To be able to live harmoniously with COVID-19, people are expected to grow and nurture a healthy lifestyle in addition to maintaining health protocol discipline and getting vaccine protection. This combination plays a pivotal role in boosting endurance and the body’s immune system to deal with the threat of COVID-19. The government has constantly reminded people to stay alert to the possibility of a new case surge, even though recently cases have been continuously declining. The upcoming Christmas and New Year holiday season must not be a reason for people to drop their guard, as the threat of COVID-19 remains.

To avoid a case surge, people have been asked to maintain health protocol discipline and cautiously consider all options before deciding to travel. Besides that, people have also been asked to get vaccinated to boost their immune system and to minimize the damage if infected by COVID-19. People were also advised to live a healthy lifestyle to maximize their immunity so they would not easily get sick.

“Our body will be able to cure itself if we have an excellent immune system,” Dr. dr. Wawan Mulyawan said. However, Wawan offered a reminder that COVID-19 could cause serious symptoms depending on each person’s respective condition and endurance. People with a weak immune system are more likely to experience serious symptoms, while those with a strong immune system, such as athletes, were more likely to have no symptoms and recover quickly.

Wawan highlighted that maintaining physical endurance and a healthy immune system were the two top priorities, and these two conditions were doable by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. People in prime condition could be more resistant to COVID-19 compared with people with obesity and diabetes, who are closely associated with an unhealthy lifestyle.

“Maintaining a healthy lifestyle has two purposes, firstly, avoiding contracting the disease, or if it has already been contracted, the body could provide resistance. And secondly, if one has already been infected by COVID-19, then he or she would usually display regular symptoms compared with those who live an unhealthy lifestyle,” said Wawan, who is also an army colonel and chairman of the University of Indonesia’s Medical School alumni.

Generally, Wawan said that maintaining a healthy lifestyle would also help to maintain physical and mental health. Physically, personal fitness could be achieved through regular workouts and eating a nutritious and balanced diet.

“Even though we spend most of our time at home during the pandemic, please be more active, not just spending your time sitting and laying down.”

As for mental health, he suggested people reduce stressful activities by getting enough sleep and taking part in religious activities, among other things.

“Generally, please avoid anything that could lower your immunity, both physically and mentally,” said Wawan.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Inforial (The Jakarta Post)

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