Finding clumps of hair in the shower drain or stuck on your hairbrush is startling. However, if you've recently had COVID-19, this upsetting hair loss is probably not a coincidence.
The phenomenon, which is a result of the global pandemic, continues to catch patients off guard. However, Harvard researchers concur with national statistics showing a sizeable number of virus-infected individuals exhibit high strand-shedding.
Along with symptoms like exhaustion, brain fog, and shortness of breath, thinning hair can be a sign of a COVID bout or a less well-known sign of long-term COVID. According to Dr. Deborah Scott, co-director of the Brigham and Women's Hospital's hair loss clinic, some patients are even conspicuously losing hair as a result of dealing with the pandemic's ongoing mental and emotional stress.
It literally makes the situation worse. You have COVID-related illness first, then hair loss, according to Dr. Scott. "Several patients who had lost up to 30% of their hair came to me in tears. Most of them, I believe, were shocked to find that it was connected to COVID.
Signs on the scalp that a doctor should examine
Even if the shedding of hair waxes and wanes naturally, other symptoms of the scalp should make you visit a doctor. Harvard specialists say these include
Itching or burning, which can also indicate an inflammatory scalp condition, may be a sign of ongoing hair loss, especially six months or more after a COVID-19 infection or another physical or emotional stressor. There may also be lacklustre regrowth more obvious in women.
The phenomenon, which is a result of the global pandemic, continues to catch patients off guard. However, Harvard researchers concur with national statistics showing a sizeable number of virus-infected individuals exhibit high strand-shedding.
Along with symptoms like exhaustion, brain fog, and shortness of breath, thinning hair can be a sign of a COVID bout or a less well-known sign of long-term COVID. According to Dr. Deborah Scott, co-director of the Brigham and Women's Hospital's hair loss clinic, some patients are even conspicuously losing hair as a result of dealing with the pandemic's ongoing mental and emotional stress.
It literally makes the situation worse. You have COVID-related illness first, then hair loss, according to Dr. Scott. "Several patients who had lost up to 30% of their hair came to me in tears. Most of them, I believe, were shocked to find that it was connected to COVID.
Signs on the scalp that a doctor should examine
Even if the shedding of hair waxes and wanes naturally, other symptoms of the scalp should make you visit a doctor. Harvard specialists say these include
Itching or burning, which can also indicate an inflammatory scalp condition, may be a sign of ongoing hair loss, especially six months or more after a COVID-19 infection or another physical or emotional stressor. There may also be lacklustre regrowth more obvious in women.
COVID-related hair loss has received more attention in the research that has been published in the last two years. According to a study from 2021 that was published in The Lancet, 22% of patients with the virus who were hospitalised experienced excessive hair loss within six months of being released. In contrast, a 2020 survey of approximately 1,600 COVID survivors revealed that more than 25% experienced unexpected hair loss after healing.
Women probably pay more attention to it than men do, if only because our hair is usually longer and fuller. According to Dr. Scott, "if you're losing a lot of long hair, it's more obvious than if you're losing a lot of short hair."
However, COVID-19 is not the only illness that causes hair to thin. It is merely the most recent identified cause of the long-known medical condition known as telogen effluvium, or TE. This occurs when extreme physical or emotional stress throws off our body's natural cycle of hair growth.
Women probably pay more attention to it than men do, if only because our hair is usually longer and fuller. According to Dr. Scott, "if you're losing a lot of long hair, it's more obvious than if you're losing a lot of short hair."
However, COVID-19 is not the only illness that causes hair to thin. It is merely the most recent identified cause of the long-known medical condition known as telogen effluvium, or TE. This occurs when extreme physical or emotional stress throws off our body's natural cycle of hair growth.
Contrary to how it may sometimes appear, the epidemic is still with us.
Increasingly, people are going back to work in person. Schools restarted this spring. And mask mandates are history in most regions of the US. In many regions, case rates are declining and deaths due to COVID-19 have become infrequent. For many, life now closely approaches pre-pandemic normalcy. So, what do you need to know about where we are now?
Not so fast: COVID remains a serious problem
The infection is still very much with us, not behind us. According to the CDC, in the US there are roughly 100,000 new cases (possibly an underestimate) and around 300 deaths each day due to COVID as of this writing. Despite this, more and more individuals are paying less and less attention.
That might be a grave error. With the summer travel season upon us and terrible forecasts for fall and winter, it is prudent to pause, take a deep breath, and reevaluate the situation.
Here are answers to five questions I've been hearing frequently recently.
1. I have not yet contracted COVID. So, do I still need a vaccine?
Yes, indeed! Vaccination and booster shots are the most effective means of preventing serious COVID-19 infection.
Perhaps you have avoided infection thus far due to your vigilance with physical separation, masking, and other preventative methods. Alternatively, you may have inherited genes that make your immune system very adept at resisting the COVID-19 virus. Or maybe you've just been lucky.
Regardless of the reason, it is prudent to maintain vigilance. The virus that causes COVID, SARS-CoV-2, is highly infectious, particularly in the more recent forms. And while some individuals are at a greater risk than others, everybody is susceptible to infection and can develop a severe illness from this virus. Even if you develop a mild or moderate case of COVID-19, keep in mind that some people develop chronic COVID symptoms, such as fatigue and brain fog.
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COVID-19 rates are rising across the country and in many parts of the world, making it more critical than ever to protect ourselves and others. The greatest defence against COVID-19 is a multi-layered approach, beginning with vaccines and boosters for everyone who is eligible.
People who have been vaccinated and boosted are significantly more protected from serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Everyone, including those who have been vaccinated, is at risk of contracting a highly contagious variation like Omicron if they contract it. Experts estimate that if we all agree to follow mask rules and other conventional preventive measures in places where vaccination rates are low or COVID cases are on the rise, we can save thousands of lives and help limit the pandemic.
Why do we think masks are effective?
The benefits of medical and nonmedical masks are backed up by a growing amount of information. These reviews (here and here) and observational studies (here, here, here, and here) provide some of the most compelling evidence that wearing a mask reduces infection rates. Masks help trap bigger respiratory droplets as well as some of the smaller particles known as aerosols, as shown in this graphic from the New York Times.
Wearing a mask can help protect you from viruses that spread through the air, such as COVID-19 and colds and flu. Some individuals believe that masks trap CO2 or limit the amount of oxygen inhaled. This is not the case. When you breathe out through a mask, CO2 escapes; when you breathe in, oxygen enters.
There is no such thing as a perfect or definitive study; in fact, such studies would be impossible to conduct. However, there is a lot to be said about wearing a mask, and there is little to no evidence that it causes harm.
What is the best type of mask?
Wear the most protective mask you can find, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Wearing masks that filter out very minute particles on a regular basis provides the best protection against highly contagious versions like Omicron. Some examples are:
N95 masks, which are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), are comparable to KN95 masks, which are certified in China but not by NIOSH.
Counterfeit N95 and KN95 masks have become all too popular. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some helpful tips on how to recognize fake masks.
Surgical masks are useful, but they are less protective, mainly because of their loose fit. If you're using surgical or cotton masks, some experts recommend double-masking.
What about tightly woven cloth masks that totally cover the nose and mouth, have a wire bridge, and at least two layers of washable, breathable fabric? Gaiters and bandanas may provide little protection and aren't usually the first choice because they weren't designed to provide tight facial coverage and may only have one layer.
Virus particles can more easily escape through masks with vents or valves, hence they are discouraged.
COVID-19 is at alarming rates in parts of the world. Therefore, maintaining a strong immune system has taken on new significance as many of us wish to avoid the flu and winter colds, as well as concerning strains of the virus that causes COVID-19, whether Delta or Omicron.
Unsurprisingly, marketers are capitalizing on our anxieties. A small business has sprung up around chewable, pills, and powders claiming to "boost" or "support" your immune system. Some even assert that proper food and physical exercise are all that are truly necessary to avoid illness. However, are any of these assertions true?
Unsurprisingly, marketers are capitalizing on our anxieties. A small business has sprung up around chewable, pills, and powders claiming to "boost" or "support" your immune system. Some even assert that proper food and physical exercise are all that are truly necessary to avoid illness. However, are any of these assertions true?
The most effective ways for maintaining good health
Questions concerning which mask to wear are becoming more prevalent as the Omicron variant spreads.
As the Omicron variant grows in popularity, new concerns about the ideal mask to wear for safety are being raised.
"Numerous studies have demonstrated that surgical masks are superior to cloth masks in terms of respiratory protection. More protection can be obtained by wearing surgical masks that are the proper size for the wearer and can be pinch-tightened.
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| Surgical mask |
As long as they contain at least two layers and cover your nose and mouth, cloth masks can be useful but a surgical mask is better.
N95 and KN95 masks are the most effective, however, they aren't absolutely necessary for everyone. For the most part, these are used in healthcare facilities.
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| N95 mask |
Nothing, not even face masks, is going to be able to completely shield you from the virus.
Everyone says, 'Well, there are vaccinated persons getting the virus as well.' As long as you've had your shots, you're unlikely to become infected, although it's not uncommon for unvaccinated persons to do so.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Melody Jacob Health Team at godisablej66@gmail.com.
Pexel photos
What is Omicron?
The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a variant of SARS-CoV-2. It was initially reported to the World Health Organization on 24 November 2021 by South Africa. The WHO identified it as a variation of concern on 26 November 2021, renaming it "Omicron," the fifteenth letter in the Greek alphabet.
WHO has designated the Omicron variation of COVID-19 as a variant of concern due to evidence that it contains numerous mutations that may affect how it acts. There is still considerable mystery around Omicron, and extensive study is being conducted to determine its transmissibility, severity, and risk of reinfection.
According to Johns Hopkins University, there have been over 294.1 million verified COVID-19 cases worldwide, with over 5.4 million deaths.
More than 56.6 million confirmed cases and more than 828,000 deaths have been reported in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 243.5 million people in the United States have gotten their first COVID-19 vaccination dosage, with more than 205.8 million fully vaccinated. More than 68 million people have received a booster dosage.
1/4/22 1:37 p.m. PST—The United States sets a new daily record for COVID-19 cases.
According to Johns Hopkins University data, the United States reported more than one million new illnesses on Monday – a record level for a single day.
According to UPI, this is nearly double the previous record of 590,000 instances recorded four days ago, with Maryland, Alabama, Delaware, New Jersey, and Ohio reporting the newest COVID-19 infections per 100,000 population.
According to the most recent available statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delta variation accounted for over 40% of cases and Omicron for roughly 60% of all infections in the United States.
Pexel photo. Information source: Healthline
While you may look forward to flying to an exciting destination for a vacation or business trip, you do
not want to be concerned about becoming ill following your airplane flight! After all, studies indicate
that colds are 113 times more likely to spread on a plane than they are on the ground! The excellent
news is that there are many things you can do to remain healthy before or after your flight.
The following are four ways to avoid becoming ill on a plane:
1. Maintain Clean Hands
Hand sanitizer is one of the most critical items you can bring on a plane, but it must be 3 ounces or
less to comply with security regulations. This is because, on planes and elsewhere, your hands are
frequently the first point of contact with cold and flu germs. Tray tables, seat belt buckles, overhead
air vents and lavatory latches are just a few of the plane or anywhere else. Some of the dirtiest surfaces.
If you touch any of these items during your flight, be sure to immediately use your hand sanitizer to kill any germs!
What happened to trusting medical experts?
We rely on professionals in almost every facet of our lives, from home repairs to weather forecasting to food safety, and just about everything else. There's no way to know everything there is to know about everything. When it comes to medicine, however, people appear to be taking their health into their own hands in ways they would never consider if, for example, their car brakes required repair and they were not an auto mechanic.
What if your brakes were completely worn out?
Let's say a reputable car mechanic informs you your brakes need to be repaired. Hopefully, they will explain why this is essential and go over the advantages and disadvantages of your alternatives, which may include no repairs. You may absolutely seek more advice and estimates. However, you must accept that a technician has specialized knowledge and that their advise is sound in order to make a selection. Rather than risking injury, you'd probably get the brakes fixed.
What if your brakes were completely worn out?
Let's say a reputable car mechanic informs you your brakes need to be repaired. Hopefully, they will explain why this is essential and go over the advantages and disadvantages of your alternatives, which may include no repairs. You may absolutely seek more advice and estimates. However, you must accept that a technician has specialized knowledge and that their advise is sound in order to make a selection. Rather than risking injury, you'd probably get the brakes fixed.
As we embark on another school year under the shadow of the COVID-19 epidemic, many parents are asking themselves: What can we do to keep our children healthy in this environment? Is it possible to strengthen one's immune system in order to fend off COVID-19 and other illnesses?
There are no magic wands or magic pills to help you. The most effective approach to maintain a healthy immune system is, simply put, to follow the recommended health-promoting behaviors. As monotonous as it may sound, it has been tried and tested.
There are no magic wands or magic pills to help you. The most effective approach to maintain a healthy immune system is, simply put, to follow the recommended health-promoting behaviors. As monotonous as it may sound, it has been tried and tested.
You can help your children stay healthy this school year by following these suggestions.
The most critical lifesaving tool we have in this pandemic is vaccination against the virus that causes COVID-19. All of the vaccines that have been licensed in the United States have been proven to be extremely safe and reliable. And we've known from the start that the robust protection they provide would eventually wane.
However, has protection deteriorated sufficiently to warrant booster shots? Recent studies published by researchers in the United Kingdom, Israel, and the United States (reviewed here and here) raised this possibility, and Israel and the United Kingdom have already launched ambitious booster programs.
Vaccinate every single person.
You might be aware, that the CDC and FDA conducted a review of the need, safety, and effectiveness of boosters for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. In the coming weeks and months, both agencies will conduct a review of data for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. This is the only booster shot available right now.
But first and foremost, it's critical not to overlook this fact: vaccinating the unvaccinated should take priority over booster shots for those who have already received vaccines. This is true for individuals in the United States who have been unable or unwilling to obtain the vaccine, as well as individuals in other parts of the world with limited access to vaccines.
Not only would expanding the pool of people who have received their initial vaccinations save more lives than promoting boosters, but it would also help reduce COVID-related healthcare disparities between richer and poorer countries. That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a moratorium on booster doses. Biden administration officials announced that an additional 500 million vaccines would be donated to developing countries with low vaccination rates, bringing the US commitment to 1.1 billion doses. The administration emphasizes that establishing a booster program in the United States and assisting other countries in vaccinating their citizens are not mutually exclusive.
Is a booster dose different from a third shot?
Not all additional vaccine doses are boosters. FDA approved a third dose in August 2021, the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for immunocompromised individuals. This includes individuals living with HIV and those undergoing cancer treatment that suppresses the immune system. The extra dose is not considered a booster for them; it is considered part of their initial immunization series.
Choosing the right time to receive vaccine boosters
Ideally, vaccines booster are administered no sooner than necessary, but well before widespread protective immunity begins to decline. The dangers of waiting too long are self-evident: as immunity declines, infection, serious illness, and death rates may begin to rise.
However, there are downsides to administering boosters prematurely:
Side effects may be more common. While published research indicates that boosters are safe, we don’t yet have long-term data.
The benefit may be small. It may be advisable to wait on booster vaccinations if the majority of people are still protected by their initial vaccinations.
It's possible that current boosters won't cover future variants. Boosters may be modified to include new variants of concern in the coming months.
Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine booster recommendations
The CDC and FDA have concluded that boosters are necessary for some recipients of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. A booster dose is recommended at least six months after the second dose for those who are :
- 65 years of age or older.
- 18 to 64 years of age and at a high risk of developing severe illness from COVID, such as those who have chronic lung disease, cancer, or diabetes.
- Residents of long-term care facilities, healthcare workers, teachers and daycare staff, grocery workers, and prisoners all work in high-exposure environments.
There are currently no Pfizer/BioNTech boosters recommended for the general population. This is because the initial doses continue to provide adequate protection against serious illness and death.
Countless unknowns
The publication of these new recommendations for Pfizer vaccine boosters raises several concerns:
How credible is the safety data? To date, reports indicate that boosters are safe, but additional research and real-world data are needed.
Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters are still awaiting FDA approval. When can we expect that?
Should all boosters contain the same vaccine as the initial regimen, or does mixing vaccines provide additional protection?
The unfortunate thing is that some people are combining vaccines on their own, sometimes by falsely stating they didn't get the COVID shot before getting a different kind of shot altogether.
Will booster doses be identical to initial doses? So far, the answer for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been affirmative. If the Moderna booster is authorized, it will very certainly be for a half-dose.
Will boosters be altered to protect against new variants?
Will there be a future need for additional boosters? If so, how frequently?
In the coming weeks and months, look for answers to these questions.
What is next?
Based on ongoing review and analysis of available research, the FDA and CDC are expected to revise and expand booster recommendations. Meanwhile, we should intensify our efforts to vaccinate those who have not received vaccines. Individuals can benefit significantly from boosters. However, as Dr. Rochelle Wallensky, director of the CDC, notes, "we will not boost our way out of this pandemic."
Some persons who have been infected with the virus show no signs or symptoms. Symptoms associated with the virus are chills, a cough, discomfort, and a lack of appetite. Certain people have been affected more negatively by COVID-19 since it might cause more serious symptoms. , such as a high temperature, a strong cough, and shortness of breath, all of which are signs of pneumonia.
COVID-19 patients may also have neurological, gastrointestinal (GI), or both symptoms. These can happen with or without respiratory symptoms.
Is it true that after recovering from COVID-19, people are more prone to get other diseases?
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can permanently harm the lungs, heart muscle, kidneys, brain, and other organs. Furthermore, some persons (called "long haulers") who recover from COVID's severe symptoms may experience debilitating tiredness, trouble thinking, and other symptoms that make it impossible to function normally at work or at home.
As if the pain wasn't bad enough, it's becoming evident that people who recover from COVID have a higher chance of contracting a number of other diseases. Research published online by the journal Nature on April 22, 2021, compared 73,000 U.S. veterans who survived COVID against almost five million non-hospitalized veterans without COVID and another big group with pneumonia caused by. In terms of age, sex, race and ethnicity, neighbourhood where they resided, patient's previous medical history, use of medical services, and other factors, the two comparison groups were similar to the COVID group. All of the groups were monitored for four months on average. People who "recovered" from COVID were more likely to acquire new health issues during that period, such as heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, muscle inflammation, diabetes and blood clots in their lungs. COVID patients had a 60 per cent greater chance of dying during the study. People became more vulnerable to infections as a result of the coronavirus's response to the body, even after the virus's symptoms had ended. Although individuals who had been sickest with COVID had the highest risk of these diseases, even those who were only slightly ill had a higher risk.
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can permanently harm the lungs, heart muscle, kidneys, brain, and other organs. Furthermore, some persons (called "long haulers") who recover from COVID's severe symptoms may experience debilitating tiredness, trouble thinking, and other symptoms that make it impossible to function normally at work or at home.
As if the pain wasn't bad enough, it's becoming evident that people who recover from COVID have a higher chance of contracting a number of other diseases. Research published online by the journal Nature on April 22, 2021, compared 73,000 U.S. veterans who survived COVID against almost five million non-hospitalized veterans without COVID and another big group with pneumonia caused by. In terms of age, sex, race and ethnicity, neighbourhood where they resided, patient's previous medical history, use of medical services, and other factors, the two comparison groups were similar to the COVID group. All of the groups were monitored for four months on average. People who "recovered" from COVID were more likely to acquire new health issues during that period, such as heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, muscle inflammation, diabetes and blood clots in their lungs. COVID patients had a 60 per cent greater chance of dying during the study. People became more vulnerable to infections as a result of the coronavirus's response to the body, even after the virus's symptoms had ended. Although individuals who had been sickest with COVID had the highest risk of these diseases, even those who were only slightly ill had a higher risk.
Image: pexel.
The United States is a large country with disparities in COVID-19 immunization rates and incidence between states — and even within them. Now, the fast spread of the highly infectious Delta variation is confounding our understanding of how well vaccinations protects us from infection.If you're a parent, you're undoubtedly wondering about how COVID-19 will influence the back-to-school season, regardless of where you reside. What will the first few weeks and months of the school year be like? How flexible will we have to be? Health guidelines for the United States, as well as state and municipal regulations, will continue to evolve. We'll go through the current guidelines for keeping schools and children safe when students return to classes in the coming weeks and explain what families can do outside of school to further reduce the risk of infection.
National recommendations for safe schools
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States both recommend that :
Regardless of vaccination status, all staff and students above the age of two who are able to securely mask should do so inside.
Anyone above the age of 12 should get vaccinated.
Undergoing preventive measures in schools by keeping at least three feet between people when possible, better ventilation, frequent hand-washing, and staying home when sick.
If exposures occur in the school, schools should maintain active protocols to contact-trace, isolate, and quarantine impacted children and staff.
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