Connect with us

World News

Can Omicron’s ‘immunity’ end Covid-19 pandemic? Experts hint at ‘silver lining’

Published

3 years ago

on

Can Omicron’s ‘immunity’ end Covid-19 pandemic? Experts hint at ‘silver lining’

A series of new studies confirmed the silver lining of omicron variants: Even though the number of cases soared to record levels, the number of severe cases and hospitalizations did not. Some scientists say these data mark a new, less worrying chapter in the pandemic.

“We are at a completely different stage now,” said Monica Gan, an immunologist at the University of California, San Francisco. “The virus will always be with us, but I hope this variant can produce such a large immunity, so that the pandemic can be calmed.”

A variant of omicron was discovered in South Africa more than a month ago, and experts warned that this situation still has enough time to change. But data from the past week showed that the combination of extensive immunity and numerous mutations resulted in a virus that caused a much more serious disease than the previous iteration. A South African study found that compared with patients admitted to the hospital during the third wave of omicron and delta-dominated, the fourth wave of virus infection has a 73% lower probability of serious illness. “Wendy Burgers, an immunologist at the University of Cape Town, said: “Due to the decoupling of hospitalizations and cases, the data is now very reliable.”

In the early days, most of the warnings about omicron were due to the large number of mutations in this variant, many of which occurred in the spike protein, which is the part of the virus that helps it invade the host cell. Early data shows that these mutations allow the virus not only to easily infect unvaccinated people, but also to escape the antibody response of previous infections and vaccines. But the question remains, once omicron crosses the first line of defense, how will it develop. Compared with the previous wave of Covid-19, several factors appear to reduce the toxicity or severity of omicron variants. One factor is the ability of the virus to infect the lungs. Covid infection usually starts in the nose and then spreads to the throat. A mild infection will not go further than the upper respiratory tract, but if the virus reaches the lungs, more severe symptoms will usually appear.

Advertisement

But five independent studies in the past week showed that this variant is not as susceptible to lung infections as previous variants. In a study published in the form of an online preprint by a large consortium of Japanese and American scientists, hamsters and mice infected with omicron suffered much less lung damage and were more likely to die than those infected with previous mutations. People are much smaller. Another study in Belgium found similar results in Syrian hamsters. It is well known that these hamsters suffer from particularly serious diseases due to previous iterations of the virus.

In Hong Kong, scientists studied a small number of patient lung tissue samples collected during surgery and found that omicron grew slower in these samples than other variants.

Bergs said that this change in virulence may be related to changes in the anatomical structure of the virus.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times

Advertisement
Related Topics:
Continue Reading

health and remedies

Train smarter, not harder: How taking occasional breaks from gym can revolutionise your fitness routine

Published

1 day ago

on

November 21, 2024

By

Train smarter, not harder: How taking occasional breaks from gym can revolutionise your fitness routine

Taking regular breaks from intense training, like deload weeks, helps your body recover, preventing fatigue and injury, and ultimately boosts fitness gains.

When it comes to getting fit, the idea of spending hours at the gym might come to mind, but many fitness experts argue that taking a “deload week” every six to eight weeks is actually key to improving your fitness gains. A deload week involves reducing the intensity of workouts to allow the body to recover from the fatigue and muscle damage caused by intense training.

While high-intensity training helps build strength and fitness, it can also lead to muscle strain, and without adequate recovery, these gains can’t fully materialise. Deload weeks give the body much-needed rest to repair and rebuild, ensuring continued progress. (Also read: Bhagyashree swears by this super easy exercise for instant leg pain relief and better mobility. Watch how to do it )

Why recovery is key for muscle growth

According to an article by The Conversation, intense exercise can cause tiny tears in muscle fibres, leading to inflammation that requires rest or low-intensity exercise to heal. This inflammation is essential for muscle growth and fitness improvements. However, without proper recovery, muscles remain in a state of slight damage, preventing inflammation from resolving. This chronic state of inflammation can hinder muscle function, reducing oxygen efficiency and impairing performance. Giving muscles time to recover through rest ensures they repair properly and are primed for continued progress, setting us up for greater success in our fitness journey.

Advertisement

Many gymgoers fear taking time off and are worried it will lead to a loss of gains. However, research shows that muscle genes have a “memory imprint,” which keeps them in a semi-prepared state. This allows muscles to respond more quickly and effectively to future training, promoting growth after a rest period. Even after extended periods of reduced intensity, up to seven weeks, muscular fitness can be restored to prime condition—and in some cases, surpass previous levels. Interestingly, recovery can occur twice as fast as it took to reach peak fitness initially, even if some strength is lost.

Taking time off from intense training is crucial to prevent muscle soreness and avoid overtraining syndrome. Overtraining occurs when the body doesn’t get enough rest, leading to prolonged fatigue, decreased performance, and mood disturbances. Symptoms develop gradually, making overtraining difficult to recognize until it’s severe. Rest is essential to avoid these issues and ensure long-term progress in training.

Role of overtraining syndrome and deload weeks

Overtraining syndrome is challenging to quantify due to its vague symptoms. Studies suggest it may affect as few as 10% of elite athletes, though rates could climb to 60% among highly competitive individuals. Recovery is essential for both fitness and overall health. When engaging in heavy gym routines, it’s vital to incorporate sufficient recovery time into your workout plan. Unlike rest days, which involve little to no exercise once or twice a week, deload weeks feature lighter training at reduced intensity—typically about 50% fewer workouts or a 20% drop in workout intensity.

Both rest days and deload weeks are essential for recovery and crucial to improving fitness. It’s not about choosing one over the other—they complement each other. For instance, intense training for marathons, Ironman, or CrossFit competitions requires weekly rest days alongside scheduled deload weeks. However, for recreational gym-goers exercising 1–3 times weekly at a moderate intensity, the recovery from this routine is often sufficient without the need for additional deload weeks.

Advertisement

Fitness influencers recommend incorporating deload weeks into training schedules every 4–8 weeks, aligning closely with the expert advice of 4–6 weeks. However, it’s crucial to listen to your body and schedule deload weeks as needed. If your performance plateaus or worsens, it may signal time for a deload. Training plans should be flexible enough to allow rest when required. Deload weeks not only enhance performance but also support overall health.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

Group Media Publications
Entertainment News Platforms – anyflix.in      
Construction Infrastructure and Mining News Platform – https://cimreviews.com/
General News Platform – https://ihtlive.com/

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Anyskill-ads

Facebook

Trending