Life Habits

[BREWSTERS]

And there's this from the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.

 

[newguy]

To best avoid covid-19, avoid lockdowns, don't wear masks, stop washing your hands and remain at a distance of no more than 50cm for the nearest person that's coughing up a lung. This is the surefire way to ensure that the virus magically disappears overnight.

Alternatively, we can build on the progress that was clearly achieved through lockdown, by being careful, considerate and following the growing body of research that point towards cleanliness, distancing, and mask wearing as factors that can help to reduce spread.

Once the r0 rate is high (see Florida), even if each person spreads it to 1 individual, that's still 10-15,000+ cases a day where many hospitals are already full. A dire situation for public health and business (some states like California are already on lockdown number 2) that is difficult to fix without extensive measures. When it's low we have options and I'd rather it ebb along at numbers that are easily dealt with, and for us to open up on that basis, then make further mistakes and have another national shutdown.

The bulk of research clearly shows that masks, especially decent ones do work very well, and when we're dealing with issues like exponential growth, even a slight reduction of transmission can make a massive difference over time. It's possible for find individual articles that support any view, but if people honestly go into it with no preconceptions and are not working back from a pre-set conclusion to begin with, they will draw the conclusion that masks do help. It's a minor inconvenience at worst. I'd rather be wrong about their impact, than responsible for potentially making others gravely ill.

 

[BREWSTERS]

To best avoid covid-19, avoid lockdowns, don't wear masks, stop washing your hands and remain at a distance of no more than 50cm for the nearest person that's coughing up a lung. This is the surefire way to ensure that the virus magically disappears overnight.

Or, to avoid a respiratory problem, cover your mouth and nose with material that can cause....respiratory problems. Make sense?

Alternatively, we can build on the by being careful, considerate and following the growing body of research that point towards cleanliness, distancing, and mask wearing as factors that can help to reduce spread.

https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/lockdown-deaths-not-covid-deaths

Once the r0 rate is high (see Florida), even if each person spreads it to 1 individual, that's still 10-15,000+ cases a day where many hospitals are already full. A dire situation that is difficult to fix without extensive measures. When it's low we have options and I'd rather it ebb along at numbers that are easily dealt with, and for us to open up on that basis, then make further mistakes and have another national shutdown.

The bulk of research clearly shows that masks, especially decent ones do work very well, and when we're dealing with issues like exponential growth, even a slight reduction of transmission can make a massive difference over time. It's possible if find individual articles that support any view. That's how some lose their way, but if people honestly go into it with preconceptions and are not working back from a pre-set conclusion to begin with, they will draw the conclusion that masks do help. It's a minor inconvenience at worst. I'd rather be wrong about their impact, than responsible for potentially making others gravely ill.

Sorry, the bulk of research clearly shows that masks do NOT work very well, and can cause more harm than good to the wearer, as shown in the evidence in my two previous posts.

As for 'exponential growth' as bandied about - there has never been exponential growth.

But hey, if you want to wear one that's fine.

 

[newguy]

Or, to avoid a respiratory problem, cover your mouth and nose with material that can cause....respiratory problems. Make sense?

Almost everyone in Japan wears a mask. Why do they have higher life expectancy than us if masks are so harmful to their health? Also I note that Covid-19 numbers haven't reached US type numbers where mask wearing is commonplace. It takes quite some effort to turn mask wearing into some kind of facehugger death trap . The bulk of research suggests that they have a level of positive impact. I honestly think it's part opting for the ol' tinfoil hat over a facemask, and part way of coping with what is clearly a horrendous situation that there is no easy way out of for say a year plus. People can believe what they want, but some are inclined to lean into alternative perspectives, and so I wanted to just chime in about something that I view as a positive, not negative action.

View attachment 2877

It perfect sense that if both parties are wearing a mask it's a more effective setup than one doing so. I wouldn't have mandated it myself, largely due to the potential for abuse or violence that might be directed towards supermarket staff on minimum wage, who have a tough enough job already. But from a health perspective I support it. I accept that in some environments (pubs etc) wearing a mask is not at all workable. However, for elderly people wishing to stay safe and do their weekly shop, I would like to do my bit and offer them a bit of piece of mind and solidarity. We already let them down horrendously with the care home situation, and this is a time to think of others rather than argue about something that is of very little inconvenience to adhere to during a pandemic.

 

[Edwin]

wearing masks is now compulsory, anyone who disagrees is entitles to but that's not the issue. 4 months of lockdown has maybe changed peoples habits and that might have put back years of advertising to addict people to certain trends and activities. I just wonder the effect on individuals who all of a sudden see the change of routine has maybe had a beneficial effect on their lives, health, outlook and well being and will not go back to where they were before the lockdown.

There will definitely be lasting changes (some of which may be positive).

For instance, over a million people are estimated to have quite smoking since lockdown began.

That's got to have a beneficial impact on health outcomes, longer term. Plus, if they smoked let's say half a pack a day each on average, that's £1.5 billion a year they can spend on other things instead - which could help boost industries trying to recover from the pandemic damage.
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/health/quit-smoking-coronavirus-uk-a4498586.html

 

[newguy]

The 'ideal' would be a vaccine, but we don't know if or when that's coming along (though some efforts look promising), we could opt for herd immunity, but again recent data questions how long immunity even lasts, so is a Florida type approach of pretending it doesn't exist useful? With so many unknowns the best approach is to keep the numbers down by making sensible choices.

I have zero interest in a second lockdown and so people just need to be careful and considerate to tip the balance between an inconvenience and a nightmare. Some believe that lockdown made the numbers higher, wearing masks makes you ill and so on. If there was a vaccine, then that would suddenly be the next problem or example of how 'they're out to get us' or control us. If we can keep the numbers ebbing along at current levels for the foreseeable, that can only be a good thing for both business and our health.

 

[Murray]

For instance, over a million people are estimated to have quite smoking since lockdown began

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...k-smokers-may-have-quit-coronavirus-lockdown/

"
More than a million people may have quit smoking in Britain during the pandemic, figures have suggested. A survey of 10,000 people indicated that.. "

That's a weird one

Why would they do a survey instead of looking at actual tabacco sales? or are there not regular statistics released on that

 

[newguy]

At last face masks compulsory, common sense prevails.

I now wonder how a 4 month break in habits will effect the future of many peoples way of life.
Anyone who has overcome an addiction will know how this works, there is a tendency when a load
is lightened to not go back to where you were.

I've tried to build positive habits during this time, getting more into fitness to help stay sane and creat routine. Also, I've been procrastinating less than usual so maybe boredom has been good for me! I'd like to hold onto these ways of being going forward, but who knows. From your post are you talking more about the risk of falling back into bad habits/additions? That can be tricky no doubt and could make it important to be extra determined for a time to ensure you stay on the right track.

 

[Nigel]

I know someone who intended to cut down smoking when he first heard about coronavirus, but has since near doubled the amount he is smoking during lockdown.

 

[Murray]

I've tried to build positive habits during this time, getting more into fitness to help stay sane and creat routine.

That's one thing not being pushed enough

Washing hands hands good, masks maybe - a better diet and exercise should go along with them

I've seen lots of reports correlated with vitamin D and respiratory problems, sun or supplement a must

 

[BREWSTERS]

I understand that the number of doctors who have put their name behind this letter is now in the thousands - it's about the effects of lockdown. Just becuase it's American, doesn't mean it doesn't apply here too.


As an aside, as a motorcyclist, some supermarket petrol stations used to have a policy that you had to remove your helmet - some before they'd switch the pump on, and some before entering the shop to pay.

Think of the fun shoplifters are going to have!

 

[Edwin]

Why would they do a survey instead of looking at actual tabacco sales? or are there not regular statistics released on that

Stats on tobacco duty collected (which is probably the closest to what you're talking about) are released by the UK Government 4x a year. The latest release is from April 2020 i.e. it doesn't capture lockdown. Should be another release soon, unless it's been delayed because of the pandemic.
https://assets.publishing.service.g...a/file/886243/2020_APR_Tobacco_Commentary.pdf

Ironically, in the latest release, tobacco duties shot up. But it's all explained in a footnote. Seems it's to do with producer behaviour ahead of the budget, rather than consumer action.

What a survey can capture that sales data can't is the behaviour of people. By that, I mean that it could be that smokers smoked more during lockdown, for stress or other reasons (so sales might have gone up). But in parallel a million people quit. So the total population of smokers fell.

 

[newguy]

That's one thing not being pushed enough

Washing hands hands good, masks maybe - a better diet and exercise should go along with them

I've seen lots of reports correlated with vitamin D and respiratory problems, sun or supplement a must

Definitely. There are consequences to any approach and balance is important. If people lock themselves away totally (even for elderly i'd say it's important to get out and about), have a bad diet, lack of vitamin D, become increasingly unfit, none of that will put them in good stead. So many people already had vitamin D deficiency going into this so it may have made matters worse. Not as though an of us know this virus would impact us, but if you have things on your side like age, good health, the possibility of being asymptomatic anyway, you end up in a good position!

 

[newguy]

Occasional Medichecks (https://medichecks.com/collections/monthly-offers) tests helped me get into somewhat better health and fitness habits, because it's harder to ignore these things when is it's laid out in front of you. It plots your tests against one another, so if you have any potential health concerns (that you might not even be aware of beforehand), you can see your progress in relation to steps you take to deal with it.

 

[Edwin]

Occasional Medichecks (https://medichecks.com/collections/monthly-offers) tests helped me get into somewhat better health and fitness habits, because it's harder to ignore these things when is it's laid out in front of you. It plots your tests against one another, so if you have any potential health concerns (that you might not even be aware of beforehand), you can see your progress in relation to steps you take to deal with it.

Not remotely in the same ballpark as the comprehensive check you've highlighted, but using a Withings "smart" weighing scale is a good prompt, because it tracks your weight, body fat etc. daily and the app will show you if you're progressing or regressing. Plus they will also send you weekly update emails, and "warning" emails, if you opt in.

I see the tech's progressed a lot since we bought ours a few years ago, and now the top end ones track a ton of stuff (Heart Rate, BMI, Fat, Muscle Mass, Water Percent) as well as watching your weight.

 

[Ben Thomas]

I'm not sure the gov. has common sense. It's been 6 months since the world began to understand that there was a new deadly virus about. Longer, in fact, for some people who were privy to that information coming out of China.

Yet now is the time to wear face coverings, lol. Ok.

 

[newguy]

I'm not sure the gov. has common sense. It's been 6 months since the world began to understand that there was a new deadly virus about. Longer, in fact, for some people who were privy to that information coming out of China.

View attachment 2878

Yet now is the time to wear face coverings, lol. Ok.

We should've definitely done so much earlier, but 'better late than never' being that the cases are now much lower and we want to keep it that way. The disaster would be if they start creeping up already and there was increasing talk of lockdowns. Lockdown number 2 just happened in California and we should take sensible steps to try to avoid that kind of outcome.

 

[Ben Thomas]

I will tell you now. If there is to be a second wave in the UK, it's because the gov. want a second wave. Personally, I think a lot of deaths could have been avoided rather easily. But the "herd immunity" plan that they backed out of because the of the public backlash they received, was most definitely still the play behind the scenes. I suspect we will see a second wave in the Winter perhaps, round I think maybe October things will get crazy again. I hope I'm stupidly wrong.

 

[newguy]

I will tell you now. If there is to be a second wave in the UK, it's because the gov. want a second wave. Personally, I think a lot of deaths could have been avoided rather easily. But the "herd immunity" plan that they backed out of because the of the public backlash they received, was most definitely still the play behind the scenes. I suspect we will see a second wave in the Winter perhaps, round I think maybe October things will get crazy again. I hope I'm stupidly wrong.

I do think we had many more potential options early on and that it's been botched up. We're making the best out of a bad situation now, and I agree that Winter could once again plunge us back into it. Let's hope some better treatments are discovered soon. Wishful thinking maybe but who knows.

 

[newguy]

Not remotely in the same ballpark as the comprehensive check you've highlighted, but using a Withings "smart" weighing scale is a good prompt, because it tracks your weight, body fat etc. daily and the app will show you if you're progressing or regressing. Plus they will also send you weekly update emails, and "warning" emails, if you opt in.

I see the tech's progressed a lot since we bought ours a few years ago, and now the top end ones track a ton of stuff (Heart Rate, BMI, Fat, Muscle Mass, Water Percent) as well as watching your weight.

Sounds interesting. I've seen these online before and always wondered how accurate they were, but as you say the technology nowadays is no doubt pretty advanced. A good motivator to keep track of these things too! I like the idea of a dreaded 'warning' email to get me to check. Is there a particular model that you'd recommend?