How bad are Covid reinfections?
Experts agree that getting a repeat Covid-19 infection is inevitable for most people. The good news is that subsequent infections will be as mild as or milder than their first. However, there are a few exceptions, according to a recent article in The New York Times. These include people who are older, immunocompromised or who had particularly severe previous infections. People who had a severe first infection are more likely to end up hospitalized for a reinfection.
A study using data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs showed that multiple infections are worse than one. Despite that, the overall risk of developing long Covid is still low and far lower now than it was at the start of the pandemic.
Medical experts quoted in the article stressed using common-sense measures such as eating outside during warm weather, keeping an N95 mask handy, getting an updated vaccine, and taking antivirals like Paxlovid.
To mask or not at 35,000 feet
While airplanes use high efficiency high particulate (HEPA) air filter systems, some studies show that sitting within two rows of an infected passenger does increase the risk of acquiring an airborne infection. Infectious disease expert, Dr. Clark Abraham, New York Institute of Technology, recommends anyone with a possible respiratory tract infection to wear an N9 mask, as well as those with compromised immune systems. He says the real hotspot might be the airplane lavatory by touching contaminated surfaces or by inhaling contaminated air.
Older Americans need RSV vaccine
If you are 75 or older, or 60 to 74 with chronic health problems, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you should get an RSV vaccine in early fall. For most people, RSV typically causes cold-like symptoms but in older adults an infection can be dangerous, even deadly. The CDC estimates that RSV sends as many as 160,00 older Americans to the hospital annually and as many as 10,000 die each year from an RSV infection.
Goodbye to BMI; hello BRI
The body mass index (BMI) is a height to weight ratio that has long been used as a medical screening tool. However, it has major shortcomings and last year the American Medical Association warned it’s an imperfect metric that doesn’t account for racial, ethnic, age, sex and gender diversity. It can’t differentiate between individuals who carry a lot of muscle and those with fat in all the wrong places.
Now, the body roundness index (BRI) is being touted as a better estimate of central obesity and abdominal fat, which are closely linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, unlike fat stored on the buttocks and thighs. If you would like to know yours, here’s a link to an online calculator: https://webfce.com/bri-calculator/
Human beings age in two bursts
CNN reports that scientists have found that human aging does not happen in a gradual, linear way. Instead, humans age at a molecular level in two accelerated bursts – first at age 44 and then again at 60.
Scientists studied 108 participants over several years to observe aging changes in their molecules – RNA, proteins, and their microbiomes. Michael Snyder, one of the study authors, notes that “people often get muscle injuries and see fat accumulation hit in the 40s, and definitely sarcopenia (muscle loss) hit people in their 60s – this is a very big deal.”
Researchers advise making lifestyle changes such as drinking less alcohol and exercising more when nearing these pivotal years in your 40s and 60s.
Improve your balance by walking
As we age, we all lose muscle mass, become stiffer, have worsening vision, all of which can affect our sense of balance. Poor balance can lead to falls and head injuries or hip fractures. The good news is there are many ways to improve balance. In fact, just walking can help build lower-body strength. Walking is safe and it counts toward your aerobic activity goals.
A good walking plan should be designed to safely boost physical activity. The minutes count more than the miles. If you aren’t in the habit of exercising, start at the beginning. As you feel stronger and more comfortable, gradually add more minutes to your walks. If you normally use a cane or walker, be sure to do so.
If you already exercise, start with a walking plan that best matches your current routine and build from there. If the plan seems too easy, add time, distance, or hills. Aim for at least 150 minutes of walking per week, but don’t hesitate to add more.
Stretching dos and don’ts
Stretching is an underrated but important part of daily physical activity, say experts from the American College of Sports Medicine. It helps you maintain a healthy range of motion and lowers your chances of joint or muscle strain. Based on a wide range of studies, the ACSM panel recommended that:
- Healthy adults should do flexibility exercises (stretches, yoga, or tai chi) for all major muscle-tendon groups – neck, shoulders, chest, trunk, lower back, hips, legs, and ankles – at least two to three times a week.
- For optimal results, you should spend a total of 60 seconds on each stretching exercise. So, if you can hold a particular stretch for 15 seconds, repeating it three more times would be ideal. If you can hold the stretch for 20 seconds, two more repetitions would do the trick.
A blood test for Alzheimer’s
A team of Swedish researchers reports in the medical publication JAMA that a new blood test is about 90 percent accurate in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease in people experiencing problems in thinking and remembering.
Although not yet widely available, a highly effective blood test could save a lot of time and money. A faster diagnosis could also improve access to new Alzheimer’s treatments that are approved for patients in the early to mild stages of the disease.
Benefits of a vegetarian diet depend on genetics
A new study from UGA’s department of genetics has found that while vegetarianism can lead to health benefits for many like lowered cholesterol and decreased risk of hear disease and Type 2 diabetes, it can come with a cost for others.
The study found that when specific gene variants, also known as minor alleles were present, participants saw different health outcomes. For instance, while most vegetarians see deceased calcium levels, those with a particular variant had increased levels. While the majority of vegetarians see a decrease in testosterone, a smaller group with another gene variant saw increased levels.
The study’s authors say this type of research into nutrigenetics can build a scientific foundation for personalized nutrition, instead of one-size-fits-all dietary recommendations.
