Dr. Damian Sendler Health Effects of COVID-19
Damian Sendler: The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, following the introduction of a third highly pathogenic coronavirus into the human population at the end of 2019. Because of this unprecedented rate of spread, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 19) in the world has continued to soar since it was first detected in Wuhan, China's Hubei province, in December 2019. An overview of the health effects of COVID-19 is presented in this manuscript, as well as a list of immune system-boosting nutrients for those who have been infected. In contrast, we have outlined the positive and negative environmental impacts of COVID-19, as well as the impact this pandemic has on human psychology and the educational system and the global economy. As a result of the pandemic, we've also tried to come up with ways to mitigate the negative effects on our society.
Damian Jacob Sendler: Pandemic of COVID-19, which has disrupted economic activity and put the health of the global population at risk, is currently plaguing our world today [1, 2]. A common ribonucleic acid virus of the Coronaviridae family, the Coronaviruses cause digestive and respiratory infections in humans and animals [3]. The crown-like growths on the virus' viral particles gave it its name. It's a threat that's feared by everyone on the planet. A global health crisis erupted when COVID-19 first appeared in Wuhan in December 2019 and caused fatal respiratory infections [3–5]. It then slowly spread throughout the world and was declared a global pandemic by WHO on March 11, 2020. Because COVID-19 is a recently-emerging disease caused by viral recombination, the public's collective memory of past epidemics has been wiped clean [6, 7]. Many researchers have found that the COVID-19 pandemic has an effect on not only health but also the environment, economy and education (Figure 1). COVID-19's gradual spread and lack of hospital capacity have led to the growth of home care, which is a major source of waste contaminated with the virus and disrupts municipal solid waste management, according to Acharya et al. (2021). For example, Donzelli et al. (2021) found that factories closed and flights were canceled in many cities around the world, resulting in a significant reduction in toxic gas emissions and an improvement in air quality [9]. An increase in waste from infected people and hospitals has been shown to deteriorate water quality, which could become a source of transmission of the virus. A reduction in economic activity has been a result of the implementation of actions and decisions to control the virus, which has led to a decrease in the use of public transportation as well as an overall decrease in electricity consumption. Alternative nutrients that can help infected people strengthen their immune systems have been discussed in this review article, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on health in general. The impact of the pandemic on people's minds, education, and the global economy were also discussed, as were the environmental advantages and disadvantages of COVID-19 (water, air, waste management, and energy consumption).
Dr. Sendler: There hasn't been a global public health crisis of this magnitude in more than a century until the novel coronavirus pandemic. Infectious SARS-CoV-2 produces bioaerosols that carry pathogenic microorganisms, resulting in public health concerns [12]. respiratory or cardiovascular complications are the most common symptoms of COVID-19 [13]. Infected diabetic patients, according to Bouhanick et al. (2020), have a higher risk of developing severe pneumonia due to their more advanced proinflammatory and prothrombotic states [14]. Furthermore, cardiovascular disease has been linked to the progression and prognosis of COVID-19 by Li et al. (2020). When infected, the latter may develop a severe case of pneumonia. Although it may seem counterintuitive, a hypercoagulable state is caused by the release of enzymes that are linked to tissue damage [15]. The current state of coronaviruses and their effects on human reproduction, in particular the behavior of male and female gametes, are described by the research team of Segars et al. (2020) [16]. A coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2, which belongs to the large coronavirus family, causes respiratory distress, according to Saqrane and El Mhammedi (2020).
Damian Sendler
For patients infected with COVID-19, good nutrition is essential to maintaining their immune systems. The immune system can be balanced and optimally functioned by eating the right foods. Oxidative stress can also be reduced by eating a diet rich in nutrients. It's recommended to follow a mostly vegetable diet rich in antioxidants, to prioritize foods with low glycemic load, to prefer cooking foods with gentle steam and organic food without contaminants, to practice intermittent fasting, and to take care of the hygiene of life (practice physical activities, avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, meditate, and think positively).
Freshwater resources are under increasing strain as the global population and agricultural production rise [28, 29]. A wide variety of pollutants are produced by these activities and enter the water cycle, endangering the delicate natural equilibrium that has allowed life to flourish on Earth [30]. Human and industrial waste that is difficult to dispose of is most commonly found in the aquatic environment [31]. Pollution from this waste is increasing at an alarming rate, putting the environment and human health in jeopardy. There is a global concern for protecting freshwater resources, either because there is not enough water or because pollution has contaminated it. The gap between the demand and supply of water necessitates the development of new methods of transportation and treatment [35]. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has had an adverse effect on water quality, has made the already difficult task of protecting water resources even more difficult. SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid can be transmitted and detected in wastewater through the stools of people infected with the virus [36]. As a result of COVID-19's excessive use of water and detergents, a wide range of organic and metallic compounds were able to enter domestic water supplies and degrade the water quality.
Due to its harmful effects, however, COVID-19 has positive indirect environmental effects that include improving air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter resulting from human activity such as waste incineration and fuel combustion [9,37,38]. Industrial restrictions following the COVID-19 health crisis have been linked to a reduction in ambient air pollutants other than ozone, according to several studies [39]. Although the increase in ozone concentration could be linked to the decrease in ambient nitrogen oxides or the reported decrease airborne particles that are responsible for solar activity [40–44], this is not the only possible explanation. There would also be fewer ambient suspended particles, which would make the hydroperoxy radical sink less efficient, increasing the production of ozone-induced proxy radicals during sanitary containment [45–47]. Particles in suspension and heavy metals will be reduced in large quantities because several industries will be shut down for a short time, resulting in a reduction in large quantities of atmospheric pollutants caused by the combustion of carbon. [48] According to Wang and Su (2020), acid rain is formed when nitrogen oxides react with other chemicals. Air quality has improved dramatically around the world as a result of the quarantine and traffic restrictions implemented during the lockdown.
Damian Jacob Sendler
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, so does the demand for single-use protective gear, putting enormous strain on the waste management industry and creating new obstacles [49]. Food consumption during this pandemic period has had a profound effect on the daily lives and eating habits of the vast majority of people. Aside from these additional sources of waste, this epidemic is leading to additional difficulties for governments and organizations that have already collected and sorted municipal solid waste [54–56]. Personal use products and panic shopping have been linked to a high rate of plastic waste contamination in the environment [57]. Last but not least, packaging waste is generated when food or medical supplies are requested for distribution or take-out [58, 59]. Most people mix COVID-19 protective gear with household waste, which can lead to the spread of the virus, according to some researchers. More biomedical waste, such as human tissues, bodily fluids, cotton swabs, bandages and needle syringe- and blood-filled bags-has been generated around the world due to the current public health crisis (masks, gloves, gowns, hair covers, etc.)
Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler: There was a significant reduction in energy consumption as a result of the containment effort, as well as the medical industry's ability to use less energy in the production of medical supplies and personal protective equipment [67]. As a result of transit stations being closed or only partially operational, less electricity has been consumed [68]. Another factor that may have contributed to a decrease in demand for electricity is a shift from nuclear, coal and natural gas to renewables [69]. During the COVID-19 period, the reduction of industrial activities around the world resulted in a decrease in energy consumption and a reduction in environmental pollution.
To put it another way, a high death rate from the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social concerns due to government restrictions (containment, curfews, etc.) that are affecting people's mental health. Therefore, the long-term sanitary measures taken to control the virus may have contributed to the symptoms of distress, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, frustration, and suicide [72, 73]. Training psychologists and social workers in the management of the effects of pandemics and health emergencies is recommended [74, 75] as well as sensitizing patients to seek help from psychologists so that the risk of contagion can be minimized [76, 77].
By shutting down universities and public and private schools during the COVID-19 era, policymakers have replaced the traditional teaching method with teaching online by maintaining the use of interactive educational tools like platforms for the creation of skills development courses and programs [78–79]. In this critical period, these tools offer a wide range of advantages that help students learn [80]. We were able to stay out of the White Year and its social and economic consequences thanks to these remote educational means. Students with physical disabilities can also benefit from distance learning because it requires only reduced mobility [81]. Finally, this new educational technology has the potential to gradually cultivate a spirit of participation and self-exploration [82]. Distance education pedagogy, however, has its drawbacks [83, 84]. To begin with, despite numerous attempts and promises to close the achievement gap, some low-income schools have been unable to gain access to quality online educational resources. A third factor that makes learning more difficult for children is the aversion to technology by some parents, as well as a lack of follow-up and supervision by those parents, especially those who have difficulty adapting to the new educational environment or whose critical economic and social situation does not allow them to dispose of and purchase online learning devices. Third, teachers and students will be unable to communicate effectively if the Internet is unreliable. A number of measures can be taken to improve educational quality, including: (1) developing new policies to support the entry of young graduates into the labor market and avoid unemployment; (2) improving connection speed and audiovisual quality of platforms used; (3) prerecording course videos for later use; and (4) educating the parents of students about the use of parental controls on technological devices.
Damien Sendler: The social isolation imposed by the global health crisis of COVID-19, where citizens of different countries are prohibited from going out and carrying out their usual activities, is harming the global economy. As a result of the sudden implementation of health restrictions, tourist activity has decreased, industrial deliverability has weakened, international demand has decreased, employees have been laid off, and the human budget has been reduced [85]. This pandemic's effects can be lessened by establishing trust among citizens through open communication from government officials, enhancing the quality and accessibility of essential services through technological advancements that reach those in the informal economy or who do not have a bank account, and safeguarding businesses and families from being forced to close their doors or face bankruptcy.
Government officials and policymakers have implemented lockdown measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that have had a significant impact on the environment, economy, and human psychology, as well as the educational education system around the world. Reductions in transportation and mobility have lowered greenhouse gas emissions and decreased the demand for industrial and commercial energy, both of which have a positive impact on the environment. Furthermore, citizens' lack of awareness is to blame for poor waste management and declining water quality during COVID-19. Human psychology deteriorates, the educational system is altered, tourist activity is decreased, and employees are laid off as a result of the sudden implementation of health restrictions.