For those with heart problems, home-based rehab can take the place of hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation during the current coronavirus pandemic, heart experts say. “Home-based cardiac rehab is a solution to help provide cardiac rehabilitation to patients with heart disease in a home setting, and to help them survive and thrive during this challenging period of time,” said Dr. Randal Thomas. He’s a preventive cardiologist and medical director of the Mayo Clinic’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, in Rochester, Minn. “Home-based cardiac rehabilitation is much more than just going for a walk at home,” Thomas said in a clinic news release. “It is a structured, standardized, evidence-based approach to apply all therapies — lifestyle, medication and otherwise — that are known to help people with heart disease do better, feel better and live longer.” Mayo Clinic has used home-based cardiac rehab with a small number of patients over the years, but the coronavirus pandemic has made it necessary to transition all cardiac rehab to home-based settings in a matter of weeks. If you qualify for cardiac rehab, ask your care provider if at-home rehabilitation is an option for you as well. According to Thomas, there are many reasons why home-based cardiac rehab is so important right now. A big advantage of home rehab is that it keeps patients out of the hospital. Home rehab also ensures that patients…  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 >

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 >

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 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 >

People with asthma and other lung diseases are at increased risk for serious complications from COVID-19, caution experts from the American Lung Association. “Everyone’s health is at risk from COVID-19, and those living with a lung disease or who are immunocompromised may be more vulnerable to the impacts of the virus,” said Dr. Albert Rizzo, the association’s chief medical officer. COVID-19 can cause a pneumonia-like lung infection, with a range of symptoms from mild or absent in some to life-threatening in others, he said. It’s crucial for people with chronic lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to keep taking their maintenance medications and tell their health care provider about any symptoms or changes in their health, Rizzo said. All lung disease patients — including those with lung cancer who may have a weakened immune system — need to take steps avoid contact with the coronavirus. Besides social distancing, measures include thorough hand-washing; not touching face, nose, mouth and eyes; and avoiding contact with people who may have been infected. “The healthcare system and hospitals are already stressed with admissions as a result of the pandemic,” Rizzo said. “It’s important for those with lung disease to use their best practices in managing their disease.” People who smoke or vape are also at increased risk of serious COVID-19 complications. “Cigarette smoking and…  read on >

Having a furry, fluffy or feathered friend can have a profound effect on seniors’ mental health, possibly even helping prevent some suicides, new research suggests. In a group of 35 older people who were pet owners, more than one-third said they were “actively suicidal” or “significantly traumatized,” but their pets gave them a reason to live. One of these men had dogs and exotic birds with very specialized care needs. “I actually realized the only thing that is really keeping me alive, was these [dogs] and the birds, giving me a chance to get out of bed in the morning,” he said. “[My wife] would not feed them; she refused to feed them, so I had to get out of bed, and do something, all right? Otherwise, I would be asleep for 20 to 22 hours a day, no problems whatsoever.” The study’s lead author, Janette Young, said it’s important to consider each individual and not assume that presenting an animal to a person with depression or suicidal thoughts will solve their problems. “While pets are a powerful preventative relationship for some older people, just thinking that a pet will help every older suicidal person can put both animals and people at risk,” she said. Young is a lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of South Australia, in Adelaide. On the…  read on >

The coronavirus pandemic will put extra stress on caregivers of loved ones with dementias, so the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America offers some advice. “Reducing stress is always important for caregivers, and even more so now,” said Charles Fuschillo Jr., the foundation’s president and CEO. “Disruptions in daily routines, social isolation and anxiety are all added stressors caused by the coronavirus, but there are steps caregivers can take to help reduce stress and take care of themselves so that they can continue to provide care to their loved ones,” he said in a foundation news release. The organization offered these pointers: Social distancing doesn’t mean cutting off contact with others. Caregivers can use video chats, phone calls, text messages and emails to stay in touch with loved ones and friends. Strive to be adaptable and upbeat. Your attitude can also influence the person you’re caring for, the foundation pointed out. Try to focus on situations in a constructive way. For example, if your loved one’s adult day program is now closed, plan some easy, fun activities at home to keep them engaged. Focus on things you can control. That includes following public health guidelines, eating properly, following a routine, getting a good night’s sleep and prioritizing self-care. Try to refresh your mind. Exercise, yoga, meditating, listening to music or deep breathing can help relax your mind…  read on >

The coronavirus pandemic has caught many American families in a vise. Many parents are struggling to work from home and meet the needs of kids who are out of school and chaffing under what some consider house arrest. “It can be easy to fall into the trap of self-blame when children are fighting, and workdays aren’t going as planned,” said Kathryn Boger, director of the Anxiety Mastery Program at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass. Boger urged parents to go easy on themselves. Head off self-punishing thoughts and repeat mini-mantras throughout the day, she suggested, such as “This is not the time for perfection” and “I’m doing the best I can in a really tough situation.” It’s also important to accept what you can and can’t control, Boger said. Things you can do include: limiting your family’s exposure to the news; making lists of needed food supplies and medications; updating contact information for your health care providers, work colleagues, family members and friends; staying in regular contact with those close to you to support one another. Focusing on the present will also help, she said. “When our brains are anxious, they tend to live in the future, worrying about what’s to come,” Boger said. Practice bringing your brain back to the present moment throughout the day. Focus on one thing in the current moment, such as…  read on >

Parenting a teenager can be an emotional minefield in the best of times, but the social distancing of the coronavirus pandemic could really strain young people’s mental health. Teens and young adults who are confined to home during the coronavirus pandemic face numerous disappointments, including not being able to hang out with friends, missing out on new life experiences and trying to manage their time, a mental health expert says. This age group may not understand the importance of social distancing. Parents can help teens and young adults appreciate the need to do so by directing them to reliable sources of information, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Ann Murphy, director of the Northeast and Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and an associate professor at Rutgers School of Health Professions, in New Jersey. “Take time to discuss things they can do to feel more connected to their peers through remote means. For younger teens, this may mean relaxing some of your restrictions on social media use. Explore new apps and tools that can facilitate group chats and video connection so they can stay connected to their peers,” Murphy said in a Rutgers news release. “While you don’t want to encourage them to be on their electronic devices all the time, it is important to recognize the critical role of…  read on >