Some point directly to the pandemic. Others suggest the real problem was the lockdown. But the number of vaccinated people keeps increasing, Mr. Omicron seems to be on its way out, and many countries have already announced the end of all restrictions. So we can only ask: How are we? What was the effect of the pandemic on our bodies? The people at BuzzFeed News contacted several experts, and this is what we know so far.
The pandemic on our bodies
- Eyes: Spending more time indoors increases the risk of myopia. A study published by JAMA Ophthalmology in January 2021 suggests there were between 1.4 and 3 times more cases of myopia in school-age children, between 6 and 8 years old. Add to this dry eyes and eye fatigue. Experts recommend warm cloths for ten minutes twice a day, occupational lenses, and of course, small breaks every 20 minutes.
- Skin: Lack of sunlight causes vitamin D levels to plummet. Vitamin D reaches the immune system, muscle function, brain activity, and absorption of other minerals. Lack of vitamin D is also associated with depression, bone and muscle problems. The good news is that you only need a few minutes of sunlight to produce adequate amounts. Other problems? Acne and rosacea, linked to masks, stress, and excess sugar.
- Muscles / bones: Switching to a home-office cycle has its consequences. Cases of back pain and poor posture have multiplied. There are more injured children now that they return to activities, while on the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle leads to loss of muscle mass, slower metabolism, and obesity.
- Brain: The brain's adaptability is well documented, but many people out there have reported concentration problems with the pandemic. Some experts think people lose productivity at home because there are more distractions there, but the opposite also happens. With the return to the office, many workers complain of misophonia, selective sensitivity to sound.
- Teeth: The main problem is lack of maintenance. No matter how disciplined a person is, there are certain details that can only be resolved by a dentist, and the pandemic essentially stopped scheduled visits. Add high stress, many patients now report jaw pain, linked to bruxism. Needless to say, easy access to sodas and junk food doesn't help.
- Body weight: Reports point in both directions. Some people are eating more (their activities forced them to skip lunch more than once), so they gained weight since working from home. Others say they got tired of cooking every day and started eating less, which helped them lose weight, but they also feel more fatigued.
- Gastrointestinal tract: Health experts have reported an increase in cases of nausea, diarrhea (one of the symptoms of COVID-19), and abdominal pain, associated once again with stress peaks and loneliness. Also, many people increased alcohol consumption compared to pre-COVID times, leading to additional cases of gastritis and esophagitis.
Source: BuzzFeed News
