQI dropped from 754 (2013) to just 47 (2025) after strict climate action, Delhi’s air is getting worse every winter. Schools are shutting, visibility is zero, and people are literally breathing poison. Delhi is converting into a gas chamber. If lockdowns were for COVID, maybe the next one will be for air pollution.”

Here are the 5 measures he suggested in the post:

How to stay safe from Delhi's air pollution

The five key measures Dr Chawla offered began with recommendations to remain indoors as much as possible, avoiding opening windows before the afternoon, and using an N95 mask, as the city has become a ‘gas chamber.’ So, to protect yourself and your family from the poisonous air present in North India, especially Delhi, definitely do these five things:

1. Stay indoors as much as possible

Keep your house windows and doors closed at all times and stay indoors as much as possible, Dr Chawla suggested. “You can open the windows and doors only between 1 and 3 PM in the day, when you feel that the sun is bright, so that the house gets proper ventilation,” he suggested.

Furthermore, he advised against cleaning inside the house using a dry cloth. Instead, he suggested using a wet cloth so that the dust does not rise. “Please do not light up things inside the house like burning dhoop (incense for worship), agarbatti (incense sticks), or anything else that causes excessive smoke,” he advised.

  

2. Use an N95 mask

Next, he recommended using an N95 mask if you are stepping out of the house. The neurologist added, “If there are elderly people at home, do not let them go for morning walks or evening walks, and if there are children, do not let them play in the park. Exercise at home. You can go up and down the stairs. You can do yoga. If you have a treadmill or a stationary bike at home, you can exercise with it. You can do weightlifting.”

3. Get an air purifier

“If you can afford an air purifier, buy one. But keep in mind that the air purifier you are buying should be appropriate for the size of your room,” the neurologist advised.

4. Work from home

The neurologist also emphasised that if you work in a corporate office and your company permits it, consider working from home.

5. Leave Delhi for a while

Lastly, the neurologist suggested. if you can afford it and your profession allows working from home, then leave the poisonous air of Delhi for a few weeks. “Because this city has become a gas chamber,” he warned.

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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New symptoms of COVID-19 cause concern: List of precautions you need to take against variants

The COVID-19 related health crisis is critical in India as it is elsewhere in the world. The authorities are leave ng no stones unturned to contain the surge in new cases, which are increasing daily at an alarming rate. There is a widespread concern among the authorities and general public alike regarding the spurt in COVID-19 cases. Making the scenario worse is the general perception that the spike is due to new strains of COVID-19 virus.

No concrete evidence that spike in cases due to new variants

Two new strains of SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19  causing virus have been detected in India. This was disclosed by the Union Health Ministry. These are N440K and E484K. While making public this discovery, the government made it clear that it was not possible to link the spike in cases to the new variants. In his press conference, Dr V.K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, had said: “The two variants in Maharashtra were also detected in March and July (last year)…there was no effect back then. But to say anything definitive about its correlation to (rise in) cases this time is not possible at present.” He added that the variants had been detected in labs of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG).

New variants present in other countries too

Making a pertinent observation, Professor Balram Bhargava, the Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research, (ICMR), pointed out that the new variants have been seen in other countries too and hence can’t be labelled as Indian variants of the virus. In fact, there are many other variants in the world, including India. It needs to be understood that the new variants come into being due to the natural process of mutation. Vaccines will help in combating them but it is essential and primary is to take precautions. These are easy to follow and will help in curbing the spread.

New symptoms that have emerged

According to Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder and Director, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, “We are seeing new COVID-19 strain, and some newer symptoms are found in patients like fever, pain in muscles, dry and persistent cough, and loss of smell and taste. In addition to conjunctivitis, sore throat, headache, rashes, upset stomach, and discolouration of fingers and toes.”

Precautions against new variants

While researchers suggest that new COVID-19 strains may not be very dangerous, it becomes important to keep oneself safe. Here is a list of precautions to take to reduce risk.

• All precautions must be followed strictly and don’t leave your home without gloves and masks.
• Replace gloves and masks used outside regularly.
• Use masks made of the right type of fabric with layers and which fit well like a tight-fitting surgical mask. Alternatively, wear two masks. Ensure that it seals properly above the nose and around the chin.
• Sanitisation of hands is a must. Wash hands frequently and sue hand sanitisers.
• Never sneeze or cough in the open. Use tissues or handkerchiefs. Was the latter well after use.
• On experiencing symptoms like cough, fever, breathlessness, or loss of sense of taste or smell, stop attending office and meeting people and get medical advice. Inform whoever you came into contact with, alert them to take steps like isolation and medical help.
• Protect yourself and your family with barrier protection.
• Don’t indulge in leisurely shopping for necessities and limit onsite shopping. Every minute spent shopping indoors increases your risk.
• If possible, work from home and in case unavoidable, adhere to socially distancing at work. Have virtual meetings.
• Studies have shown that mouthwashes can help to kill the novel coronavirus in the mouth and keep it from entering your lungs and the rest of the body. Ensure good and proper oral hygiene to be safe.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Quarantine Constipation' Is Making It Hard for Some People to Poop Right Now—Here's Why

Thanks to COVID-19, we’ve all had to figure out a new normal. Working from home, social distancing, and spending so much time indoors has changed day-to-day life in various ways. Those changes include our toilet habits. And that's given rise to a new term, “quarantine constipation."

Even if you didn’t have an issue with constipation before the coronavirus pandemic struck, you might find yourself struggling to go number two now, Robert Lerrigo, MD, gastroenterologist at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, California, tells Health. “To some, [constipation] means stools are too hard, requiring much straining, or they may be too small in volume," says Dr. Lerrigo. Others have bowel movements less frequently than usual or require excess straining to evacuate stools, even if the stools aren’t hard.

Understanding why some people are becoming constipated during lock down begins with the circadian rhythm—a natural process in the brain that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats more or less every 24 hours. The colon has its own circadian rhythm that’s easily disrupted by a lack of physical exercise, poor sleep, changes in eating schedules, and stress, says Dr. Lerrigo.

Of course, staying at home because of a global pandemic will likely affect each of those elements. “When we’re at home sitting around and not staying active or engaging in our usual routine, colonic motility (the process by which the colon sequentially contracts to propel feces along) decreases, causing constipation,” says Dr. Lerrigo.

If your gym has shut its doors and you haven't made the transition to an at-home workout, lack of regular exercise might be the problem. Dr. Lerrigo recommends 20 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise (like a brisk walk or home workout) up to five days a week, adding that even working out two days a week can significantly improve constipation.

If you suspect your new stay-at-home diet is to blame—maybe you're cooking up lots of shelf staples like pasta made from processed flour, for example—try adding more fiber into your meal plan. Fiber-rich foods keep water in your stool, making it softer, larger, and better equipped to pass through the intestines. Fiber also adds bulk to feces to help it move more quickly. Dr. Lerrigo recommends upping your intake of nuts, bran, lentils, fruits, leafy vegetables, legumes, fruits such as prunes, and whole grains like oatmeal. At the same time, cut down on foods with a high fat or starch level.

Don’t forget about hydration. “Dryer-than-normal stool travels through the colon more slowly,” says Dr. Lerrigo. “It’s like going down a slip-and-slide without the water turned on." Water and juice are good options, but don't make booze your hydration source. "Keep in mind that alcohol can also contribute to dehydration, so cut that down as well,” he advises.

Thinking of adding over-the-counter fiber supplements to your next online order? Dr. Lerrigo says that’s absolutely fine—though natural sources of fiber come with many other nutritional benefits. Just make sure you read the labels on OTC fiber supplements. “Even if you’re diligent with taking powdered fiber, it only gives you an extra 9 or 10 grams of fiber daily and some ‘fiber’ bars only give you a gram or two,” he says. (The Institute of Medicine recommends 25 to 30 grams of fiber daily.)

Stress and anxiety may also affect your poop, because the brain directly communicates the emotions they cause to the gastrointestinal system. “In some people, this can cause diarrhea, in others it causes constipation,” says Dr. Lerrigo. It’s not easy to keep stress and anxiety levels down during times of widespread uncertainty, but do what you can to relax—whether that’s yoga, meditation, or simply taking some alone time in a quiet room away from the rest of the household.

If all else fails and your quarantine constipation continues, call your doctor’s office for advice. You may not even need to leave your house and break local social distancing guidelines. “Nationally, clinics are moving towards telemedicine to meet the demands of their patients who should remain at home,” says Dr. Lerrigo. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement