Health & Beauty - page 6

Exercising during the COVID pandemic, many of us have been restricted in our movements, making it difficult to maintain our usual level of activity. 

Public Health’s next CovidFit campaign is titled ‘Be CovidFit – Be a CHAMP Family’ and is supported by the GHA physiotherapy and occupational therapy teams

The campaign draws on principles of the CHAMP initiative which focus primarily on children, using a multi-agency platform.  Activity and fitness that can be completed individually or as a family unit is the prime focus

Prolonged periods of home isolation can lead to:

• Low motivation and energy, coupled with low mood
• Reduced muscle strength in the limbs (often observed as weakness and/or reduced strength)
• Balance impairment that could lead to more trips or falls
• A reduced ability to carry out independent activities of daily life such as shopping, dressing/ bathing or transferring from place to place (from bed to chair, room to room etc.).
• Reduced Vitamin D levels which has implications for bone health 

Two key areas of focus are: Safety and Physical Activity.

Safety

• In order to exercise safely it is essential to maintain a suitable environment. Important points to consider include: 
• Warming up your body before any physical activity and cooling it down after a workout to prevent potential injuries.
• Removing any trip hazards such as unsuitable footwear, long/trailing clothes, rugs, mats or clutter. 
• To prevent falls, it is also a good idea to avoid stepping up onto stools or pieces of furniture. 
• Opening the curtains fully and allowing the opportunity to access natural light when possible. (If you are concerned about your Vitamin D levels, do contact your GP/ healthcare professional for advice).
• Drinking plenty of water throughout the day to remain hydrated, and especially when engaging in any vigorous activity. Remember, if you feel thirsty your body is already dehydrated!
• Refraining from exercising if you have a fever, cough, difficulty breathing or any other COVID-19 symptoms; in this case, please call 111, and follow the health care advice.

if you are able to exercise outside and choose to do so you will need to: 

• Maintain physical distancing, at least 2 metres (3 steps) between yourself and others; this is especially important if you run into someone you know from another household.
• Practice appropriate hand hygiene before you leave your house, when you get to where you are going, and as soon as you return.  
• Consider the use of walking aids or other equipment if required.

Physical Activity

In order to maintain a healthy body, we all require regular activity. Even a short break from sitting, with 5 minutes of physical movement (such as walking or stretching) will ease muscle strain, relieve mental tension and improve blood circulation. 

Physical activity includes all forms of movement, not just exercise or participating in a sport. Play, dance, house cleaning and even carrying heavy shopping are all ways to keep physically active. 

Recommendations:

• Build regular physical activity into your daily routine.
• Aim for 30 minutes of vigorous activity a day, where you feel slightly out of breath but still able to hold a conversation. [Note, recommendation for children is 1 hour]. 
• Warm up before starting any activity and gradually ease your body in through the first few minutes. 
• Opt for activities that you enjoy, and take part with other people to keep up motivation. Grandparents can exercise with grandchildren over Whatsapp/ Facetime to make activities more interactive and fun.
• Make use of online exercise videos. The community physiotherapy team have a series that are around 20 minutes’ duration and are suitable for all skill levels.

For more information, see: www.CovidFit.gi

Public Health Gibraltar launches its second COVIDFit campaign using the catch phrase Self-care: How. When. Where; which aims to reinforce 3 key points:

• what we can do for ourselves when feeling unwell
• when we should seek a healthcare professional’s advice
• where to access the appropriate services.

Understanding our own bodies, identifying when we are unwell and choosing to stay home to prevent the spread to others is the heart of all good infection control. 

Key COVID-19 Symptoms: 

• Temp >37.8’C 
• New cough (dry or chesty) 
• Shortness of Breath (unable to complete a sentence without pausing to breathe) 
• Loss of appetite/ sense of smell/ taste 
• Headache 
• Fatigue 
• Muscle Pain /body ache 
• Sore throat 

Although we may experience the same infections differently, there are key symptoms to be aware of in regards to the COVID-19 virus. These consist of a new cough, fever, unexplained headaches and body fatigue/aches. You can use the government self-test tool [CovidSelfTest.egov.gi] to check symptoms.

If you notice new symptoms, go home immediately, and contact 111 for advice. 

For the majority of us, experiencing COVID-19 will mean treating manageable symptoms through self-care within home-isolation. Advisable treatments include:

• Medicines as per the recommended dose to treat symptoms (e.g. paracetamol to alleviate fever, sore throat, muscle aches etc.). 
• Getting plenty of rest, taking the necessary time off work to allow a full recovery
• Drinking plenty of fluids such as warm drinks or clear soups
• Avoiding smoking and exposure to any secondhand smoke; this will delay healing and have a further negative effect on your health
• Continued hand and respiratory hygiene; washing hands for at least 20 seconds whenever required, and catching/binning/ killing any germs from coughs and sneezes
• Keeping your rooms well ventilated

COVID-19 remains deadly for the elderly and those with unstable underlying illnesses, however, it is also crucial to note that regardless of this new disease, there may be some people who will still suffer and pass away from non-Covid related illnesses. 

The GHA’s excellent service is always available for non COVID-19 related emergencies including chest pains, stroke, injuries etc. and the A&E department is still accessible for these and other life-saving emergencies. Similarly, the primary care centre retains doctor and nurse practitioner appointments for non COVID-19 queries. Public Health are reinforcing a key message- 

Seek timely intervention when you need it!

If you have symptoms that are persistent and you are unable to manage them at home, contact the GP or Nurse Practitioner via the new telephone service 200 07910 available from 8:30am – 7pm Monday to Sunday.

If you are severely breathless or require emergency attention contact 190 as you normally would (being sure to inform them if you have any COVID-19 symptoms).

For more information on keeping #CovidFit see www.CovidFit.gi

So, we are still staying in, but when it comes to birthdays especially children’s, the show must go on. They wait all year for this day, so here’s how to still make it special.

Have a plan

Tailor your day around what your child loves doing, talk to them beforehand about how it will be a bit different this year but they get to choose their day.

Set the scene

Decorate the room with balloons, banners, bunting, streamers, whatever you can get, to inject some birthday magic. Charlotte at My Party Perfect swears by a main cake table, where the cake can rest safely also giving a fantastic photo opportunity as a back drop. She suggests making decorations to keep little ones busy in the lead up to the party, and getting lots of balloons to fill the house, or their bedroom. AJ’s Fiestas provide packs of party plates, cups, banners in a range of themes and are offering 15% off purchases until end of May. Party Away have lots of party accessories and deliver these as well as balloons. 

A virtual party 

Set up a video party, and get a crowd of friends ‘in the room’ to help celebrate. WhatsApp an invite to the people your child most wants to spend his or her party with, and test it beforehand so make sure that on the day you can all see each other; don’t let tech be a buzz kill. For a younger child, a big group call might be overwhelming, so you can always make individual calls throughout the day. Set a time, duration (half an hour should do it) and anything guests need to prepare in advance; you can even include a theme for dressing up on the invite. On Zoom you can set your backdrop to be a movie scene etc.  On the plus side, they may be getting the chance to celebrate with people from all over the world who they wouldn’t usually have there.  

Get the party started with a brief round of hellos, intros and happy birthday wishes then get things going with party games, such as musical statues/chairs; prepare a playlist beforehand. My Party Perfect suggest the limbo, the Chu Chua and the hokey kokey. You can do a talent show where the parents get involved too, or Opposites, where everyone has to do the opposite of what you say (e.g. “stand up!”); or Guess the Number, using a jar filled with bouncy balls or sweets. If the child is into playdough or lego, you can set challenges to see who can make what in a set time. Other activities could be a simple craft; make a silly party hat (search for a downloadable free printables); a mask from a paper plate or disc. Let the parents know what you are planning in advance so they can have stuff prepared or cut out for their child to join in and keep it simple. Older children might like a karaoke app, or a movie party so they can watch and chat together on Netflix Party (Google Chrome extension download). Finish the party off with a good ol’ happy birthday song, cake and candles. Guests can get cake in too so that everyone has a treat to munch on. You could even have a birthday tea together with similar food for all, such as pizza. 

If you don’t fancy being the MC for the shindig there are companies that provide online interactive parties, such as Making Kids Parties, Puddles London, Jojo Fun and Captain Fantastic are a few we found in the UK, but lots out there. 

Gifts 

Lots of the local shops including toy shops in Gibraltar are still delivering, or you could try one of the freight companies such as Eastgate/Skynet, O2O Logistics to get things shipped in. Make like Elsa from Frozen Fever and give the birthday girl or boy a piece of string to follow, which leads them to their presents, tucked around their home. Or, arrange a pirate-esque treasure hunt based on clues if children are older. Get creative with it and make it a fun game for them. 

The Cake

Your child might like to be involved in making the cake and help decorate it; give them the option. Jane at The Crafty Cupcake is posting daily recipes on their Facebook page which have been tried and tested at their workshops so are really child friendly. As for decorating, she suggests using a piping bag and always squeezing from the top; otherwise the icing will over flow out of the top, or if squeezing from the bottom it will block the icing flow. There are no rules, so Jane says be as creative or as minimalist as you like, take your time and think about what you would like your cake to look like before you begin. There can never be too many sprinkles and most of all have fun! Jane also is a big advocate of letting kids do as much as they feel they can, unaided, even if it does get a bit messy, parents are often surprised how much they are capable of with just a little guidance and a stand back approach.

What Is A Virtual Playgroup?

The Parent And Child Society’s (PACS) role within the community is to offer play group sessions for babies, toddlers and their families in Gibraltar four times a week, face to face. However with the current social restrictions in place, PACS has had to find a new way of offering the charity’s services. Playgroups offer parents and children support in children’s learning, health & well-being, relationship building and making people feel less isolated. To continue to meet Gibraltar’s needs in these unprecedented times, PACS has come up with “virtual playgroup”.

Virtual playgroup has been developed to continue supporting playgroup families by connecting through online song time, story time and craft activities. Via our Facebook page, PACS has been posting videos of our volunteers engaging in activities in line with our normal play session times. Therefore, our families know that on a Monday we have Storytime and Song time will be on Wednesday and Fridays as well as Friday’s cooking session. Offering support and sharing information is an important part of our playgroup sessions, in addition we have been sharing play ideas and important government messages via our page. We also have a WhatsApp group set up for our bumps and babies’ session, that allows this group of new parents to stay in touch and support each other through this time. In the future this virtual playgroup might expand to offer ‘live’ virtual sessions.

So, if you’re a parent who is struggling for some new ideas for your little ones or just looking for some fun activities to do then head over to the Parent And Child Society – PACS Gibraltar Facebook page.

We hope you are keeping well and staying safe in the current situation. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your on-going support over the years and to offer our services to your organization, friends, relatives and anybody that you know that may be in need of mental health support during these difficult times. The Corona virus pandemic has had a profound effect and presented many challenges for everybody, not least for those who have a history of mental illness. Clubhouse’s resiliency, innovation, passion and dedication have quickly led to an inspiring array of strategies and solutions to address this new reality. Members and staff may no longer be able to gather together in the Clubhouse building, but continue to support each other through this crisis. We are deeply moved by the extraordinary level of care and connection that continues to hold Clubhouse communities together, despite the restrictions regarding physical togetherness. 

Clubhouse Gibraltar is providing mental health support on a daily basis with a fully experienced staff team from Monday to Friday during our standard opening hours as follows: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9.00 am to 4.30 pm, Tuesdays 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, Fridays 9.00 am to 3.00 pm whether our building is closed or not. Our TELEPHONE HELPLINE IS 200 68423, EMAIL: support@clubhousegibraltar.com  Clubhouse Facebook Page, and WEBSITE www.clubhousegibraltar.com

Clubhouse Gibraltar has been communicating with all its members through various channels and there is an outreach telephone list to ring up those who do not have smartphones or who have specially requested this. A daily newsletter is being provided via text and e-mails to maintain continuity of communication, with tips and ideas and to encourage contributions. Community Support is provided for members in need of hot meals, benefits, or any other problem they need support with and/or liaising with other services in the community.

EFFECT OF THE COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS ON CLUBHOUSE GIBRALTAR’S INCOME

Due to the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, we are struggling to raise funds as we are unable to organise our usual public events, or run our charity shop which helps us greatly towards our sustainability. We are nevertheless working hard to maintain the important and crucial service that we provide and we would be grateful if you could consider supporting us financially so that we can continue to help the most vulnerable in our community. 

If you would like any further information, please feel free to communicate with us.

Smoking tobacco is known to damage the lungs and airways causing a range of severe respiratory problems. Smoking is also detrimental to the immune system; this makes smokers more vulnerable to infectious diseases. Several studies have highlighted that smokers are more likely than non-smokers to contract influenza and have more severe symptoms.

A recent systematic review of studies on COVID-19 in relation to smoking highlights that smoking is most likely associated with the negative progression and adverse outcomes of COVID-19.

By smoking, you are not only putting yourself at greater risk of developing severe  disease from the COVID-19 virus, but those around you exposed to second hand smoke, including children, are also at increased risk. Furthermore, the repetitive hand to mouth movement provides an easy route of entry for the virus, putting smokers at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

In light of this COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more important time to stop smoking; not just for your own health but to protect those around you. 

Remember, it is never too late to quit!

• Once you quit smoking, your body will repair itself progressively; more immediate benefits include:
• Elimination of carbon monoxide from the body after 48 hours 
• Clearing out of mucus and other smoking debris from the lungs
• Relaxation of the bronchial tubes, making breathing easier after 72 hours 
• Improvement in blood circulation making physical activity like walking and running easier after 2 to 12 weeks 

If you can’t quit, step down!

The role of vaping and COVID-19 is not yet clear and research indicates that any form of smoking will affect respiratory function. However, if you find the idea of quitting “cold turkey” as being too difficult, Public Health advises a step down approach:

If you smoke or have a loved one who smokes, now is the time to Stub it. Stop it. And get #CovidFit. 

There are various tools to help stop smoking efforts, such as e-cigarettes, nicotine patches, tablets (Champix) etc. Some people prefer to go “cold turkey”, but research shows you are four times more likely to quit with additional guidance and support. Public Health recommends:

• accessing our free GHA smoke cessation service (200 07910)
• asking your local pharmacy for “stepping-down” advice
• downloading a SmokeFree app to understand your smoking patterns
• growing your support network and connecting with others in the same position
• checking CovidFit.gi for more information

Health Promotion, Ministry of Public Health, Gibraltar

Flowers are blooming, the weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer and the spring allergy season is upon us. This is the time when tree and grass pollens are more prevalent in the air, but don’t let allergies ruin your enjoyment of going outside. 

An allergic reaction happens when your body’s immune system overreacts to an allergen it perceives as a threat. The severity of allergies varies from person to person. It releases chemicals including histamine, designed to stop the spread of an infection, and it’s these that cause your unwanted symptoms. 

You may find that you are suffering with some of the typical symptoms that occur at this time of year. These can include: sneezing; itchy, red and watery eyes; runny or stuffy nose; earaches; sore throat; loss of smell; itchy nose, mouth throat or ears; tiredness or fatigue and feeling generally unwell. Less common symptoms include: headache; shortness of breath; wheezing and coughing.

You can try and minimise your exposure to pollen by wearing sunglasses and tying your hair back when outside. When indoors it is a good idea to close windows, turn fans off, and try to vacuum and dust regularly.  Lifestyle changes may also help ease your springtime woes. Adding certain foods to your diet could actually help relieve symptoms, reduce inflammation and boost your immune system.  

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is one of the most common allergic reactions caused by pollen, and can result in some unpleasant and sometimes debilitating symptoms for which a doctor may prescribe antihistamines, but  Holland & Barrett have a range of all-natural treatments that studies show can help with allergy symptoms.

Nettles have long been thought to relieve allergy symptoms, including hay fever, and one of the easiest ways to take the natural remedy is in a tea.  Try Heath & Heather Tea Nettle 50 Tea Bags (50) for a light, gentle and refreshing drink. 

One of the best ways to stop hay fever is by not inhaling pollen and a simple balm can help act as a barrier against pollen getting up your nose. Haymax have a variety of Pure Organic Drug Free pollen barrier balms that are suitable for both adults and children. Just apply a small amount at the bottom of your nostrils and re-apply regularly or when needed. 

Nasal sprays can offer instant relief, working within minutes to relieve a blocked and bunged up nose for several hours. Holland & Barrett sell A.Vogel Pollinosan Nasal Spray 20ml that has a cleansing action to clear the nose of pollen, dust and other allergen particles, restoring the fluid and moisture in the nose making it feel more comfortable.

Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple that works in synergy with quercetin. Studies have shown it can help balance an over-sensitive immune system and reduce allergic sensitisation. Take one tablet three times daily, preferably with meals, of the Holland & Barrett Bromelain 60 Tablets 500mg to ease inflammation associated with allergies.

Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant compound found in plant foods including leafy greens, tomatoes, berries and broccoli. Studies have shown quercetin supplements to be effective at fighting allergy, with no side effects. Holland & Barrett sell Solgar Quercetin Complex 50 Vegi Capsules offer a blend of ingredients in capsule form. The bioflavonoid quercetin is combined with Ester-C (a non-acidic form of Vitamin C), acerola berry, rutin and rosehips as well as the natural enzyme bromelian.

Nothing is more irritating than having itchy, swollen, watery eyes and if your eyes are red, tearing up or burning it can be very hard trying not to constantly rub them which will trigger a further release of histamine and worsen the symptoms. If they do become inflamed, they can obscure your vision, which can be dangerous. Cutting back on wearing your contact lenses will prevent pollen from being trapped in the eyes. A.Vogel Eye Drops 10ml available from Holland & Barrett can give relief to dry, irritated or tired eyes. The drops provide rapid moisturisation and refreshment to help maintain lubrication of the eye and are suitable for use when wearing contact lenses.

There’s anecdotal evidence that eating locally produced honey helps relieve hay fever.  Instead, taking one to two tablets daily of Holland & Barrett Bee Pollen 500mg Tablets could help.

While may be an old wives’ tale that vitamin C prevents the common cold, it does have beneficial immune supporting and antioxidant properties. Holland & Barrett has a wide selection of vitamin C caplets, chewable vitamin C tablets, easy-to-take vitamin C effervescent tablets and vitamin C powder.

Advisory Information:

Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or are under medical supervision, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional and always read the label before use.

May is mental health awareness and skin cancer awareness month, which are widely marked on the Rock, but there are other conditions whose prevention or treatment is given special coverage this month.

Here are discussed the most common ones, with different grades of rarity and severity.

Celiac disease is a long-term but usually not life-threatening condition affecting intestinal digestion. It is caused by allergy or intolerance to gluten, a protein found in cereals like wheat, barley and rye. In genetically predisposed individuals, exposure to gluten sparks anomalous autoimmune responses.

Diagnosis is not always straight-forward to achieve unequivocally, but early screening can help with mild symptoms easily mistaken with other digestive issues. Early symptoms in babies and children are steatorrhea and failure to grow.

Celiac disease must be told apart from wheat allergy, a rare but more serious condition which cannot be neutralised with gluten-free products consumption alone.

Treatment so far consists in a gluten-free diet, to avoid and prevent bloating, lethargy, anaemia, hyposplenism, vitamin and minerals deficiency, and complications like intestinal cancer or lymphoma, which are nevertheless rare.

In regions alien to traditional wheat farming, like south-eastern Asia where rice is the staple cereal, or Mesoamerica, where corn is, celiac disease still exists but it doesn’t manifest until the ingestion of wheat, barley and rye, European staples.

Celiacs can source their carbs from non-cereals like quinoa, amaranth and of course potatoes, pumpkins and bananas. Always seek medical advice before starting a carb-free diet.

Visit:
www.nationalceliac.org, www.celiac.org, www.coeliac.org.uk, www.beyondceliac.org.

Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a group of separate but related connective-tissue disorders, occurring because of variation of a number of genes that affect the structure or production of collagen, and it can be potentially severe or life-threatening.

Early symptoms that may prompt you to seek medical attention for your baby or toddler are delayed walking beyond 18 months, and a preference for bottom-shuffling instead of crawling. Another alarm bell can be your toddlers’ habit to stick their tongue out and, so doing, reach comfortably their nose with its tip (Gorlin’s sign). 

Later, it can show through joint hyper-flexibility and skin hyper-extension, arthralgia, myalgia, scoliosis, kyphosis, translucent skin, heels’ piezogenic papules, hyper-mobile fingers and toes, bendable thumbs. 

There is no cure for this, but once a diagnosis is achieved through genetic testing, treatment is available for each of the symptoms and co-morbidities, like cardio-valvular disease, brittle cornea, keratoconus, macular degeneration, hiatus hernia, fragile skin, muscle hypotonia, periodontitis, and pregnancy complications.

There are different degrees of EDS and most patients can lead a normal life with it. Some have made of their skin hyper-elasticity a career in showbiz. Italian virtuoso Niccolò Paganini is believed to have suffered from a mild form of EDS making his fingers extra-long and agile on the strings.

Visit: www.ehlers-danlos.org

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by gene mutation or deletion that affects mostly the lungs, but also pancreas, liver, kidneys and bowels, for which there is no cure, and which halves life expectancy in the developed world. 

It is mostly common in individuals of north European ancestry, where about a quarter of the population are estimated to be carriers. 

Africans and Asians seem to be almost immune to this mutation, and some studies suggest that it may be related to evolutionary exposure to dim lights and cold temperatures, although other populations from subarctic climates like Siberia, Alaska or Greenland, seem to be immune. Others suggested it may be linked to the mutations of eye colour, in other words if you have blue or green eyes you may have higher chances to be a carrier, but no theory has so far satisfactorily returned unequivocal proof.

Symptoms manifest in early childhood with poor growth and flimsy weight despite healthy appetites, frequent chest infections with sticky mucus and the characteristic salty-tasting and smelling skin.

Parents’ suspicions about salty skin may be confirmed by genetic testing. Preventive screening is available to warn prospective parents who are both carriers about the 1-in-4 possibility to produce an affected child, with a ratio akin to thalassaemia.

Most damage to the organs is caused by blockage from thickened secretions that can lead to lungs failure. Pulmonary physiotherapy is the key to support an improved quality of life. Lung transplant is an option for those worst affected with respiratory symptoms. 

Visit: www.cff.org and www.lung.org.

Huntington’s disease is a degenerative inherited disorder resulting in the accelerated demise of brain cells, manifesting itself in the early stages with subtle motor skill problems, lack of hand-eye coordination, and mild loss of balance, not always paired with decline in cognitive abilities. 

Onset can be as early as in one’s twenties, and it can be difficult to diagnose it, if one is unaware that the genetic condition is running in the family. Jerky out-of-control movements are an early symptom to pay attention to, together with rigidity, poor posture or balance, reduced facial expression, seizures and sleeping disturbance.

There is no cure, but treatment is available to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life, but in later stages, patients inevitably become dependant on around-the-clock care.

Predictive genetic testing and prenatal testing are advised to carriers. Physical examinations like MRI and PET can map the areas of the brain affected, while psychological tests can gauge the extent – if any – of cognitive decline and devise brain retraining. Affected subjects are at risk of anxiety, depression, compulsive behaviour, addictions, hyper-sexuality, egocentrism and suicidal thoughts, as well as muscle atrophy,

cardiac failure, osteoporosis, and, when elderly, at higher risk of dying as consequence of a fall.

Visit: www.hda.org.uk.

This article aims at being informative only, with no medical or diagnostic pretenses. Consult your GP if you suspect you or a relative may be suffering from any of the conditions here described.

The Coronavirus has had a huge impact on us as individuals, our families, friends and society in general. So, how can we cope with Isolation, Fear, and Uncertainty?

Burton Paul, a digital health expert believes: ‘We are today facing a situation no one alive has ever encountered or experienced – coronavirus. It is a word etched in our minds, and will forever be a reminder of how vulnerable we can be, and how vulnerable our elderly and very young loved ones are, and sure to be a talking point for decades to come. The next generation will likely ask the question “can you tell us what it was like to live in that period?”

In such times people are searching for answers, hope, clarity, understanding of what is happening with this virus and how it affects our health. But do they know where to search, what is credible, what isn’t, what to believe and what not to believe? 

Burton Paul’s book “Is it Serious? How to Search for Health Information on the Internet” is particularly timely because of the amount of health misinformation out there already. It has been written in a way that people can understand what credible health information is and what isn’t, where the right sources of health information are, and how to find them for whichever situation you are facing in your health search. 

Robocallers are now trying to sell cures and disease-delaying medication for Coronavirus, none of which is real and just a profiteering scheme to make money from people in fear.

Online technology companies are also now in the process of:

• Promoting good information
• Demoting bad information
• Keep misinformation from appearing in the first place
• So what part does social media play in all this?

It is important to note that social media is the heart and soul of engagement. In this time of isolation we are fortunate to have such technology as social media at our fingertips, which allows us to engage, connect, share, laugh, cry, and so much more, albeit virtually. We are able to remain in touch with all the people we would normally be in touch with, and those we would normally not be in touch with (because of geographic reasons, etc.).

Whilst there is some good information on social media (see my list below on the reliable and credible sources on social media), what we also find ourselves doing through social media is reading posts that are frightening us with material that may or may not be correct. In our state of worry, we end up sharing it with others we care about so that they are also aware, not realising we are potentially sharing incorrect or misinformation.

Burton Paul states: ‘We need to appreciate that our actions will affect others around us who we are connected to. And we need to be careful how we affect others. We are here to support one another, not frighten one another. So it is important to check those facts, find the credible sources of information, and verify the truth behind it’.

A good set of pointers and a list of social media etiquette to try to follow are:

• Think before you post
• Think before you reply
• Think before you share
• Don’t believe everything you read
• Check and stick to credible sources
• Be aware of your power to influence and affect others
• Be caring, be kind, be supportive #bekind
• Staying connected on social media helps people feel less isolated
• It’s ok to mute accounts or take a break from social media if it’s stressing
• you
• If a post makes you sad or angry, then delete

Michelle Scott is a Psychotherapist and former mental health nurse. She stated that: ‘If you are self-isolating but not working at home, create some tasks that you can do which will be fulfilling and enjoyable. Share positive messages, strategies and tips on social media’.

The use of video calling and conferencing apps such as FaceTime and Zoom helps us share experiences with friends and family and Scott suggests that we: ‘Practice mindfulness or breathing techniques for relaxation. Light a soothing scented candle for a period during the day or have your favourite music playing while at home’.

Those with anxiety should limit the time they spend watching the news and limit social media coverage. It can become an obsessive focus and increase our feelings of anxiety. Pause Coronavirus updates on platforms like Twitter and any others that you can.  

Routines are important. If you’re working from home, get dressed in your usual clothes and start work at the same time you would normally, take a lunch break and finish at your usual hour, stick to a regular bedtime. 

‘Try meditation or a nap’, says Michelle Scott. ‘It can be tiring having to self-motivate and create our own structure. Have fun and be kind to yourself and others.  Our survival brains will be running amok right now and telling us all to get ready for battle or head for the hills’. 

Unquestionably, this is a serious situation for all of us.  At the same time stress and fear will not help us to stay wise or well.  Balancing out the stress with more positive and pleasant experiences will not only pass the time but give us a much-needed dose of feel good hormones and send reassuring signals to our overwrought brain. 

Think about what you could do in your local community to help others who are isolated. Helping other people will also give you a huge feeling of satisfaction. 

Burton Paul:  Is it Serious?  How to search for health information on the internet – available at Amazon

Michelle Scott: website:  trcgroup.org.uk