The new coronavirus is not just a physical health threat. The stress, anxiety, fear and isolation that go along with it also take a toll on your mental well-being. “One of the basic tenets of how to manage your mental health in a crisis like this is to ensure that you’re taking care of your own basic needs — taking breaks, having rest and sleep, getting adequate nutrition, exercising and having compassion for yourself and others,” said Dr. Itai Danovitch. He’s chairman of the department of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Danovitch suggested creating a daily schedule with separate blocks of time to work, relax, play and eat. “It helps to ensure that the day doesn’t get consumed by worrying, because our fear and our worries, when we don’t have control over them, can sometimes have the effect of overtaking other activities,” Danovitch said. He said it’s important to acknowledge your emotions — it’s OK to worry and it’s OK to have fear. “On the other hand, we want to try to put a container around them so that they don’t consume all the other components of the day,” Danovitch said in a Cedars-Sinai news release. “We want to be deliberate about trying to have those other experiences that we talked about — self-care and connection.” When seeking news and information…  read on >

Trapped in the house with a cupboard full of food: Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic can spawn an unintended side effect — stress eating. It may be tempting to ease your anxiety with your favorite comfort foods, but emotional eating can hurt you physically and mentally, according to experts from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. These tips, from Joyce Corsica, director of outpatient psychotherapy and bariatric psychology at Rush, and clinical psychologist Mackenzie Kelly, can help you ward off bad eating habits. Set a schedule and stick to it: It will help stop you from going to the kitchen for an unnecessary nosh. “Include chunks of time for work, relaxation/exercise, eating, and communication with others,” Corsica suggested. “If you have an outline planned, you are less likely to feel like the day is a big empty space, which can make you feel rudderless and may lead to overeating.” Eat healthy meals: Kelly recommended planning meals and snacks at the start of each day. “If you wait until you’re hungry to decide what you’re going to eat, you may end up eating more or choosing something higher in calories than if you had planned your meal and snacks in advance,” she warned. Remember: Processed foods may be convenient, but these foods make it easier to overeat. Choose healthy options instead. Avoid cravings: When you’re…  read on >

The social distancing and isolation of the coronavirus pandemic may put people struggling with addiction at risk for relapse, an expert says. Feeling stressed, isolated and scared may drive them back to substance abuse, said Dr. Lawrence Brown Jr., CEO of the nonprofit START Treatment & Recovery Centers, New York’s largest independent drug treatment agency. “Whatever structures used to maintain sobriety by people with substance-use issues tend to fall away in a pandemic,” Brown said in a START news release. “People who have lost proximity to support systems, programs and relationships that help them stay sober may be tempted to self-medicate in order to deal with stress, anxiety and isolation,” he explained. “In addition to substance-use disorders, many people are grappling with mental health issues and co-morbidities, including HIV, hepatitis C, hypertension [high blood pressure] and diabetes, that put them at higher risk for COVID-19,” Brown added. He offered advice for people struggling with drug or alcohol addiction during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s important to maintain relationships. Even when they’re challenging, family and friends provide comfort and security, and hearing words like “I love you,” “I miss you,” and “I need you,” can be therapeutic, Brown said. If you’re in a treatment program, engaging more substantially will provide you with even greater protection. If you have a history of mental illness or substance abuse, take…  read on >

As hospitals give more and more COVID-19 patients albuterol to help them breathe, people with asthma may have a hard time getting an inhaler. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) said some areas of the United States are experiencing shortages of albuterol inhalers, and the shortage may spread. But Dr. Michael Blaiss, executive medical director of the ACAAI, emphasized that it is “nothing to panic about.” Manufacturers are trying to keep up with the unexpected surge in demand, he said. Production issues are not to blame. “No one should panic or hoard albuterol, though since you need a prescription, it’s not possible to hoard like toilet paper. But don’t put your albuterol asthma inhalers on autofill. If your asthma is under optimal control, an inhaler should last you more than a year,” Blaiss said. And, if you can’t get an albuterol inhaler from your pharmacy, Blaiss said it’s important to know there are other options. Patients with COVID-19 infections were initially treated with nebulizers, a common way to treat breathing problems in hospitals, and sometimes at home. But recent research suggested that when aerosolized, the coronavirus could hang in the air for a while, and some nebulizers might aerosolize the virus particles, Blaiss explained. So, out of caution, many hospitals have switched to the use of albuterol inhalers. Albuterol is a medication…  read on >

Stressed-out parents should reach out to others for support during the coronavirus pandemic, child health experts say. As the number of coronavirus cases rise and families spend long periods in isolation, parents face unique financial and emotional stresses. Research shows that family stress puts kids at increased risk of abuse, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The academy advises parents and other child caregivers to take time to look after themselves, including eating a healthy diet, exercising and getting enough sleep. It’s also important to maintain connections via phone or video to friends, family and others who can provide support, the AAP said in a news release. “During this time of understandable anxiety, give back and reach out to other parents when they need support,” AAP president Dr. Sara Goza advised. “If someone calls you frustrated about a crying baby or screaming toddler, offer to help.” Kids may display signs of increased stress if they’re isolated at home with their families for a long time, which can increase frustration for the entire family. Dr. Robert Sege, a member of the AAP Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, said, “Sadly, about five children die every day in America from abuse and neglect. No doubt, we are worried about the financial and emotional stress this pandemic is placing on families, especially the most vulnerable.” His…  read on >