Exercise regularly and eat well, suggest Patna doctors

PATNA: With the recent change in the city’s weather, more and more people are getting sick. Almost 60% of the patients visiting different hospitals are suffering from diseases caused by fluctuations in temperature, say doctors.
According to health experts, change in weather brings out a spell of sickness. The weather itself does not make one sick, but the viruses do. Rhinovirus and coronavirus are the two main viruses that cause common cold, cough, and fever. They multiply rapidly during seasonal shifts, resulting in an increase in the number of people getting sick, they say.
Dr Satish Kumar of Nalanda Medical College and Hospital claims that 50-60% of the OPD patients visiting the hospital are victims of seasonal change. Most of them complain of sore throat, stuffy nose, respiratory problems, and fever.
He adds, “A human body performs its functions at a certain temperature. However, during a change in season, it is forced to readapt itself, making it highly susceptible to viruses and infections. People with lower immunity and prone to allergies are highly susceptible to these changes.”
Dr Bimal Kumar Karak, the former president of Indian Medical Association (Bihar branch), says during the current seasonal change in the state, pulmonary diseases and dengue are on the rise. TB is also showing a rising trend this year and the number of Covid-19 cases has also shown a slightly upward trend during the last three to four days.
He advises the people to protect themselves from cold and adopt Covid-appropriate behaviour in order to stay medically fit and healthy. “Eating a well-balanced diet, getting plenty of sleep, and keeping stress under control can help one deal with seasonal sickness better.”
Paediatrician, Dr Arun Shah, points out that children are most vulnerable to seasonal changes. They must be protected from cold and kept away from others affected by viral diseases. He adds, “Hospitals and nursing homes of almost all the cities in the state have reported maximum number of children suffering from seasonal diseases this year. Only a month back, the situation had come to such a pass that sick children were lying on floors and two to three kids were occupying one bed in different hospitals. Most of them suffered from viral fever and diarrhoea.”
Dr Shah further says children above six months must be administered a dose of influenza vaccine every year so that they stay protected against this virus during the change of season. Moreover, children also need to be protected against Covid-19 as they are yet to be vaccinated for the same.
Dr Prabhakar Devaj, former chief medical officer of Patna University Central Dispensary, says, “Every time we observe a change in season, the count of allergens in the environment also goes up to nearly 200 viruses in the air. The shift in temperatures provides an apt condition for different groups of viruses to flourish, which then spread contagious diseases.”
He suggests that with some minor precautions and lifestyle changes, it is possible to dodge seasonal sickness. “Practise good hygiene, exercise regularly, eat well, and take proper rest to avoid viral infection,” he urges people.