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]. 2 uab.edu/sci