Lockdowns (also commonly known as “mass-quarantine”) have been enacted by over 50 countries around the world. While such measures have been proven effective for containing the outbreak, the stay-at-home mandates have created many unwanted side effects by disrupting social interaction and jeopardizing our personal health, especially in children.
Here are the most undesirable consequences of prolonged lockdown. Please watch for these in yourself and loved ones:
- Physical Inactivity. Day after day, many of us have overlooked how little exercise we’re getting. But this neglect can be costly, leading to insulin resistance, muscle atrophy, decreased aerobic capacity, increased blood pressure and a higher risk of collapsing upon resuming exercise. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommend at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity physical activity, and performing muscle strengthening exercises (involving the major muscle groups) at least twice a week.
- Weight Gain. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a food environment that is conducive to weight gain, increasing the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and lower back pain. These problems are further exacerbated by the unhealthy eating habits that accompany prolonged television and gaming. To combat this potential crisis, schools must invest in lesson plans for physical activity that can be accessed on-demand or streaming, so that children can keep active without violating local ordinances. Work with your doctor and design a health plan that includes foods rich in immunomodulatory content such as Vitamin A, C, and D, as well as probiotics.
- Behavioral Addiction Disorders. Screen-time is only going up — but being stuck indoors for an indefinite period of time is unavoidably accompanied by even more screen time – watching television, online gaming and social networking. These new habits can potentially develop into behavioral addiction disorders. Take control of your electronic environment by implementing external stoppers (any trigger that persuades the user to log off), implement software programs that control your screen time, or even set a simple timer on your smartphone.
- Insufficient Sunlight Exposure (Vitamin D). Sunlight is essential to your health in the proper amounts. When you go without sunlight for a prolonged period of time you are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, allergy and asthma, mental disorders and diabetes. People deficient in vitamin D run a significantly higher risk of respiratory tract infections. An interesting fact about the human body is that many of the functions of your immune cells are modulated by Vitamin D. Make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D through foods such as fatty fish, cod liver oil, egg yolks and/or high quality supplementation.
- Social Isolation. Social isolation is now regarded as the primary public health concern in the elderly, but has also shown to increase sedentary behaviors in youth, causing depression and anxiety. Self-isolation should be seen as a global healthcare and societal issue. To counteract the burdens of sedentary and depressive lifestyles, use forms of social contact (technology or in-person) that don’t violate your local ordinances, but that will alleviate feelings of isolation and it’s debilitating psychological consequences.
SOURCES
Health risks and potential remedies during prolonged lockdowns for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Giuseppe Lippi, Brandon M. Henry, Chiara Bovo and Fabian Sanchis-Gomar. Diagnosis 2020; 7(2): 85-90. De Gruyter Publishing.
COVID-19—Related School Closings and Risk of Weight Gain Among Children. Andrew G. Rundle, Yoosun Park, Julie B. Herbstman, Eliza W. Kinsey, and Y. Claire Wang. Obesity Journal Volume 28, Number 6. June 2020.