Pushin' On: UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System Volume 38 | Number 1 | Page 2
HEALTHY LIVING
Managing Your Health During Covid-19
Managing health can be a
challenge under the best of
conditions after spinal cord injury
(SCI). It can be stressful for both
people with and their family.
It is especially tough when you are
trying to manage the stresses of life
during this COVID-19 pandemic. So,
what can you do to ease the stress?
Know the COVID-19 facts
The disease is named “coronavirus
disease 2019” and abbreviated
“COVID-19.” It is a new disease, so
there is still much that is unknown
about it. Here are some key facts.
• COVID-19 attacks the respiratory
system (mainly the lungs) and
can cause mild to severe illness.
• The most common symptoms of
the virus are fever, chills, cough,
and shortness of breath or
difficulty breathing.
• COVID-19 can spread personto-person.
This means that
a person with the virus can
spread it to another person
through respiratory droplets (like
coughing or sneezing) and close
personal contact.
• People who are infected by the
virus may or may not show any
symptoms but can still spread
the virus to others.
• People with underlying medical
conditions, which are more
common among people who
are older and people with
disabilities, are more likely to
develop serious illness if infected
with the virus.
Get information from reliable
sources
Information on COVID-19 can
quickly change from day-to-day. This
makes it harder to stay up to date on
facts.
Plus, it is easy to get bombarded
with information from multiple
sources. You have the traditional
sources from TV and countless other
sources on the internet. It can be
hard to know what sources you can
trust for reliable information.
You do not want to take risks when
it comes to information crucial to
your health. This is why it is generally
recommended that you rely on
trusted sources any time it relates to
your health. Medical professionals
strongly suggest that you get your
information from these reliable
sources.
• The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
(CDC) is the top resource
for coronavirus information,
including a full list of
symptoms, how to protect
yourself, and what to do if you
think you may have the virus.
• State Departments of Public
Health are your top source for
local information, including
current situations on testing
and government orders or
guidelines for your community.
Staying healthy
You might think about staying
healthy as having many parts. Each
part serves an important role, so you
want to make each one a part of your
daily routine.
• Keep a daily routine as best as
you can. This may be hard, but
do your best to create and keep
some normalcy in your life in this
abnormal time.
• Most communities are reopening
to try to get back to
normal. There are guidelines
to help prevent the virus
during this time, and it can
be frustrating to see that
Participate in UAB Research
Low Carb/ High Protein Diet to Improve Metabolic
Health in Individuals with SCI
Criteria to Participate
• Have a SCI
• Live in central Alabama and visit UAB 4 times over 3
months
• Willing to undergo lab tests (blood glucose, insulin
and lipid levels, collect a stool sample, and body
imaging)
• Complete physical activity and food intake
questionnaires
Participants will earn between $250 and $450 for
completing the study. Call 205-996-6896 or email
[email protected] for information.
Scale Up Project Evaluating Responsiveness to Home
Exercise And Lifestyle Tele-Health (SUPER-HEALTH)
This study evaluates the effects of an exercise program
on improving pain, fatigue, physical activity, and physical
function. The program is delivered through a tablet app in
the convenience of the home using exercise videos.
Criteria to Participate
• Ages 18-64
• Mobility Impairment/Disability
• WiFi Internet access in Home
Participants receive a tablet and Fitbit to use during study
and are eligible to keep all equipment at the completion of
last study visit. Visit superhealthstudy.org, call (205) 403-
5509, or email [email protected].
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