Health-&-Fitness
Bug-free Home: How to get rid of insects indoors
Who can resist the existence of creepy crawlies and bugs in home? They not only create unsanitary conditions, but also give annoying experiences. Fly, the mosquito, bees, wasps, scorpions and other insects can cause painful stings. Furthermore, fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks can carry diseases that they can transport to the body of pets or humans. Are you confused about how to keep insects away from the indoor areas of your home? Just keep scrolling!
Effective Ways to Keep Insects, Bugs Out of Your Home
Seal Your Doors
A properly sealed door can help keep out unwanted pests. It is efficient just like a locked door that can keep burglars out. You will be surprised to see that there are a number of unsealed gaps in your doors, each of which makes an easy entrance path for bugs. You can install an aluminum threshold under the door to prevent insects from crawling under your door.
Besides, you can combine this with a door sweep for better protection. Moreover, do not forget to add weatherstripping or door-seal kits to the perimeter of the frame to keep insects from entering along the sides or top of the door.
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Maintain Your Yard
Yard maintenance can prevent bug invasions, especially in the case of mosquitoes and fleas. Mosquitoes breed easily in the stagnant clean water. Storage of pooled water in your yard can enhance the mosquito population. So, you need to replace the water of your swimming pool regularly.
When you are watering plants into your yard, let the water get naturally absorbed into the soil. After rain let the stagnant water pass through the drainage system.
Besides, you must pay attention to the drainage system of your yard, which is related to the slope of the earth. Make sure your yard’s regular drainage channels are properly maintained. Try to keep the drainage channels free from leaves, grass clippings, and debris so they are able to operate effectively. This will reduce the number of bugs that are trying to enter your home.
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Finally, you need to remove any piles of leaves or debris from your yard because these areas are the perfect hiding spot for insects to hide and reproduce.
Repair Cracks
If you can fill in your cracks, you can stop fewer bugs from sliding through. There are the microscopic sizes of many bugs and they can enter the home through cracks or holes that are nearly invisible to the homeowner. So, make sure you seal cracks on your home's exterior. Don’t forget to pay special attention to the roofline, where bees and wasps frequently build nests.
Set out sticky traps
You can use old-fashioned sticky traps. You can trap every different type of pest that comes through, especially spiders and scorpions by using these sticky traps. Sticky traps are inexpensive. They are available in different shapes and sizes and are perfect for placing in areas where chemical insecticides can do damage to plants.
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Add Screens
A little hole can allow pests to crawl through so make sure there are no holes in your screen. Many people like natural ventilation from doors and windows to bring fresh air into the home, especially in the summer season. But it is a matter of sorrow that summer is the worst time of the year for mosquitoes, fleas, and other pests to invade your home.
If you wish to enjoy the fresh air without the annoyance of insects, install screens on windows and doors. However, you need to make sure that you seal all tiny holes to prevent insect entry.
Cover Large Openings
If there is a hole in your roof, it allows all the bugs — and bigger intruders into your home. You can fill larger openings and keep bugs out by using very fine wire mesh, often called hardwire cloth. However, you need to check to see if yours are operating properly and repair or replace the dampers as necessary.
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Store Trash Properly
Make sure you have a secure lid for your compost bin. The trash cans in a home are an epicure smorgasbord of cockroaches and other pests. So, if you want to prevent bugs from feasting on your trash, proper storage and handling are essential. Besides, it is important to clean and sanitize regularly all interior and exterior trash receptacles and recycling bins.
Keep Foundations Clear
Remember that your home's foundations are the closest part of the house to the ground and they are also one of the most common entry spots for bugs. So, you can reduce the likelihood of infestation by keeping foundations clear and protected.
Try to avoid chemical insecticides or termiticides and instead use natural solutions and non-toxic substances like boric acid or diatomaceous which will not harm pets or family members.
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Clean Up the Kitchen
At night your kitchen becomes a safe living place for bugs. So, besides sealing the holes of your home, you need to deep-clean your kitchen every day. First make sure that there’s no food particles left out in the kitchen which can attract the insects and bugs.
Moreover, don’t forget to cover all of your foodstuffs with lockable containers. Following these steps, you can go a long way in keeping a bug-free kitchen.
Dry Up Damp Areas
Make sure you always dry up the damping areas of your home because bugs are seeking food and water as well. Some home-invading pests like silverfish, springtails, and house centipedes hang out in damp places. So, fix any leaky faucets, drains, or pipes whenever you find them.
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Besides, don’t forget to test that your air conditioner, washing machine, and dryer are all working properly. In the case of damp areas run a dehumidifier and check the attic to make sure it’s dry.
Kill the Bugs You See
You can prevent the indoor bug invasion from becoming serious problems by taking early actions. So, make sure you kill any bugs you see first.
Dust Cleaning
Sometimes, tiny, microscopic bugs and insects have invaded your home escaping your attention. To prevent such incidents you need to make sure that you vacuum your floors at least once a week. It will help your home get rid of the insects. You need to clean all the corners of your home to eliminate their attraction to your home.
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Newborn Baby, Infant Care Tips during Summer
Summers are not easy for anyone, especially when the temperatures are very high. It is really difficult for your newborn baby to bear this high temperature. As a new parent, you are also wondering how you go about keeping your newborn baby cool during the summer. We’re here to help you with the 10 best amazing tips to care for your little angel in this terrible summer.
Why Do Babies Suffer in Summer?
The scorching heat of summer can be dangerous for newborn babies. Summer with its soaring temperatures can bring unbearable woes for your baby. Your baby can experience irritability and discomfort. Your baby can be sweating, its cheeks can be flushed, hair can be damp, and even has a heat rash. So, you need to make sure that your baby is cool and comfortable at all times.
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Essential Newborn Baby Care Tips for the Hot Summer Days
Baby’s Diet
As your newborn baby is breastfeeding, ensure to feed them frequently to keep them hydrated. Feed them after 30 minutes or 1 hour. Never let them feel thirsty. So, make sure you feel them before they are crying to eat.
If you are a working mother, you can suck your breast milk for your baby before going outside or you need to consult your doctor to have an alternative way. But remember, there is no alternative to mother’s milk for a newborn baby.
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Bathing
As in the summer season, your baby may sweat, and you need to bathe your baby regularly.
You can bathe your baby 3 or 4 days a week. But, make sure you consult your doctor before making the bathing routine for your baby. Bathing will keep your baby comfortable and help her sleep better.
However, of course, use lukewarm water for bathing your baby, and always check the temperature of the water first before bathing. Make sure you wash your baby’s neck, armpits, and all folds carefully while bathing and dry them immediately just after bathing.
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Light Dressing
Let your baby always wear light clothes. It is important to select cotton clothes for your baby for the summer which can breathe. Synthetic clothes are good for babies as they may increase your baby’s discomfort and cause rashes.
Dehydration
Make sure your baby never feels dehydrated. Remember, during summer your baby loses fluids without sweating also. Rapid breathing, restlessness, warm skin, a flushed face, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea are some signs of a baby being dehydrated. So, then you need to breastfeed your newborn baby frequently. However, consult your baby’s doctor if you feel something serious.
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Prevent Heat Rashes
The most common issue amongst babies in the summer is heat rashes. So, make sure you cook your baby always. For this, you can put two spoons of sandalwood powder in their bathwater. Applying talcum powder also makes the baby cool. Don’t forget to change diapers if they are uncomfortable. Make sure your baby wears loose clothes.
Try to stay indoors
Try to keep your baby indoors. If you can keep your baby indoors, you can save them from the heat and ultimately can avoid heat rashes. If it is really necessary to go outside with your baby, try to avoid stepping out between 10 am to 2 pm because at these times the sun rays are the harshest.
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Remember, a baby’s skin is sensitive to the sun's rays. Before stepping make sure to wear your baby light-colored clothes and prefer a full-sleeve shirt and pants. Carrying an umbrella can also protect you and your baby. Don’t carry your baby for a long time in a sling or a baby carrier because this makes babies very hot and sweaty.
Oil massage
Any light oil massaging for your baby during summers can give them comfort. So, massage your baby with light oil at least 2 times a day. However, never forget to wash it off well while bathing. If there is excessive oil in your baby’s skin, it might block the sweat glands. Take time to massage your baby with oil. You can give them light exercise while massaging.
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Protect from mosquitoes & Bugs
Mosquitoes are responsible for spreading diseases such as malaria and dengue. So. make sure you save your baby from them. Ways are available to protect your baby from mosquitoes. Firstly, you can do it by using a mosquito net.
Besides, you can use organic mosquito repellent. Bugs also always disturb your baby. So, make sure you keep your baby protected from mosquitoes and bugs.
Moreover, keep your house mosquitoes and bugs free. Naturally, mosquitoes build their house in the air cooker, so regularly clean and change its water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Furthermore, make sure your house and surrounding area are free from any stagnant water.
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Maintain the Right Room Temperature
As most of the time, your baby needs to stay in the room, make sure you maintain the right room temperature. Many parents do not know the reason for their baby’s cold and illness. But you need to be careful with your baby. A little bit of air conditioning cannot hurt your baby and the perfect temperature is 25°C. You can also use an air cooler but you need to ensure it is clean.
Consult a Doctor if Necessary
Don’t forget to consult a doctor if you feel something serious happening to your baby. When your baby is displaying symptoms of dehydration or rash consult a doctor. When you see that your baby is really struggling with the heat and it is in a lot of distress, immediately give your medical treatment otherwise it could create another issue altogether.
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Bottom Line
Babies feel discomfort but they don't tell, just display some signs of their discomfort. So, you need to be careful about their reaction. Don't delay consulting a doctor if something is urgent. We have shared several effective tips to care infant and newborn babies in summer. These tips will help you to keep your babies cool and comfortable in the scorching heat of the hot summer days. Share this article with your nearest one to keep their babies safe during summer.
New Zealand reports the 1st Omicron XE variant
New Zealand reported its first case of Omicron XE variant at the border, said the Ministry of Health in a statement on Saturday.
A person who has traveled from overseas to New Zealand has been confirmed as having the XE variant of Omicron, said the ministry.
This is the first known detection of the Omicron XE variant in New Zealand, it said.
According to the ministry, the person, who is currently isolating at home, arrived in New Zealand on April 19 and was tested on April 20. The whole-genome sequencing subsequently confirmed the XE variant.
Also Read: COVID-19 Omicron XE Variant: Should we be worried?
"XE has been spreading overseas, and its arrival in New Zealand is not unexpected," said the ministry.
Meanwhile, the country reported 19 deaths from COVID-19, with 7,930 community cases and 494 hospitalizations on Saturday.
In addition, 55 new cases of COVID-19 were detected at the New Zealand border, said the ministry.
New Zealand has reported 875,794 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
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As the country is going through Anzac long weekend, the ministry has warned people to take health measures to protect themselves from the virus.
"Firstly, be up to date with vaccinations. Secondly, wear a mask. And thirdly, stay home and avoid others if you're unwell," said the ministry.
New Zealand is currently under the orange settings of the COVID-19 Protection Framework, where there is no limit for gatherings.
UK patient had COVID-19 for 505 days straight, study shows
A UK patient with a severely weakened immune system had COVID-19 for almost a year and a half, scientists reported, underscoring the importance of protecting vulnerable people from the coronavirus.
There’s no way to know for sure whether it was the longest-lasting COVID-19 infection because not everyone gets tested, especially on a regular basis like this case.
But at 505 days, “it certainly seems to be the longest reported infection,” said Dr. Luke Blagdon Snell, an infectious disease expert at the Guy’s & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Snell’s team plans to present several “persistent” COVID-19 cases at an infectious diseases meeting in Portugal this weekend.
Their study investigated which mutations arise — and whether variants evolve — in people with super long infections. It involved nine patients who tested positive for the virus for at least eight weeks. All had weakened immune systems from organ transplants, HIV, cancer or treatment for other illnesses. None were identified for privacy reasons.
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Repeated tests showed their infections lingered for an average of 73 days. Two had the virus for more than a year. Previously, researchers said, the longest-known case that was confirmed with a PCR test lasted 335 days.
“In long COVID, it’s generally assumed the virus has been cleared from your body but the symptoms persist,” Snell said. “With persistent infection, it represents ongoing, active replication of the virus.”
Each time researchers tested patients, they analyzed the genetic code of the virus to make sure it was the same strain and that people didn’t get COVID-19 more than once. Still, genetic sequencing showed that the virus changed over time, mutating as it adapted.
The mutations were similar to the ones that later showed up in widespread variants, Snell said, although none of the patients spawned new mutants that became variants of concern. There’s also no evidence they spread the virus to others.
The person with the longest known infection tested positive in early 2020, was treated with the antiviral drug remdesiver and died sometime in 2021. Researchers declined to name the cause of death and said the person had several other illnesses.
Five patients survived. Two cleared the infection without treatment, two cleared it after treatment and one still has COVID-19. At the last follow-up earlier this year, that patient’s infection had lasted 412 days.
Researchers hope more treatments will be developed to help people with persistent infections beat the virus.
Also Read: WHO says global COVID cases, deaths declined again last week
“We do need to be mindful that there are some people who are more susceptible to these problems like persistent infection and severe disease,” Snell said.
Although persistent infections are rare, experts said there are many people with compromised immune systems who remain at risk of severe COVID-19 and who are trying to stay safe after governments lifted restrictions and masks started coming off. And it’s not always easy to know who they are, said Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist at Houston Methodist in Texas, who was not part of the research.
“Masking in crowds is a considerate thing to do and a way we can protect others,” he said.
Russia’s Chernobyl seizure seen as nuclear risk ‘nightmare’
Here in the dirt of one of the world’s most radioactive places, Russian soldiers dug trenches. Ukrainian officials worry they were, in effect, digging their own graves.
Thousands of tanks and troops rumbled into the forested Chernobyl exclusion zone in the earliest hours of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, churning up highly contaminated soil from the site of the 1986 accident that was the world’s worst nuclear disaster.
For more than a month, some Russian soldiers bunked in the earth within sight of the massive structure built to contain radiation from the damaged Chernobyl nuclear reactor. A close inspection of their trenches was impossible because even walking on the dirt is discouraged.
As the 36th anniversary of the April 26, 1986, disaster approaches and Russia’s invasion continues, it’s clear that Chernobyl — a relic of the Cold War — was never prepared for this.
With scientists and others watching in disbelief from afar, Russian forces flew over the long-closed plant, ignoring the restricted airspace around it. They held personnel still working at the plant at gunpoint during a marathon shift of more than a month, with employees sleeping on tabletops and eating just twice a day.
Even now, weeks after the Russians left, “I need to calm down,” the plant’s main security engineer, Valerii Semenov, told The Associated Press. He worked 35 days straight, sleeping only three hours a night, rationing cigarettes and staying on even after the Russians allowed a shift change.
“I was afraid they would install something and damage the system,” he said in an interview.
Workers kept the Russians from the most dangerous areas, but in what Semenov called the worst situation he has seen in his 30 years at Chernobyl, the plant was without electricity, relying on diesel generators to support the critical work of circulating water for cooling the spent fuel rods.
“It was very dangerous to act in this way,” said Maksym Shevchuck, the deputy head of the state agency managing the exclusion zone. He was scared by it all.
Also Read: Russians leave Chernobyl; Ukraine braces for renewed attacks
Russia’s invasion marks the first time that occupying a nuclear plant was part of a nation’s war strategy, said Rebecca Harms, former president of the Greens group in the European Parliament, who has visited Chernobyl several times. She called it a “nightmare” scenario in which “every nuclear plant can be used like a pre-installed nuclear bomb.”
A visit to the exclusion zone, more desolate than usual, found that the invasion risked a catastrophe worse than the original explosion and fire at Chernobyl that sent radioactive material into the atmosphere and became a symbol of the Soviet Union’s stumbling final years. Billions of dollars were spent by the international community, including Russia, to stabilize and secure the area.
Now authorities are working with Ukraine’s defense ministry on ways to protect Chernobyl’s most critical places. At the top of the list are anti-drone systems and anti-tank barriers, along with a system to protect against warplanes and helicopters.
None of it will matter much if Russian President Vladimir Putin resorts to nuclear weapons, which Shevchuck says he can’t rule out anymore.
“I understand they can use any kind of weapon and they can do any awful thing,” he said.
Chernobyl needs special international protection with a robust U.N. mandate, Harms said. As with the original disaster, the risks are not only to Ukraine but to nearby Belarus and beyond.
“It depends from where the wind blows,” she said.
After watching thousands of Soviet soldiers work to contain the effects of the 1986 accident, sometimes with no protection, Harms and others were shocked at the Russian soldiers’ disregard for safety, or their ignorance, in the recent invasion.
Some soldiers even stole highly radioactive materials as souvenirs or possibly to sell.
“I think from movies they have the imagination that all dangerous small things are very valuable,” Shevchuck said.
He believes hundreds or thousands of soldiers damaged their health, likely with little idea of the consequences, despite plant workers’ warnings to their commanders.
“Most of the soldiers were around 20 years old,” he said. “All these actions proves that their management, and in Russia in general, human life equals like zero.”
The full extent of Russia’s activities in the Chernobyl exclusion zone is still unknown, especially because the troops scattered mines that the Ukrainian military is still searching for. Some have detonated, further disturbing the radioactive ground. The Russians also set several forest fires, which have been put out.
Ukrainian authorities can’t monitor radiation levels across the zone because Russian soldiers stole the main server for the system, severing the connection on March 2. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Saturday it still wasn’t receiving remote data from its monitoring systems. The Russians even took Chernobyl staffers’ personal radiation monitors.
In the communications center, one of the buildings in the zone not overgrown by nature, the Russians looted and left a carpet of shattered glass. The building felt deeply of the 1980s, with a map on a wall still showing the Soviet Union. Someone at some point had taken a pink marker and traced Ukraine’s border.
Also Read: Russians leave Chernobyl site as fighting rages elsewher
In normal times, about 6,000 people work in the zone, about half of them at the nuclear plant. When the Russians invaded, most workers were told to evacuate immediately. Now about 100 are left at the nuclear plant and 100 are elsewhere.
Semenov, the security engineer, recalled the Russians checking the remaining workers for what they called radicals.
“We said, ‘Look at our documents, 90% of us are originally from Russia,’” he said. “But we’re patriots of our country,” meaning Ukraine.
When the Russians hurriedly departed March 31 as part of a withdrawal from the region that left behind scorched tanks and traumatized communities, they took more than 150 Ukrainian national guard members into Belarus. Shevchuck fears they’re now in Russia.
In their rush, the Russians gave nuclear plant managers a choice: Sign a document saying the soldiers had protected the site and there were no complaints, or be taken into Belarus. The managers signed.
One protective measure the Russians did appear to take was leaving open a line routing communications from the nuclear plant through the workers’ town of Slavutych and on to authorities in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. It was used several times, Shevchuck said.
“I think they understood it should be for their safety,” he said. The IAEA said Tuesday the plant is now able to contact Ukraine’s nuclear regulator directly.
Another Ukrainian nuclear plant, at Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine, remains under Russian control. It is the largest in Europe.
Shevchuck, like other Ukrainians, has had it with Putin.
“We’re inviting him inside the new safe confinement shelter,” he said. “Then we will close it.”
Pregnancy Care Tips for Summer: How can pregnant mothers beat the heat?
Naturally, during pregnancy, the average temperature of your body will increase about one degree above normal. Because, the body of a pregnant woman releases progesterone throughout the pregnancy. So, it wouldn’t be in favor of you if you are pregnant during the summer season. However, try to feel relaxed. It isn’t as bad as it seems. Stay with us to learn some necessary tips for healthy pregnancy in the hot summer months.
10 Essential Tips to Stay Healthy During a Summer Pregnancy
Drink Enough water
You need to hydrate yourself so make sure you drink at least 64 ounces of water each day. Keep a bottle of water near you so that you can drink water throughout the day. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty. If you do so, your body is already showing signs of dehydration.
Remember, water is essential for a pregnant woman related to air. You can take diluted juices as well, but it is more important to keep drinking plain water regularly which is essential for both the mother and the baby.
Read: COVID-19 Omicron XE Variant: Should we be worried?
Limit outdoor activities
Don’t go outside on the hot summer days unnecessarily although it is necessary to get some fresh air that is too good during pregnancy. So, try to stay inside as much as possible. It is better for you if you take your walking or exercise either in the morning or evening. Make sure you don’t go outside during the peak hours like 11 am to 4 pm when the sun’s rays are strongest.
Take a bath with cool water
To make you cool on hot summer days is very important. So, the cool water bath will make you feel comfortable and a lot more pleasant. You can take swimming which is also very good for pregnant women. If you have time, you can go to the pool near your house to enjoy the cool summer.
Whenever you find you are having a hard time staying cool, take a break for a nice shower to cool you off.
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Besides, sprinkling with cool water can relieve you from hotness. So, sprinkle with water when you step outside so that you can keep your body temperature in control. However, never forget to consult your doctor before starting any new physical activity.
Wear breathable clothing
Avoid wearing dark clothes like black or red as they increase heat absorption which makes pregnant women feel hotter. So, make sure on hot sunny days you select bright clothes like white, and beige to reflect the sun's rays. Moreover, you need to wear loose and breathable clothes. If you want to keep yourself cooler throughout the day you must choose the cotton fabric. Besides, you need to wear sunglasses, a sun-proof vest and use sunblock when going out.
Intake Healthy Diet
Of course, you need to pay extra attention to your diet at the time of your pregnancy, especially during summer days. So, include more and leafy vegetables in your diet along with a moderate quantity of fruits that provide you the entire required nutrient for you and your baby.
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Besides, drinking healthy juice is also essential to keep your body temperature cool. But make sure you intake small diets at a particular time during the day to maintain the metabolism of the body. Don’t eat spicy foods.
Proper Exercise
You can take exercises like walking, swimming, yoga, and other pregnancy exercises that are good for you and your baby but make sure you take them in the morning when the temperature is low.
In the early stage of your pregnancy you can exercise regularly, but when you are further into your pregnancy and the heat is on, cut back on the duration and intensity of exercise.
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Make sure you take a rest during exercise when you feel tired. However, whatever you do, make sure of your comfort zone by not overstressing yourself.
Take proper rest and sleep
Remember, sleep and rest are very important matters for mothers. Sleeping is helpful to minimize stress. So, take time for yourself and relax by reading a book, listening to music, or doing meditation. You also know that rest is very important during pregnancy so take enough rest.
Besides, as summer heats make pregnant women more tired, take a short nap after lunch. You need to do it regularly. A nap after lunch will give you more comfort and you will feel relaxed. You can take a fresh juice once you wake up.
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Take care of your legs
During pregnancy, the common issues can be swelling legs. The summer heat is also associated with swelling legs. You can avoid the swelling of your foot by taking the following steps:
- Keep your legs up on the pillows while you are sleeping.
- Do not sit while hanging the legs down during pregnancy.
- You should buy well-fitted shoes while you are pregnant to get comfortable and relax.
- Wear the correct choice of footwear during exercise. Your footwear should be comfy while walking, also that is part of the exercise.
Hair Care
Don’t forget to take care of your hair during pregnancy. Massage your scalp with cooling hair oil to feel relaxed. You can also shorten the length of your hair. Short hair will give you relaxation. But if you do not like to cut your hair or short your hair, of course, tie your hair into a pony or a bun to avoid sweating on your neck. It is really necessary to ensure that you allow proper passage of air on your neck and the back.
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Skin Care
Naturally, during pregnancy skin becomes dry, so take proper care of your skin. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen on your face and wear sunglasses to protect your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun whenever you go out. Besides, it is important to take care of your lips from getting dry. You can use the finest quality lip balms to take proper care of your lip. Moreover, a prenatal massage can give more comfort on hot summer days.
COVID-19 Omicron XE Variant: Should we be worried?
A new strain of Omicron known as XE is causing outbreaks in the United Kingdom, and a few instances have been reported elsewhere in the globe. The Omicron XE strain was discovered in a lady in her 30s who came from the United States to Narita International Airport on March 26 2022. According to Japan's health ministry, the lady, whose country was not immediately known, was asymptomatic. This page summarizes what is known about the most recent Corona strain.
What is the Omicron XE variant?
The XE variety is a recombinant virus, which means that it combines elements of two separate strains of Omicron, in this instance, BA.1, the original strain of Omicron, and BA.2, dubbed "stealth omicron."
According to health professionals, recombinant variations are not unusual. Recombinant variations are not totally uncommon, especially when many variants are in circulation, as numerous have been detected so far in the pandemic. As is the case with different other types of variants, the majority will perish rather fast.
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As per the official website of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's, epidemiologists in the United States are not actively monitoring XE. It has not been recognized as a variant of interest or concern.
According to an early study, XE may be the fastest-spreading strain to date, although more research is needed to confirm the variant's actual contagiousness.
The UK Health Security Agency showed in late March that XE has a growth rate of 9.8 percent higher than BA.2. The World Health Organization has issued a similar statement, citing estimates that XE is 10% more contagious than BA.2. However, the agency warned that such conclusions need validation.
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What are the Symptoms of Omicron XE?
As the sub variation is new, the situation may alter, but it is not presently believed that XE causes additional symptoms. The most often reported symptoms of the original Omicron strain are similar to those of a cold, specially in those who have been vaccinated.
According to NHS.uk, further indicators of Covid-19 to watch for include shortness of breath, fatigue, an aching body, a headache, a sore throat, a clogged or runny nose, lack of appetite, diarrhea, feeling nauseous, or being sick.
In Which Places Omicron XE Variant Has Spread So Far
The first case of XE was discovered in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2022. According to the UKHSA, moreover, 600 instances of XE have been found there to date—less than 1% of all sequenced cases. That is a fraction of the rate of cases caused by BA.2, which is currently the predominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 in the United Kingdom and around the world.
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Additionally, XE has been discovered in India and Thailand. According to Bloomberg, one incident was reported on April 6 in Mumbai, while on April 4, the Center for Medical Genomics in Bangkok reported one recent case of XE.
Should We Be Worried About the Omicron XE Variant
Early estimates indicate that XE may be more transmissible than previous strains since it has so far grown at a somewhat faster pace than its predecessor.
According to UKHSA statistics, XE has a growth rate of 9.8 percent greater than BA.2, but the World Health Organization has previously estimated the number at 10%. However, researchers predict that its severity will decline as it spreads more readily. XE has not been designated as a variation of concern so far.
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XE seems to be following the same path as BA.2, with increasing transmissibility to BA.1 but less severe symptoms," Jennifer Horney, an epidemiology professor at the University of Delaware, stated.
"It is, in a sense, the devil we know. It is basically a reshuffle of the same deck of cards," noted Mark Cameron, an associate professor in Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine.
XE has a spike and structural proteins from the same viral family as Omicron, implying that it should act similarly to Omicron in the past. As a result, existing vaccinations and immunity should give some protection against infection.
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"Recombinants that have both the spike and structural proteins from a single virus (such as XE or XF) are very likely to behave similarly to [their] mother virus," Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London's Department of Infectious Disease, stated in a mid-March Twitter thread. XF refers to another recombinant that was discovered in the United Kingdom in February.
Other recombinants comprising spike and structural proteins from other viral families, on the other hand, continue to arise. This includes the newly identified XD subvariant in Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark, which comprises delta structural proteins and omicron spike proteins, characterized by Peacock as "a bit more worrying."
As such, any new emergencies must be properly examined, particularly during their first stages, to ensure they do not develop into something more problematic.
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"The virus remains capable of evolving, recombining, and forming a new branch of its family tree," Cameron said.
"The critical finding is that for these variations and subvariants, the risk of hospital readmission appears to be lower on average in areas with higher vaccination rates, implying that vaccination, including a third dose, should be efficient in decreasing risk for severe disease," added Stephanie Silvera, professor of public health at Montclair State University.
What is Still not Known Yet?
There is insufficient evidence to determine if XE will spread faster or produce more severe sickness than previous SARS-CoV-2 genotypes. "There is scant data at this time to form judgments regarding transmissibility, severity, or vaccination efficacy," Susan Hopkins, the UKHSA's chief medical adviser, said in a statement.
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However, some information may be deduced from the two strains that make it. It has long been shown that vaccinations protect against symptomatic sickness caused by BA.1 and BA.2. It is to believe vaccination techniques will provide protection against symptomatic sickness caused by XE.
Another indication is that BA.1 and BA.2 are both capable of evading some monoclonal antibody therapy. As a result, such medications are unlikely to be as effective against XE. Additionally, it’s also been known that the other treatments, which are mostly utilized in the outpatient setting—Paxlovid and molnupiravir—should retain effectiveness against the XE strain based on their mechanism of action.
Conclusion
Because the WHO is monitoring XE under the omicron umbrella, it does not yet have its own Greek letter moniker. According to the organization, XE is classified as an omicron variation unless substantial changes in disease transmission and features, including severity, are identified. The organization urges individuals globally to exercise additional vigilance.
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If proper measures are not taken the new variant can spread to other countries of the world and affect millions of people. However, it is not the right time to predict the impact of this new Coronavirus. On the whole, to stay safe from the Covid-19's new strain Omicron XE we have to maintain hygiene and social distance.
How to Lose Weight in Ramadan?
Ramadan is the holy month of fasting for Muslims around the world. Ramadan fasting abstains people from food and drink between the hours of sunrise and sunset. Ramadan fasting is also a form of intermittent fasting, which is popular to lose weight. Fasting of Ramadan allows followers of the Islam faith to focus on prayer and gratitude. Besides the religious significance, Ramadan fasting offers a bunch of health benefits. For instance, it is an excellent opportunity to shed extra weight as well. Continue reading to explore how to shed weight in Ramadan.
Foods to Help Weight Loss through Ramadan Fasting
Ramadan happens once a year and lasts for one lunar month. During Ramadan millions of adult Muslims worldwide cycle between periods of eating and fasting. People generally eat two meals a day during Ramadan: a meal before dawn (Suhoor or Sheri) and a meal after sunset (Iftar), which breaks the fast. Some also take another meal; super. As the Ramadan fast is a type of intermittent fasting, you can take foods that are effective to lose weight.
Healthy Suhoor for Weight Loss
As you need to start your whole day fasting with Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, it should be wholesome and satisfying. Make sure you take healthy foods to provide your body with sufficient energy throughout a day of fasting.
Read Ramadan Fasting Benefits: Impacts on health when you fast for 16 hours
So, you need to eat a balanced meal with complex carbohydrates like wholegrain bread in place of refined white bread and proteins like cheese or eggs. If you can take this combination, it will make you feel full for longer and ensure a stable glucose level in the blood, so you don’t get too hungry during the day.
According to research restricting dietary salt leads to rapid weight loss. So, you must avoid salty foods; canned items, salted snacks, and spicy foods to lose weight. Besides, you should control your temptation to make desserts because the processed sugars inside these sweet treats and beverages can quickly gain weight instead of losing.
You can eat foods containing naturally occurring sugars like fruits, dried fruits, and honey. Moreover, make sure you avoid processed foods like fast foods and packaged foods if you really want to lose weight.
Read Ready for Ramadan? How to Prepare Your Body for Fasting?
However, you should not skip suhoor; otherwise, you will be over hungry and end up overeating upon breaking fast after sunset.
Hearty Iftar for Losing Weight
Certainly, you will feel hungry during Iftar after the daylong fasting; but make sure you eat a healthy meal. Try to resist the temptation to cover for missed meals by sesh eating at the break of the fast. Don’t forget to break your fast slowly.
Start your Iftar with high fiber dates that contain naturally-occurring sugars. Dates help to replenish energy lost during long hours of fasting. Moreover, dates are high in nutrition as they are rich in magnesium and protein.
Read 10 Healthy Iftar Drinks for Breaking Ramadan Fasting
Then, take easily digestible foods like soups and salads. Finally, make sure you take portioned main meals, balanced with carbohydrates and proteins. But try to totally avoid fried or fatty foods with high caloric content.
Nutritious Super
During Ramadan, naturally, people who want to lose weight don’t take super except for some. If you are in the line of that some, make sure you take light items in super. As you need to take a healthy suhoor, you must keep your stomach free. You can take a little amount of rice with fish or meat along with vegetables, dal.
Drinks to Help Weight Loss through Ramadan Fasting
Studies have shown that drinking water may help to lose weight. That means you need to make sure you are hydrated. Drinking a glass of water before taking a meal works well to lose weight. Besides, other drinks such as herbal tea-infused water and unsweetened coconut water can be your best choice to lose weight. However, you need to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration and help control sugar cravings.
Read Healthy Sehri Ideas: What to eat and avoid for Sehri during Ramadan
Suhoor
Start your suhoor with a glass of water before taking a meal. If you drink at least a glass of water, it will reduce your hunger, and ultimately you will take fewer foods and lose weight.
Generally, Ramadan happens on different dates each year depending on the Islamic lunar calendar. If this year Ramadan is in the summer season, you need to drink enough water otherwise you may experience dehydration that may cause mental confusion or tiredness.
Besides, you can take coconut water which is enriched with potassium and other nutrients.
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But make sure you avoid caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea. If you take these drinks in suhoor, they will make the body lose even more water as they are diuretics.
Iftar
After a whole day of fasting, you are thirsty. So, you must hydrate the body and prepare the stomach for food. Many like to break their Iftar with coconut water. You can limit creamy soups and focus on ones with clear broth, that is rich in minerals, with added vegetables or legumes. You can take classic lentil soup. Besides, you can take watermelon juice, green mango juice, gur syrup, star fruit juice, and musk melon juice to keep you hydrated.
Super
If you are habituated to taking super after Iftar make sure you drink sufficient water. Try to have lentil soup and/ or vegetable soup at supper.
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Activities for Losing Weight during Ramadan Fasting
Although you take fewer calories while fasting, do not remain inactive throughout Ramadan. So, make sure you take regular exercise. Your daily exercise will help maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle by burning excess body fat and maintaining muscle mass.
Half an hour of walking can be best for you. If you are doing high-intensity workouts, it’s best to keep the session to 30 minutes but in the case of low to medium intensity, then workout for 45 minutes.
Besides, as in the month of Ramadan, fasting changes your eating patterns, and your body needs time to adjust and adapt – so it is important to be patient.
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Moreover, you can do yoga to remain controlled, cool, and motivated. Every day you can do yoga for half an hour.
Ramadan Fasting Benefits: Impacts on health when you fast for 16 hours
Ramadan fasting involves abstention from eating, drinking, and other forbidden tasks before sunrise to after sunset. It is obligatory for all Muslims from the age of puberty. You can engage in all these acts after breaking your fasting and restart fasting the next dawn. You need to follow this cycle for a whole month. If planned well, it has long-lasting health benefits. Continue reading to know what happens to your body when you fast for 14 to 16 hours.
What happens to your body when you fast for 14 to 16 hours?
Speeds Up The Metabolism
Fasting assists to energise your metabolism by giving your digestive system a rest because it burns through the calories more efficiently. When your digestion is poor, this can affect your ability to metabolise food and burn fat. Fasting regulates your digestion promoting healthy bowel function. In this way, fasting improves your metabolic function.
Read Ramadan Iftar Ideas: Healthy foods, drinks to break your fast
Weight loss
Fasting works like magic to lose weight. It can help both obese and non-obese people to lose weight. The connection to fasting is that when you fast, less energy is coming in than going out. That’s why you lose weight. When you are fasting you burn more calories than you take. As a result, you lose fat and improve body composition just by splitting those calories into two meals rather than three.
Improves Hunger
When you don’t take any food for 14 to 16 hours, you experience real hunger. Fasting helps to regulate the hormones in your body so that you experience what true hunger is. Therefore, take fasting as a reset button. The longer you fast, the more your body can regulate itself to release the correct hormones.
Also Read: Ready for Ramadan? How to Prepare Your Body for Fasting?
Develops Your Eating Patterns
Fasting is a helpful practice for people who suffer from binge eating disorders. The month-long fasting is also helpful for those who find it difficult to establish a correct eating pattern due to work and other priorities. When you are fasting all afternoon without a meal, it can allow you to eat at a set time and helps you to set your lifestyle.
Ketosis
Your hormone insulin of course stays low with your break from eating. Consequently, low insulin helps you burn body fat and make ketones. The fat-burning system is called ketosis which may have the following health benefits:
- More stable energy
- Reduced cravings
- Better appetite control
- Enhanced mental acuity
- Increased “good” HDL cholesterol
- Lower blood sugar and insulin levels
- Lower blood pressure
- Improvements to metabolic syndrome
Read Healthy Sehri Ideas: What to eat and avoid for Sehri during Ramadan
Lower blood sugar
If a person consumes carbs constantly —their blood sugar stays chronically elevated. This is known as hyperglycemia and is defined as a clinical feature of type 2 diabetes. This causes huge complications, including heart disease. In this situation, fasting may be part of the solution. Studies have shown that fasting lowered average blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
Promotes Longevity
The younger your body is, the faster and more systematic your metabolism will be. But none of us are getting younger anymore. Therefore, we have to be careful about the process of ageing and relative health issues.
You need to remember that the primary effect of ageing is a slower metabolism. Naturally, when you eat less, the less toll it takes on your digestive system. There is a saying- the less you eat the longer you will live. If you believe it, surely it is for you.
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Improves Your Immune System
Fasting contributes to improving your immune system by reducing free radical damage, regulating inflammatory conditions in the body, and starving cancer cell formation.
Science has already proved that fasting has a direct connection with Autophagy. The term Autophagy refers to a natural process in which the cells of a human body can clean out the damaged, dysfunctional, or unnecessary components. Autophagy strengthens the immune system of human health.
Contributes To Self-Enlightenment
Fasting surely helps you to connect to life because you can get enough time and energy during fasting to practise reading, meditation, and yoga. The digestive system is one of the most energy-absorbing systems in the body. When you have no food in the digestive system, you get more energy in the body.
Besides, fasting creates self-enlightenment in you by helping you feel better both consciously and physically. When your body is light and your mind is clear, you become more aware and grateful for the things around you.
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Clear The Skin And Prevent Acne
Fasting can help clear the skin as your body is temporarily freed from digestion. Thus, it’s able to focus its regenerative energies on other systems. Not eating anything for a long time helps the body to clean up the toxins and regulate the functioning of other organs of the body such as the liver, kidneys, and other parts.
Brain health
During fasting, your body burns fat and thus fuels your brain. Naturally, your brain runs entirely on glucose. But when you are fasting, it elevates ketone levels leading to better performance in a variety of mental tasks. It is natural that the ageing brain doesn’t lose its ability to use ketones.
Promotes good sleep
Research has shown that fasting may assist to enhance our body's sleep-wake cycle. Generally, overeating can induce disturbed sleep. During fasting, you eat less, allowing you to sleep better.
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Reduces stress
Fasting reduces cortisol (stress hormone) levels and inflammation.
Besides this, fasting allows you to understand how it feels to starve for long hours. Thus, you can be grateful for the food you have. It also makes you sympathetic to those who can’t afford food everyday and encourages you to help those people which in turn gives mental peace. Therefore, fasting is beneficial for your mental health.
Heart health
Fasting is beneficial to your heart health also. It not only reduces body weight but has also been shown to improve other influential factors of heart health.
Fasting reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides in some of the most rigorous studies leaving positive impacts for heart health. Fasting also improves multiple cardiovascular risk markers.
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More productive time
Of course, fasting gives you more productive time as you have to invest less time in meal preparations, eating, and cleanup. Besides, ketosis provides a steady energy source for your brain in the form of ketones without having to deal with rapid blood sugar fluctuations, which can enhance sustained concentration.
Bottom Line
So far, we have discussed the health benefits of fasting in Ramadan. No doubt, fasting is a very popular weight-loss method. It serves as a reset system of the digestive system of a human body. Fasting promotes autophagy which is good for the human immune system. Furthermore, fasting leaves positive impacts on the heart and brain.
Besides, realisation of hunger during fasting makes you a grateful, kind and sympathetic person. Fasting helps you to feel satisfaction with your current achievements or possessions. On the whole, Ramadan fasting helps you live a longer, healthier and peaceful life.
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Microplastic in Human Blood: Health Risks and Dangers
For many years researchers were looking for the answer to how dangerous microplastics are for health and the environment? The recent discovery of microplastic in human blood unlocked some answers. Imagine for a second that numerous tiny plastic particles are floating in your blood and those particles are reaching every part of your body. Laboratory tests have shown that microplastics are capable of causing severe damage to human cells. Here is what we know about the health risks and dangers of microplastic in the human body.
What is Microplastic?
Microplastics refer to pieces of plastic that are less than 5 mm in size. These are manufactured in ways that don't require high temperatures or harsh chemicals. They can be found in everything from cosmetics to clothes to food.
Microplastics have become a global concern as they are ingested by marine animals, bioaccumulate in the food chain, and end up in people's bodies. They also threaten human health via their potential to cause cancer and other serious illnesses. However, scientists are still trying to figure out how to manage them.
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Microplastics can enter the environment through wastewater treatment plants, rivers, and oceans. They can also be released when microbeads are washed down the drain. The tiny pieces of plastic can contaminate water sources and wildlife. Studies have found that microplastics are present in greater numbers in aquatic environments than previously thought.
How did Researchers find Microplastic in Human Blood?
A team of researchers from Vrije University in the Netherlands recently discovered the presence of microplastics in the human body. Scientists have tested blood samples from 22 adults. And they claim that they have found microplastics in the blood of 17 of the 22 people. These microplastics were found in the blood of about 80% of the people tested. However, the scientists also said that none of those people were sick. The study was recently published in the International Journal of Environment.
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Among the 22 samples, half of them contained PET plastic, which is used to make drinks bottles. Besides, one-third of the sample contained polystyrene, which is commonly used in food packaging and other products. And 25% of the samples have polyethylene, the common element of plastic carrier bags.
In developing detection systems for microplastics, mathematicians adapted existing practices of analyzing and detecting particles of 0.0007 millimeters or smaller. Most of the blood samples examined contained at least two kinds of plastic. To prevent contamination, they used steel syringe needles and glass tubes. Tests were carried out using blank samples to confirm the background levels of microplastics.
To have a clear look at the primary findings, the scientists will broaden the sample size in the next research.
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How can Microplastic Enter Human Blood?
In this regard, scientists claim that all day long, people at home or elsewhere, knowingly or unknowingly, use plastic materials for their daily needs. Mainly from those large plastic materials, relatively small components, for example, microplastics, get mixed in human blood.
However, scientists have claimed that it is nearly impossible to separate those particles from the human body.
What are the Health Risks and Dangers of the existence of Microplastic in Human Blood?
Sometimes from the environment and sometimes from the plastic material used for everyday needs enters plastic in the human body. Scientists have claimed that there is no decay in them. The researchers said that this could lead to a serious problem in the human body. Following are some of the critical health risks associated with microplastic.
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Studies have shown that microplastics can cause cancer. If ingested or inhaled, it may create cancer in the human body as it contains various toxic chemicals like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), BPA (bisphenol A), phthalates, lead compounds, etc. The chemicals that plastics release when they are broken down have been linked with cancer growth. The fibers from microplastics have also been connected with respiratory problems, especially in children.
The effect of microplastic depends on the specific plastic element. For example, Bromine can lead to apoptosis and genotoxicity. Genotoxicity is a term used to describe the potential for chemicals or other agents to cause damage to DNA. Genotoxic agents can cause mutations in cells, leading to cancer and other diseases.
Cadmium can change calcium, phosphorus, and bone metabolism. Calcium metabolism is affected by estrogen levels, phosphorus metabolism is affected by the acid-base balance, and bone mineralization is affected by the level of estrogen and other hormones.
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If the microplastic has copper, it can lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which also includes DNA strand breaks as well as oxidation.
Mercury can cause mutagen or carcinogens. Bedsides and affected humans can face induction of the disruption of DNA molecular structure, which may lead to brain damage.
Tin can create metal–estrogen, skin rashes, breast cancer, stomach complaints, vomiting, headache and palpitations, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and potential clastogen.
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Lead in the blood may cause anemia, hypertension, disruption of nervous Systems, miscarriages, oxidative stress, brain damage, infertility, and cell damage.
Final Words
A tiny plastic particle known as microplastic has been discovered in human blood recently. Through the blood, plastic particles can spread throughout the body and accumulate in any part of the body.
Various research results show how detrimentally plastic pollution has spread across the world. You will not be able to find anywhere there are no plastics, not even on Mount Everest or at the bottom of the ocean.
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In conclusion, while more research is needed to determine the full extent of the health risks posed by microplastic in the human body, there is enough evidence to suggest that we should take steps to avoid exposing ourselves to these particles as much as possible. Some simple ways to do this include avoiding products that contain microbeads, reducing consumption of seafood, and properly disposing of waste.