World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) appears this year with the theme “Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use”. The Habit of smoking can damage several organs of human body especially the respiratory system including lungs. More than 1.3 billion people use tobacco worldwide for diverse reasons like stimulation, stress relief, enjoyment, social situations, etc. Interestingly, above 80% of the global tobacco users belong to the low and middle-income countries. Recently, the world is suffering from another life-threatening disease COVID19. So it is a burning question: are smokers more vulnerable to COVID19? Stay with us to know some facts.

What Smoking Does to Your Lungs?

The habit of smoking can affect your lungs badly. Initially, symptoms may start with Asthma, Wheezing, Coughing, or Colds. Smoking can lead towards fatal diseases like pneumonia, emphysema, lung cancer, etc. Research shows that smoking is held responsible for 84% of human-deaths from lung cancer worldwide.

Cigarette smoking can also lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which also increases the risk of lung cancer. COPD refers to a group of lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc. Cigarette smoking causes about 83% of human-deaths from COPD around the world. COPD mainly causes difficulties in breathing through narrowing down the airways and damaging of the lung tissues. COPD may cause several symptoms in people such as ongoing coughing with phlegm or mucus, shortness of breath during physical activity, wheezing or squeaky sound while breathing, chest infections, chest tightness, etc.

The destruction of tobacco use doesn’t end here. The connection between COPD and lung cancer seems like a two-way street. A study conducted by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston shows that COPD patients have a 1.86-times higher risk of developing small cell lung cancer (SCLC) than people without COPD. It accounts for 15% lung cancer cases globally. What is more? The lung cancer patients are more vulnerable to COPD than people who don’t have cancer.  

Unfortunately, the early signs of COPD and SCLC are often neglected by people in the name of ‘smoker’s cough’. However, if smoking is further continued the conditions can get worsened. Quitting Cigarette is the most effective way to slow down the progression of lung diseases.

Are the Smokers More Vulnerable to COVID19?

According to the recent data of World Health Organization (WHO), Tobacco can kill around half of its users. Over 8 million people die each year worldwide due to Tobacco consumption. Among those deaths, above 7 million are caused by direct tobacco use. And, around 1.2 million of non-smoker people die for being exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS).

On the other hand, the term ‘Coronavirus’ refers to a type of virus. There are several kinds of Corona viruses, and some of those cause disease. In 2019, the newly identified corona virus SARS-CoV-2 (known as COVID19) has caused a pandemic of respiratory illness around the world. The grievous impact of COVID19 pandemic has affected more than 6 million people worldwide, while the global death toll has surpassed 3 lacs. Till date there is no scientifically proved vaccine to stop the destruction of Corona virus.

Read: How to Handle Your Coronavirus Anxiety during Home Quarantine?

You may know that smokers are more like to contract respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold than non-smokers. Smokers also tend to have an increasing rate of tuberculosis and bacterial pneumonia. Both COVID19 infection and tobacco use tend to deteriorate human-respiratory-system. So, it can be related that smokers are more likely to experience severe complications if they get infected by the new corona virus.

The research initiatives regarding previous corona viruses reveal that smoking can worsen the impact of corona virus infections. In 2012, the outbreak of MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) caused by another kind of Corona Virus caused more deaths among the infected smokers than the infected non-smokers. In addition, people with the habit of smoking carry twice the risk of contracting influenza with further severe symptoms than nonsmokers.

Read: How to Know Whether You Are Infected by Coronavirus?

Till date, the scientists haven’t got enough scope to carry out an extensive research to evaluate the risk of COVID19 infection associated with tobacco consumption. But some evidences suggest that smoking is more like to increase the severity of the COVID19 complications if you are infected by the new Corona virus.

In China, study of 1,099 patients with COVID-19 shows that smokers were about 1.4 times as likely as nonsmokers prone to experience severe symptoms. Moreover, smokers are found 2.4 times more likely to get admitted to an ICU (Intensive Care Unit), require ventilation and die in comparison with non-smoker patients who were also infected by corona virus. During COVID19 treatment in China, a small study of 78 people shows that a statistically higher percentage of smokers were found in the group whose health-conditions were adversely progressed in comparison with the group showing stabilization and improvement.

Do the Smokers Carry Higher Risk of Contracting COVID19 than Non-smokers?

Though there is no scientifically proven evidence yet regarding the link between smoking and COVID-19, the act of smoking can enhance the risk. Let’s see how it happens.

People Consume Tobacco in several forms like smoking cigarettes, smoking water pipes (shisha or hookah), smoking biri, smoking cigars, chewing Cigarette, vaping (e-cigarette), using heated tobacco products, etc. Generally, the act of smoking involves using fingers with the lips, which facilitate the transmission of the Corona virus from unwashed contaminated hand to mouth. The possibility of contaminated cigarettes and tobacco products should also be considered.

Read Essential Hygiene Practices to Prevent Coronavirus Contamination.

Especially, when people smoke water pipes, the associated equipments like mouth pieces and hoses, are often shared by more than one people. This act enhances the possibility of transmission of COVID-19 infection to more tobacco users in the community.

Consumption of smokeless tobacco also involves some level of hand to mouth contact. When a person chews smokeless tobacco product, saliva is naturally produced during the chewing process. If any COVID19 infected person chews tobacco and spits out his excess saliva in a public place, the corona virus can get spread to the surrounding area and affect many other people in the locality.

Read: Dengue Vs. COVID-19: Which Is More Lethal?

What Happens If You Quit Smoking or Tobacco Consumption?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends you to quit smoking or other forms tobacco use considering the associated health-risks caused by tobacco. The very moment you quit, your lungs and heart will start functioning better. Within 20 minutes of quitting, consequences like increased heart rate (HR) and blood pressure will improve. After 12 hours, the level of carbon monoxide (CO) in your bloodstream will drop to a normal state.

Within a period of 2 to 12 weeks, you will experience healthier blood circulation and lung function. Respiratory problems such as coughing and shortness of breath decrease will decrease after 1 to 9 months depending on the severity. It can also protect your family and children from the harmful impact of second-hand smoke exposure. Finally, quitting tobacco use can reduce your risk of getting affected or experiencing severe symptoms of COVID19 infection.

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Read: COVID-19 vs. Cold vs. Flu: What is the difference?

 

The 121st birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was observed in the country on Monday.

But unlike previous years, there was no public function this year because of the coronavirus outbreak. The day also coincided with Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest festival of the Muslims.

Born on May 25, 1899 at Churulia village in Burdwan district of West Bengal in India, Nazrul had inspired people to fight against injustice and repression of the colonial rule through his writings.

Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar aired various programmes on the occasion.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages highlighting the colourful life of the poet and his contributions to Bangla language and literature.

In his message, the President said, “Nazrul’s write-ups inspired us to join all democratic movements and battles, including the anti-British movement, the Language Movement, the mass uprising in 1969, and the Liberation War.”

He expressed his belief that the immortal presence of Nazrul will keep the Bengali nation alive forever.

In her message, the Prime Minister said, “We must continue to work together to build a secular, non-discriminatory, peaceful, happy and prosperous Bangladesh following the lifestyle of the Rebel Poet.”

Are you missing your salon? Due to the ongoing CoronaVirus quarantine situation it is quite risky to visit a salon for having a facial. But lack of proper skin-care routine can degrade your skin's health. Having a fresh look both in real life and selfies can make you feel more special. You might be looking for ways to get glowing skin without visiting a beauty parlor. In this article we are going to discuss DIY honey face mask recipe to get a glowing skin. Don’t worry! These steps are easy-to-follow. And the applied ingredients are mostly available in your kitchen. Stay with us!

Benefits of Honey Face Mask

If you are looking for a simple but effective facial pack, try a honey face mask! Though honey is the main ingredient in this facial process, you will require three more ingredients (Milk, Sugar, and Yogurt) to make the facial more efficient.

Total Required Ingredients

- 3 Tbsps. raw honey

- 2 Tbsps. raw milk

- 1 Tbsp. sugar

- 1 Tbsp. yogurt

Benefits of Honey in Skin Care:

Pure Honey is naturally enriched with antioxidants that fight wrinkles and delays the aging process of the skin. To prepare the honey face pack, you are recommended to apply pure honey otherwise it may not bring the expected result.

Benefits of Milk and Yogurt in Skin Care:

Both dairy milk and Yogurt are commendable sources of lactic acid, which is also known as ‘Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA)’ ingredient. The magic of lactic acid not only assists in the removal of dead skin cells but also stimulates the growth of new cells on your skin. This is why Lactic Acid is widely applied in modern skincare products, especially anti-aging face cleansers.

Benefits of Sugar in Skin Care:

Sugar can penetrate the skin cells leaving rejuvenated glowing skin. What is the secret? Sugar is full of Glycolic Acid, which is able to hydrate the skin-cells by absorbing moisture from the surrounding environment. Furthermore, it can preserve the moisture inside the cells of your skin.

How to Prepare Honey Facial Mask at Home

The whole process is composed of three steps. Those are cleansing, scrubbing, and applying a face pack.

Step 1: Prepare and Apply the Honey Cleanser

In the first step we will prepare a cleanser with honey and raw milk.

Required Ingredients

- 1 Tbsp. Raw Honey

- 2 Tbsps. Raw Milk

Take a clean bowl. First, take 1 Tbsp. of raw honey. Then, add 2 Tbsp. of raw milk to the honey. Mix the ingredients properly. Apply some portions on your hand and wait for a moment. Now apply the mixture upon your face and neck. Do the process for 3 to 4 minutes to clean the skin-cells from deep inside. After that, wash your face with normal water.  

Step 2: Prepare and Apply to Honey Scrub

In the second step we will make a homemade scrub with honey and sugar.

Required Ingredients

- 1 Tbsp. Raw Honey

- 1 Tbsp. Sugar

Take 1 Tbsp. of raw honey in a clean bowl. Mix one 1 Tbsp. of sugar to the bowl and blend the medley properly. First, try some portion of the mixture upon one hand. Then, apply the combination upon your face and neck area by a clean makeup brush or just fingers. Scrub in a gentle way for about 3 to 4 minutes. Don’t harsh; otherwise the granular property of sugar can hurt your face. Then wash your face again.

Step 3: Prepare and Apply Honey Facial Mask

In the final step, we will apply a face pack with honey and Yogurt.

Required Ingredients

- 1 Tbsp. Raw Honey

- 1 Tbsp. Yogurt

In the final step, take 1 Tbsp. of raw honey in a clean bowl. Add 1 Tbsp. of yogurt to this mix. Stir the mixture properly. Like previous steps try it your hand. Then, apply the whole mixture upon your face and neck area for 5 to 7 minutes. For the best results, let this honey face mask stay for 15 to 20 minutes. In the meantime you can do other tasks. Afterward rinse your face with normal water and see the magic!

Bottom Line

So far we have discussed some easy steps to prepare cleanser, scrubber, and facial mask with honey with some other beneficial ingredients like sugar, raw milk, and yogurt. Apply the mixture upon your hand before trying on your face. Beware of applying if you experience any rash or irritation. The honey face mask can’t make your fair over the night but it can certainly rejuvenate your skin offering a nice glow. 

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Read Coronavirus Tips: Immunity Booster Herbal Teas to Prevent Infection.

 

After the month-long fasting of Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of Muslims, has arrived. However, unlike other years, the holy festival is coming amidst of pandemic this year. Yes! We are talking about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The number of affected people in Bangladesh has crossed 30000; while more than 400 people died from deadly COVID-19 disease. Let not be this holy Eid the last celebration for you or your family. In this article we are going to discuss some ways about how to celebrate Eid safely during COVID-19 pandemic.

Precautions for Grocery Shopping

Before the Eid day, mass people tend to do grocery shopping for family. Try to order products from online grocery shops and get delivery at your home. If you find no other way but to visit a grocery shop physically, go a less crowded store. Wear mask, and hand gloves. Carry clean tissues and an alcohol-based (60-70%) sanitizer in your bag. Before holding a shopping cart, wipe it with a clean tissue.

Read: Where to buy online grocery in Dhaka during quarantine?

Try to maintain at least 6-feet of social distancing from the grocer and other shoppers. If possible opt for credit card or debit card payment. Sanitize your hand after leaving the grocery shop. After entering home, leave your shoes, and drop the grocery bags in a predefined corner of your kitchen. Then wash your hands for at least 20-seconds with soap and running water. After that, disinfect your grocery in proper ways.

Also, Read How to Shop and Disinfect Groceries Safely during COVID19 Pandemic

Precautions While Visiting Shopping Malls

Shopping for Eid is a favorite ritual of the common people in Bangladesh. People love to buy gifts for family members and relatives centering on the holy Eid celebration. For Eid-shopping you don’t need to step outside home! You can buy clothes, shoes, cosmetics, jewelry, and other necessary items online.

Read Online Eid Shopping in BD for Men, Women, and Children

However, if you still want to visit shopping malls take safety protections, like wearing masks and gloves. Beware of touching the lift-buttons with hands. You can apply the elbow to push the buttons. While using stairs, try not to touch any railings. Such places are commonly contacted by numerous people. Who knows any of the visitors might have carried the virus.

Besides these, try to avoid touching or trialing clothes at malls. Be careful while taking any food at the mall. If possible carry your own water bottle and food. And don’t forget to sanitize your hands after leaving the mall. After entering home, leave your shoes, and wash your hands again properly.

Precautions for Holy Eid Prayer

The celebration of Eid-al-Fitr starts with a holy prayer. Every year the religious Muslim communities visit Mosques to join communal Eid prayers, and exchange greeting. But this year, doctors and authorities are asking people to celebrate Eid in a bit different way for the sake of safety. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) is encouraging the honorable Muslim community of the country to carry out the Holy Eid Prayers at respective homes to prevent the risk of Corona Virus contagion.

However, if you are still interested to visit a mosque for Eid prayer, don’t forget to take the following safety measures.

- Perform the ablution (Wudu) – the ritual of purification before prayer – within your home. Though mosques have a designated place for ablution, touching the metal taps can enhance the risk of virus contagion. You may know that Coronavirus can stay alive on the metal surfaces for long hours.

- Wear face masks and hand gloves before leaving home.

- Carry your Janamaz – prayer rug – from home. If not possible take a piece of clean cloth with you. Then put the cloth over the surface where you are going to place your hands, forehead, and parts of face during the prayer.

- Try to maintain at least 6-feet of distance during the prayer. And keep social distance while exchanging greetings with other Muslims after the holy Eid prayer.

Safety Measures for Get Together

The ritual of holy Eid prayer is followed by offering treats to relatives, friends, and neighbors. But this year, you can minimize visiting relatives. You can utilize video calling and other technology to greet your relatives while staying at home. However, if you still decide to visit any relative’s place don’t leave your face mask behind.

People of Bangladesh are hospitable. Especially during the Eid festival people of all economic status love to treat their relatives and friends with delicious food. You can invite your guests at home. But it would be wise, if you can invite one family at a time, instead of arranging a large family party. Do wear face masks in front of your guests, and encourage them to do the same.

Besides these, try to maintain some precautions while serving the food. For instance, the common use of metallic serving spoons can enhance the risk of spreading the Corona Virus. You can apply separate serving spoons and disposable crockery. Ask your guests to sit sporadically maintaining social distance, instead of clustering. Overall, plan your food arrangement wisely assuring safety from COVID19.

Also read: Govt suggests offering Eid prayer at mosques instead of Eidgahs, open spaces

Bottom Line

The holy Eid brings heavenly bliss for the whole Muslim community. Unlike previous years, let us celebrate this holy Eid with a different flavor in a cautious way. Simple precautions can save you, your family, relatives, friends, and neighbors from the COVID19 pandemic. And, our collective precautions can make the upcoming Eid celebration happier and safer for the whole country. Eid Mubarak!

Though the government is advising citizens to stay at home to prevent the coronavirus contagion, you have to step outside home sometimes to collect food for staying alive. You can unintentionally invite the life-threatening coronavirus at your home while shopping or processing groceries if necessary protective and sanitization measures are not taken. During the grievous situation of the COVID19 pandemic, some precautions can keep you and your family safe and healthy. Here goes a simple guideline about how to shop and disinfect groceries safely during the COVID19 pandemic situation. Stay with us!

How to Shop Groceries Safely during COVID19 Pandemic

Make a Grocery List   

Remember that it can be dangerous to go shopping frequently several times a week. So try to prepare a grocery list in advance. It would be wise if you can purchase groceries for one to two weeks at a time. However, stay away from buying groceries more than you need; otherwise, it may create temporary shortages.

Personal Protective Measures during Shopping

Don’t forget to wear a face-mask before leaving your home. Carry alcohol (60-70%) based hand sanitizer and wipes in your bag to wipe down the handles of the shopping cart or basket. Take a clean shopping bag from home. If possible, visit a less busy grocery store to avoid the excess crowd.

While shopping, practice a minimum of 6 feet of social distancing between you, the grocery store employees, and other shoppers. Refrain from touching your eyes or any other part of your face with hands. If possible try to use credit/debit cards to pay the bills. After completing your shopping and paying bills, don’t forget to disinfect your hands with an Alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

Safety Measures after Returning Home

After entering the home, put off your shoes in a designated space. Then drop the grocery bags in a specific corner of your kitchen to protect your home from Corona Virus contamination. Next, wash your hands properly with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.  

How to Disinfect Groceries Safely to Prevent Virus Contamination

Unpack Groceries Safely

The basic food safety process has four simple steps: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Eat. Try to unpack the groceries including meat, poultry, eggs, vegetables, fruits, milk, and other perishables within two hours from returning from the shop. Throw the container packs into your bins. For reusable grocery bags, it would be wise to leave them untouched for two days at least. 

Sanitizing Food with Vinegar/Baking Soda

Now follow some DIY techniques to disinfect your fruits and veggies. Add some amount of white distilled vinegar to a bowl of water. Alternatively, you can mix one ounce of baking soda in 100 ounces of water. Stir the mixture properly with a spoon. Then drench the fruits, and/or leafy vegetables in that bowl. Leave the bowl for 10 to 15 minutes so that the fruits/veggies can soak properly. 

After that, rinse your fruit/veggies under running water to remove the particles and scent of vinegar/ baking soda. You can scrub the vegetables and fruits with a clean brush. After washing, leave those food items in the open air for drying before you start slicing, cooking, or eating. Clean lids before opening canned goods.

 

How to Disinfect Your Kitchen Counter After Processing Groceries

After sanitizing groceries, and/or cutting raw meats/poultry/fish, it is highly essential to disinfect your kitchen counter. You can apply any commercially available sanitizer product. You can also create a DIY disinfecting solution.

 

Mix five tablespoons of unscented liquid chlorine bleach to one gallon of water. Use this solution to clean the kitchen counter. However, don’t apply this solution to food. In addition to these, you can apply clean, hot, soapy water to scrub and disinfect any utensils like knife, chopping board, etc which you have used to process the raw meat/poultry/fish.

 

Cautionary Steps when You Buy Groceries Online

Even if the online grocery stores are supposed to send grocery items in thoroughly cleaned bags, you need to take the same safety measures to prevent the risk of Coronavirus contagion. Try to avoid direct hand-off. You can arrange a space near your doorstep where the delivery man can place the grocery bags. Wear a mask and use hand gloves while you pay the bills and carry the grocery bags to the designated space of your kitchen. Wash your hands properly. Then apply the sanitizing process we discussed in the above sections.