Almost 10-30% of the adult population on the globe suffers from chronic insomnia. The nasty feeling of constant tossing and turning on the bed throughout the night is unbearable. This sleep disorder could get triggered by plenty of things, such as poor sleeping habits, depression, anxiety, lack of exercise, chronic illness, or any specific medication. Symptoms may include difficulty falling or staying asleep and not feeling well-rested.

Well, over time, experts have come up with a few hacks to get a person back to sleep from the ‘no-sleep’ cycle and to sever all the fidgeting.

Proper bed-time: No matter how tempting it might sound to sleep in for a couple of more hours or staying up late, you should never do that. Making a proper sleep schedule is necessary as the mind and body adapt to that routine. Any difference in the same could create a disturbance and might affect the sleeping pattern. 

4-7-8 technique: The 4-7-8 breathing method is a simple 5-step procedure that requires you to –

1. Part your lips slightly and make a whooshing sound as you exhale through your mouth.
2. Close your lips and inhale silently through your nose. Count to 4 in your head.
3. Then hold your breath for 7 seconds.
4. Exhale for 8 seconds.
5. Complete this cycle for four full breaths.

Early dinner: Heading to bed, right after having your dinner is a big NO. Experts suggest having dinner two to three hours before bed. Doing so helps you relax your digestive system and allows your body to sleep early.

Cut Caffeine: Switching over to non-caffeine drinks can lead to higher chances of hitting the bed early. Drinking caffeinated beverages in the afternoon can also sabotage sleep. According to a 2015 study in Science Translational Medicine, caffeine not only gives us a jolt of energy but delays the circadian clock that tells us when to get ready for sleep and when to prepare to wake up.

Turn a few pages: Several studies have found that reading before going to bed improves and increasing the percentage of sound sleep. Good old-fashioned reading can help you relax, in part because getting engrossed in a story frees your mind from the clutches of day-to-day stresses.

Bore yourself: Well, nobody enjoys getting bored and the brain to be very specific hates it more than anything! Not indulging in any exciting activity reduces the dopamine level which can help your brain feel inactive and dull, and will help you fall asleep earlier.

Try bathing:  A hot bath may promote sleep because your core body temperature rises and then falls when you step out, mimicking what happens naturally gets you to feel drowsy. This manipulative technique can help your body relax and sleep quickly.

Reduce screen-time: Constantly gazing at the screen can make you anxious and more at unrest which might lead to sleeplessness. Our body’s internal clock is highly sensitive to the blue spectrum light emitted by the screens because it sends a signal to the brain that it’s daytime. Stepping away from television sets, phones, tablets, laptops, computers, etc, can do the trick.

Snack smart: We all more or less give in to our inner demons and satisfy those diabolic cravings. However, choosing what you eat can help your body feel light, switching to healthy foods instead can prove to be a blessing. This subtle process can bring a drastic impact on your body.

Try reflexology: Reflexology is often recommended to cure sleeplessness, with a particular focus on the pressure points on the ear and foot. Massaging your big toes for a couple of minutes, and also the center of your feet can relax the body and help you get a good night’s sleep.

A portion of the population is still reluctant of taking the jab, and there were several myths and rumors about the vaccines and their side effects on the human body. The impact of such vaccines on women was greatly perturbing. Many claimed that expecting and lactating mothers shouldn’t take the jab, while others said that one shouldn’t get vaccinated before their menstrual cycle. Now, some of them came up with such assertions as per which, a few of them reported short-term changes in their menstrual cycle following vaccination.

Several women said they experienced a heavier period, heightened cramps, or an early, delayed, or even absent period after their COVID-19 jab. But drawing a connection between menstrual patterns and vaccination is far from straightforward.

The UK’s Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has so far received more than 13,000 reports from people who have experienced period changes after having a Covid-19 jab.

In the US, associate professor of anthropology Dr. Kate Clancy posted a Twitter thread detailing the menstrual changes she had experienced after the Moderna jab back in February. Hundreds of people responded saying they too had observed changes – from heavier bleeding to delayed periods – after getting vaccinated.

Despite anecdotal reports, there is no scientific evidence that links menstrual irregularities to the coronavirus vaccines, and there are many factors that can affect menstruation, including stress.

Dr. Katie Lee, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Division of Public Health Sciences at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, US, also noticed changes to her menstrual cycle after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine in January. She experienced cramping and spotting, despite having a hormonal intrauterine device that usually prevents her from getting periods.

Dr. Lee suspects the vaccines are not affecting people’s hormones, but rather acting on the inflammatory or hematological systems in the body.

“We attribute a lot of biological processes to strictly hormones; hormones are really important and cool, but there are all these other immune and inflammatory processes that are also involved,” Lee says. “The endometrial lining is constantly being broken down and built up and broken down and built up, and that’s just a tonne of cellular regeneration.

“A lot of these mechanisms rely on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes to regulate this tissue building.”

Lee says she expects the vaccines will only impact a couple of cycles in those affected, as doses in the US are administered between 21 and 28 days – effectively across two menstrual cycles.

At this stage, experts believe the vaccine’s potential impact on periods will be short-lived, but the currently limited understanding of their link has also led to public concern over the jabs’ impact on fertility.

“We, the greater scientific medical infrastructure, are continuing to gather more and more information that shows that the vaccine does not have an effect on fertility, it does not have an effect on miscarriage rates, or the rate of healthy birth outcomes, whether somebody was vaccinated before they got pregnant or vaccinated during pregnancy,” Lee explains.

“So, it’s very, very safe for getting pregnant, being pregnant, and having a baby – far more safe, in fact, than accidentally getting Covid because you were exposed and not vaccinated; that we do see is very, very risky for the gestational process, for both the parent and the child.”

However, a plausible reason could be that the womb lining is part of the immune system and as a matter of fact, there are immune cells in almost every part of the body.

Immune cells play a role in building up, maintaining, and breaking down the lining of the uterus – which thickens to prepare for pregnancy, and then sheds in the form of a period if the egg is not fertilized.

After vaccination, lots of chemical signals which have the potential to affect immune cells are circulating through the body. This could cause the womb lining to shed, and lead to spotting or earlier periods. There might be side effects, but the experts claim them to be short-lived and temporary.

Paying a visit to the dentist sounds like a hassle, yet most of us ignore our dental health. Oral health forms a major part of our hygiene not taking proper care of it can lead to severe oral health implications.

“Brushing your teeth is only a part of a complete dental care routine. Washing the mouth twice a day keeps it clean. Floss your teeth; it helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line. Eat a balanced diet and limit snacking between meals. Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings,” says Dr. Batra.

Listed here are a few mistakes we shut our eyes to, which we shouldn’t:

Improper toothbrush: Not using a proper and hard toothbrush can lead to serious damages which can wear out the teeth’ enamel. Most people tend to change their brushes twice a year. But dentists recommend changing it every three months for proper oral hygiene and keeping the effectiveness intact. Using an improper brush can cause maximum damage over the years by wearing off healthy, natural teeth with overzealous care.

Incorrect strokes:  Most of us are habituated with performing long horizontal brushing strokes which can lead to irritation and damage. Rather one should use vertical strokes instead of horizontal, the brush should be held at an angle of 45 degrees to the gums and one should use brush gums and teeth with an up and down motion and short strokes and avoid side strokes. Also, one should start brushing on areas that they have been ignoring till now like the inner portions.

Frequent brushing: The paranoia of avoiding a dentist however can get through us terribly. Most of us find brushing an easier alternative. But, excessive brushing can damage the gums and enamel. It does not take a lot of pressure to remove the plaque thus most dental practitioners suggest brushing using a balanced pressure. Hence, one should refrain from brushing their teeth not more than twice a day.

Prolonged usage of whitening or sensitive toothpaste: Medicated toothpaste is meant to mask sensitivity over a prolonged period. Though, such a practice masks the symptom, but does not treat the problem, and using it, in the long run, can make one vulnerable to cavities, gum disease, and bad breath, since the predominant component in such toothpaste is for treating sensitivity or lightening tooth colour.

Sensitive toothpaste is meant to be used for a prescribed period and whitening toothpaste must be used under supervision to prevent any potential damage to your teeth. Toothpaste must protect your teeth and gums, so use a combination that contains fluoride that protects your teeth from decay, and gel-based parts which have antibacterial properties to prevent gum disease and bad breath.

Teeth wrangle: Hard brushing is a big NO as it leads to gum damage. Brushing more than 3-4 times is also not recommended. Since unlearning a bad brushing habit may be hard, an automatic brush might do the trick. A battery-operated brush takes the guesswork out of brushing. It may take a while to get adjusted to it, but automatic brushes make dental hygiene easy and even reduce the frequency of your dental visits.

The third wave of the COVID-19 is largely speculated to hit the children and since the vaccination hasn’t started on full scale, making the younger ones extremely vulnerable. However, newly conducted studies and research now state that even though if children get infected with the virus, they are most likely to recover within a week and the percentage of those who suffer from ‘long covid’ is comparatively lower.

According to a study in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, less than 1 in 20 children with COVID-19 have symptoms lasting longer than 4 weeks, and by 8 weeks, almost all have recovered.

The peer-reviewed study, published in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal, wanted to understand how Covid affected children and how it compared to other respiratory diseases.

It used data provided by parents or carers to the UK Zoe Covid Study app.

The study looked at 1,734 children, aged between 5-17, who were reported to have developed symptoms and tested positive for Covid between September 2020 and February 2021.

The researchers say it is very difficult to know how many children were infected during this time period as the four UK nation record data differently, but they estimate more than 400,000 children and young people tested positive.

 Fewer than one in 20 (4%) were found to have experienced symptoms for four weeks or more, with one in 50 (2%) having symptoms for more than eight weeks.

The most common symptoms reported were headaches and tiredness. Others included a sore throat and loss of smell.

On average, older children were typically ill for slightly longer than primary school children, with those aged between 12 and 17 taking a week to recover while for younger children the illness lasted five days.

Senior author Emma Duncan, PhD, in King’s College London, said in a press release, “We know from other studies that many children who catch coronavirus don’t show any symptoms at all; and it will be reassuring for families to know that those children who do fall ill with COVID-19 are unlikely to suffer prolonged effects.”

She added, “However, our research confirms that a small number do have a long illness duration with COVID-19, though these children too usually recover with time.”

Most of the kids recovered within a month, around 4.4 per cent (77) of them experienced symptoms even after a month. The most common symptom that remained after four weeks was fatigue.

Out of the 77, 64 children reported suffering from fatigue at some point in their illness. Loss of smell and headache were also common. Headache was common during the starting of the infection, while loss of smell occurred later and persisted for a longer period.

Older children were typically ill for longer than primary school-aged children.

The team also assessed the children who tested negative for COVID-19 but may have other illnesses such as cold and flu. It was found that children with COVID-19 were ill for longer as compared to children with other illnesses who tested negative for the virus.

The data highlights that illnesses like cold and flu can also have prolonged symptoms in children and thus it’s important to be careful.

India’s total tally of Covid-19 cases rose to 3,17,69,132 and the active caseload increased to 4,10,353, according to data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday, as 42,625 people tested positive for the Covid infection in a day.Taking the death toll to 4,25,757 with 562 fatalities.

The number of active cases increased to 4,10,353 and accounted for 1.29 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate rose to 97.37 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

An increase of 5,395 cases has been recorded in the active caseload in a span of 24 hours. As many as 18,47,518 samples were tested on Tuesday taking the number of tests conducted so far for detection of Covid-19 in the country to 47,31,42,307.

The daily positivity rate stood at 2.31 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 2.36 per cent, according to the ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,09,33,022, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.34 per cent, according to the data.

Meanwhile, amid the ongoing cases of Covid in the country, Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Wendesday, said children up to 18 years will be provided free health insurance of  Rs.5 lakhs under Ayushman Bharat and its premium will be paid by PM Care. The Union Minister tweeted, “As part of the steps taken to take care of children affected by #COVID19, children up to 18 years will be provided free health insurance of  Rs.5 lakhs under Ayushman Bharat and its premium will be paid by PM Care.”

Ayushman Bharat is a health protection scheme to provide health insurance to citizens. It provides insurance coverage of up to Rs.5 lakh on a family floater basis to beneficiaries every year in order to receive primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare services. The scheme was earlier referred to as AB-NHPS as it is an initiative under the existing National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS). Currently, it is known as Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). The government plans to distribute this scheme through national insurance companies. The scheme subsumes the existing senior citizen health insurance scheme as well as the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana.

The ministry claims that PMJAY will provide cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiary at the point of service. It will help reduce catastrophic expenditure for hospitalizations, which impoverishes people and will help mitigate the financial risk arising out of catastrophic health episodes.

The beneficiary families under AB-PMJAY have been identified on the basis of select deprivation and occupational criteria in rural and urban areas respectively as per SECC 2011 database.

This covers approximately 10.74 crore families (50 crore people). Further, the States/UTs implementing AB-PMJAY have extended the coverage of the scheme to 13.17 crore families (approx. 65 crore people).

When the scheme was launched, the Ministry of Health had said that Ayushman Bharat would provide a cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. It said that over 10.74 crore vulnerable entitled families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) will be eligible for these benefits.

The objective of the scheme is to ensure comprehensive care and protection of children in a sustained manner, and enable their well-being through health insurance, empower them through education and equip them for self-sufficient existence with financial support on reaching 23 years of age.

With a spike in the number of cases again, it comes down to a root cause i.e., the problem is the rise in concern about the coronavirus is driven pretty much exclusively by the unvaccinated.

In July, 44% of vaccinated adults indicated they were extremely or very concerned about the virus. This was up from 36% in late June. Among the unvaccinated, concern was stable at 23%. The opposite, in theory, should be the case. The unvaccinated should be the most scared.

Which could also be stated as the lack of fear about the virus is probably part of the reason that the unvaccinated haven’t gotten a shot. It would also explain why it’s difficult to reach much of the unvaccinated through messages about how dangerous the virus is.

Claims raising doubts about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines began circulating on social media ever since the onset of the vaccination drive world-wide. For instance, a meme published on Instagram in late July 2021 claimed that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people were at risk of getting infected by SARS-CoV-2, transmitting the disease or dying from it and that vaccinated people were additionally exposed to the risk of dying from the vaccine.

By only listing detrimental outcomes without explaining how likely these outcomes are for either group, this misleading post tricked the reader into believing that both the vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals are equally at risk. Overall, the message is that remaining unvaccinated is safer than getting vaccinated.

However, on the contrary to what this claim suggests, vaccines don’t need to have a 100% efficiency to be effective at fighting the pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collected the data from 37 clinical trials and real-world monitoring of vaccination campaigns. All these studies found significant effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection, symptomatic COVID-19, and death, ranging from 64% to 99%. In fact, the majority of those studies reported an effectiveness of above 90%. Effectiveness is determined by comparing the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalization, or deaths in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Thus, a 90% effectiveness indicates that vaccination reduces by 90% the number of people getting infected, sick, or dying from the disease.

Even in the rare event where vaccinated people get infected, results indicate that they are much less contagious than unvaccinated individuals in general. Part of the reason why vaccinated people are less susceptible to severe forms of COVID-19 and less likely to infect others is that the COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce the viral load among the few individuals who would get infected.

Thus, summarizing the above, as per the claims, casting doubt over the usefulness of COVID-19 vaccines are misleading when they fail to inform the audience that vaccinated people are much less likely to get sick than unvaccinated individuals. Epidemiological studies indicate that vaccination significantly reduces the odds of getting infected, developing a severe form of the disease, and dying from COVID-19.

There is no vaccine that is 100% effective therefore, it is normal to observe some breakthrough infections among vaccinated people. But these are rare compared to cases in unvaccinated people. Furthermore, even in breakthrough infections, the viral load tends to be lower than in unvaccinated patients, thus limiting the risks of transmission and hospitalization.

The degree of efficacy of the vaccines against the ‘variant of concern’ has been the ‘cause of concern’ for everyone. The Delta variant which has spread to 99 countries is a variant of concern and was also responsible for the second wave in India. Delta variant has also been identified as the leading cause of breakthrough infections globally among vaccinated individuals. Recently, the Delta variant has mutated to Delta AY.1, AY.2 and AY.3. Of these, Delta AY.1 variant (Delta Plus) was first detected in India in April 2021 and subsequently, from 20 other countries as well.

However, a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology has said that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is found to be effective against the Delta and Delta plus variant. The study released on Monday showed that Covaxin provides 65.2 per cent protection against the Delta variant which was first detected in India. The Delta variant has also been identified as the leading cause of breakthrough infections globally among vaccinated individuals, the study said. The study said that a minor reduction in the neutralising antibody titer in Covid-19 recovered cases and full BBV152 vaccinated and post immunized infected cases was observed but the vaccine was found to be effective against the Delta, Delta AY.1 and B.1.617.3 variants.

The study was published as a pre-print on bioRxiv and said that Sera of vaccines among Covid naïve recovered cases with full vaccination and breakthrough cases demonstrated 1.3, 2.5 and 1.9-fold reduction against Delta variant in comparison to B.1 variant respectively.

This demonstrates the possible role of memory cells in immune-boosting with post-infection or infection after immunization.

The comparative analysis of all the groups revealed that the B.1.617.3 seems to be less susceptible to neutralization followed by Delta AY.1 and Delta variants compared to B.1, the study said.

Meanwhile, two shots of AstraZeneca which is the same as the Covishield vaccine was found to be 67 per cent effective against the Delta variant according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Dr Samiran Panda, head of epidemiology and communicable diseases, ICMR, told, “Our research showed that Covaxin could still neutralise Delta, AY.1 and B.1.617.3 variants.” Concluding the same Dr Panda said, “The bottomline is that Covaxin is effective and slight reduction in neutralisation antibody titres is not going to be detrimental for the vaccination programme.”

Lead author Dr Pragya Yadav said a minor reduction was observed in the neutralising antibody titer in Covid- 19 recovered cases, fully vaccinated and post immunised infected cases as compared to Covid-19 naive vaccinated individuals.

“However, with the observed high titers, the sera of individuals belonging to all the groups in the study would still neutralise the Delta, Delta AY.1 and B.1.617.3 variants effectively,” Dr Yadav said. 

Although, as per the Bharat Biotech’s concluding final analysis of Covaxin efficacy from Phase3 trials on July 3, Covaxin demonstrated 77.8 per cent effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 and 65.2 per cent protection against the B.1.617.2 Delta variant. 

Despite the sera of Covid-recovered cases with vaccinations and breakthrough cases of infection showing considerable reduction in the neutralisation antibody titre, Covaxin vaccine could still neutralise Delta, AY.1 and B.1.617.3 variants.

A vaccine booster is the injection of an additional dose, intended to maintain immune protection against a given pathogen. The process is common because our immunity can weaken over time quite naturally. The vaccine injected during the booster is often identical to the first. But not necessarily as when the targeted virus is known to evolve rapidly, its vaccine must be modified regularly in order to adapt to it. A sign of the need for a booster would be the growing epidemic among those vaccinated. For now, vaccines remain largely effective, but the exact level of individual immunity they provide is still being evaluated.

To assess immunity, the researchers are looking in particular at certain antibodies induced by vaccines: those which recognise the Spike protein, allowing the coronavirus to enter cells, and which would be of major importance.

In support of this idea, a study showing that mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna), which appear to be the most effective, generate a higher level of antibodies in the blood than adenovirus vaccines (Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca ). A preliminary study also suggests that the level of anti-Spike antibodies would be lower in former Covid-19 patients, including after injection of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

But until researchers know for sure how to measure immunity induced by vaccination, the sign to follow as to the need for a booster will be, as noted previously, the evolution of the number of infections in people who have been vaccinated especially after a certain age; in fact, after 80 years of age, vaccination leads to a lower production of antibodies and therefore an immunity which could possibly decline more rapidly than in the general population. The elderly may also be more susceptible to the new variants

Meanwhile, Britain announced to offer COVID-19 booster vaccines to 32 million Britons starting early next month with up to 2,000 pharmacies set to deliver the programme, The Telegraph reported on Sunday.

The government has been preparing since at least June, when the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) called for a plan to offer the third shot to people 70 years old or older, care home residents and those who are vulnerable for health reasons.

As per the government figures, at least 90% of British adults have received at least one shot, but that rate falls to 60% for those 18-30 years old.

To encourage younger adults to get vaccinated before colder weather prompts people to spend more time indoors, the Department of Health and Social Care said that restaurants, food delivery services and ride-hailing apps are offering discounts to persuade people to be vaccinated.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said, according to the Associated Press, “The lifesaving vaccines not only protect you, your loved ones and your community, but they are helping to bring us back together by allowing you to get back to doing the things you’ve missed.”

The campaign could start as soon as September 6, which would see the rollout completed by early December if it goes to plan, the report added.

India reported 43,654 fresh COVID-19 cases today, as compared to yesterday’s 29,689 daily new cases.

The country reported 640 deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the Union Health Ministry. As per the Ministry, the active caseload of India is 3,99,436, and the daily positivity rate is 2.51 per cent.

41,678 recoveries were also reported in the last 24 hours. With this, the cumulative recoveries are now 3,06,63,147 with a 97.39 per cent recovery rate.

Total deaths recorded in India are 4,22,022.

The ministry also informed that 44,61,56,659 COVID vaccine doses have been administered under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive so far, and 46.09 crore COVID tests have also been conducted.

 With the number of fresh cases recorded falling on a daily basis and a huge drop in the mortality rates for the time being has provided a sense of contentment among the country natives. But, the approaching third wave is at an alarming stage and still a huge chunk of the population is left unvaccinated which is raising the bars of concern. To provide a smooth and steady procedure, a subject Expert Committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Thursday recommended conducting a study on mixing doses of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines. Further, the expert panel also recommended mixing of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and a nasal vaccine candidate, while also recommending clinical trials for Biological E’s Covid-19 vaccine on children.

The purpose behind the study of mixing Covid-19 vaccines is to see whether a person can be given two different vaccine shots of Covishield and Covaxin to complete the inoculation course.

As per sources, the application of the interchangeability study protocol of Covishield and Covaxin was moved by Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore.

“The Phase 4 trials for mixing doses of Covaxin and Covishield will soon take place soon on healthy 300 volunteers,” they stated.

The expert group also discussed the application by Biological E for conducting phase two and three clinical trials of its Covid-19 vaccine on the paediatric population aged 5 to 17 years, along with the safety and immunogenicity data (after the first vaccine dose) from the ongoing phase two and three clinical trials on adult. “The expert committee has further recommended that the safety and immunogenicity data from phase 2 part of phase two and three clinical trials– on adults should be submitted to the CDSCO,” added sources.

Apart from this, the expert committee also recommended allowing Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech to carry out a study on the interchangeability of its Covaxin and an undertrial nasal vaccine candidate BBV154.

The panel has however asked Bharat Biotech to remove the word ‘interchangeability’ from its study title and submit a revised study protocol for its approval.

The expert committee was also supposed to discuss the application filed by Johnson and Johnson (J&J) that is seeking permission to conduct Phase-3 clinical trial of its single-dose Covid-19 vaccine in India. However, the company informed the panel that they are withdrawing their proposal, PTI reported.

Johnson and Johnson had sought approval for conducting Phase-3 clinical trial of its vaccine on approximately 600 participants in two age groups: Between 18 and 59 years, and those aged 60 and above. This was to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of its vaccine in healthy Indian adults.

However, a final approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is awaited.

Since 2020, we have been greatly worried about any minor symptom and lassitude and tend to worry if it is COVID-19 and if yes, then what will be the worst case scenario. But lately, we have been so consumed with the thoughts and concerns of COVID-19 that we eventually have ignored the existence of the other prior health issues and medical conditions. All those illnesses still exist, whether there is an ongoing pandemic or not. And, in fact, doctors warn that ignoring regular check-ups and follow-ups will bring a deluge (like a pandemic) of earlier known health conditions and complications.

Here are a few symptoms that one should never ignore:

1. Jaw and/or throat pain:

Unlike shown in movies, people rightaway don’t collapse clutching their chest and die from heart attack. The symptoms often come slowly and people may describe an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts a few minutes, or goes away and comes back again. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, not everyone experiences classic chest pain with a heart attack, especially women. Pressure, discomfort or aching in your arms, neck, jaw or back can be your only symptom. Dr. Peter Bogaty of the Montreal Cardiac Clinic says: “The heart, esophagus and organs within the chest all share a common nerve supply with the jaw and arms, so it isn’t necessarily the heart.” But if the feeling is new, doesn’t feel right and doesn’t go away after a few minutes, call for help.

2. Anosmia, even if not from covid-19:

The loss of smell and taste is one of the major symptoms of the deadly COVID-19 and people generally look out for these symptoms initially. Besides respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 and influenza, other conditions like allergies, nasal polyps, and nerve issues could be possible culprits for someone losing their sense of smell. People with anosmia may not be able to fully taste foods and may lose interest in eating. This can lead to weight loss or malnutrition. Anosmia can also lead to depression because it may impair one’s ability to smell or taste pleasurable foods. More serious conditions that affect the brain or nerves, such as brain tumors or head trauma, can cause permanent loss of smell. Old age sometimes causes anosmia.

2. Anosmia, even if not from covid-19:

The loss of smell and taste is one of the major symptoms of the deadly COVID-19 and people generally look out for these symptoms initially. Besides respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 and influenza, other conditions like allergies, nasal polyps, and nerve issues could be possible culprits for someone losing their sense of smell. People with anosmia may not be able to fully taste foods and may lose interest in eating. This can lead to weight loss or malnutrition. Anosmia can also lead to depression because it may impair one’s ability to smell or taste pleasurable foods. More serious conditions that affect the brain or nerves, such as brain tumors or head trauma, can cause permanent loss of smell. Old age sometimes causes anosmia.

3. Continuous Fatigue:

Sometimes an awry schedule or sudden change in daily routine might lead to fatigue or extreme tiredness, but it also might be due to heavy smoking, not getting enough sleep or increased alcohol consumption. Though, even after ruling out all these factors, if fatigue still persists, you should ask your doctor about pathological tests he may want to advise to check your haemoglobin, Thyroid (T3, T4, TSH) hormone levels. Heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, depression, auto-immune disorders, certain types of cancers, etc too creep in unnoticed. So make an appointment with a doctor and get the correct diagnosis soon.

4. Flashes of light:

Migraine sufferers know this symptom very well. During an ocular migraine or migraine with aura, you may see flashing or shimmering lights, zigzagging lines, or stars. These episodes can be frightening, but in most cases, they’re harmless and short-lived, and eyesight goes back to normal afterwards. But it could also be a sign of Retinal detachment. This often happens and is pretty much harmless, but these signs of changes are due to the vitreous gel inside our eyeballs. But sudden, bright ashes or a larger number of oaters can mean the retina has torn. That’s an eye emergency and should not ignore.

5. Tingling sensation in your legs and arms:

It is quite normal for each of us to feel normal pins and needles sensation that one gets after sitting cramped in one position. Mayo Clinic site says that Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in your legs and feet. Depending on the affected nerves, diabetic neuropathy symptoms can range from pain and numbness in your legs and feet to problems with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. If symptoms persist, you should visit a doctor.