This is what coronavirus lockdown is doing to your body – from tummy troubles to brain fog and mood swings

CORONAVIRUS is having a huge impact on how we live our day to day lives.

Many people have found that their routines have been turned upside down by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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So far in the UK over 35,000 people have died from the virus and people across the country are feeling anxious about their health, their work lives and their loved ones.

Experts have claimed many people are suffering from “coronavirus fatigue” as they come to terms with life in an extended lockdown period.

But what is the lockdown doing to your body and how can you stay healthy during this period?

1. Stress

Many people are becoming more and more stressed during the lockdown due to a range of factors including an unstable routine, being around loved ones more often and financial burdens.

Vita Health Group has said that 63 per cent of people in the UK are feeling stressed and anxious about the coronavirus pandemic. 

When you become stressed the brain starts to swim in cortisol, which is a hormone that contributes to the area the brain uses to function.

The American Psychological Association also says that stress can cause muscles in the body to tense up - which could in turn leave you with aches and pains.

“Chronic stress causes the muscles in the body to be in a more or less constant state of guardedness. When muscles are taut and tense for long periods of time, this may trigger other reactions of the body and even promote stress-related disorders. 

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“For example, both tension-type headaches and migraine headaches are associated with chronic muscle tension in the area of the shoulders, neck and head. "Musculoskeletal pain in the low back and upper extremities has also been linked to stress, especially job stress”.

Clinical Director at Vita Health Group Jane Muston said it was worrying that people were seeing increased levels of stress due to the pandemic and added that people should take note of their symptoms.

Be kind

“Often just taking note of increased stress levels and actively trying to reduce them is an integral part of the journey to good mental health. It’s ever so important to make time to look after yourself and spend some time checking in on others and being kind to them.”

One expert said high stress levels can also be detrimental to your sex life.

Dr Julie Moltke health expert and scientific advisor to Thedrug.store and an advisor at CBD Pollen said stress involves the release of different hormones, but especially the chronic stress hormone known as cortisol, which is directly involved in lowering your libido and your sexual drive.

"In fact, cortisol can completely stunt a woman's sex drive and can make it difficult for men to get an erection. What often accompanies stress is ruminations, worry, obsessive thoughts and self-critical statements which can consume a person’s thoughts, diminishing sexual desire.

"If you can't rest and relax the mind, your brain turns into a broken record of thought processes and destructive thoughts, making it very hard to get into the mood for sex and intimacy, neither are you present in the present moment".

2. Sleep

NHS England says that a lack of sleep can leave you feeling grumpy and unable to work at your full potential.

It also states that a lack of sleep can also have consequences on our physical health.

“Regular poor sleep puts you at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes – and it shortens your life expectancy.”

Most of us need around eight hours sleep but this can vary from person to person and many people find a balance between six and eight hours.

Leading UK psychotherapist and hypnotherapist Nick Davies says muscles can become tight when we are tired and said they need to be relaxed in order to help us nod off.

"Having a warm bath for at least 20 minutes, especially with Epsom salts will help relax all of your tired, stressed, anxious muscles, which in turn helps stimulate your 'parasympathetic nervous system' which is automatically engaged once the danger has gone, and produces calming chemicals which in turn relax our busy minds and help us sleep better."

Speaking to The Sun, Nick added: "Sleep is important for the body it's where our mind dreams to make sense of things we've experienced, which is why lots of people are having strange dreams because of the unprecedented (in our life time), Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, but actually too much dreaming (REM sleep) stops us getting proper recovery 'deep sleep' which is why many of us are tired and irritable."

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James Wilson, also known as the Sleep Geek said: "Sleep is the foundation that the rest of our health is built upon, it helps us to physically recover and repair from illness and injury and builds our immune system. Sleep also helps to clean the brain of neurotoxins that can contribute to Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

"Moreover, it makes It easier to stick to healthy eating. Ultimately our emotional and cognitive health starts with getting the right kind of sleep for us."

Sleep patterns

This is while Dr Julie added that high levels of cortisol can stop people from getting a good sleep.

"Sleep is a huge stress reliever and is super important when trying to manage your stress levels. You must make time to work on your sleep pattern and prioritise a good night’s sleep of you want to diminish chronic stress.

"If you're really stressed and I often see this in the stress clinic I work with, people will have such high cortisol levels and constant racing thoughts, it makes it increasingly difficult for them to fall asleep or they wake up many times during the night, meaning they do not feel refreshed or energised the next day".

To help you sleep many health practitioners recommend exercising during the day, but Dr Julie says new therapies such CBD oils and products can help people who are struggling to get forty winks.

"CBD is great for helping people sleep and when asking clients many of them do use CBD especially for sleep purposes", she added.

3. Feeling tired

Lethargy can cause you to feel sluggish and tired, and the sluggishness you feel could be both physically and mentally straining.

It's likely you'll have low energy levels and that you will struggle to think clearly if you are lethargic.

All sorts of things can cause it, but you may feel lethargic if you have recently been under the weather with a cold or flu symptoms.

Being lethargic can also make you feel depressed and you may have other symptoms such as headaches and disorientation.

One psychologist has said that it’s important to address the tiredness you are feeling in lockdown and to also make sure your loved ones are holding up during these unprecedented times.

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Mary Fristad who works at a medical centre in Ohio said "a lot of people describe being really fatigued at the end of the day".

Speaking to Healthline she said: "This is due to so many reasons.

"One is we’re all experiencing so much change and unpredictability in our life.

"A lot of people are feeling very anxious, particularly if they’re having financial difficulties, which so many people are.

"The extra demands of getting through the tasks of the day, when suddenly parents are supposed to be working from home and also providing education for their children, add up to an exhausting schedule for many people."

But what can you do to beat the lethargy? Anti oxidants such as Glutathione can help you focus. The role of the vitamin is preventing and fixing oxidative damage and as the brain uses a lot of oxygen to function optimally, it contributes to our “brain power”, according to a London clinic in Marylebone that specialises in vitamin therapy.

The Vitamin Injection Company also recommend taking Vitamin B12 to boost energy.

This is while other experts say you need to find time for yourself and the things you enjoy most to combat the lethargy as well as connecting with other people.

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4. Tummy troubles

An unhealthy gut can lead to a myriad of issues and chronic stress can also trigger stomach problems.

A lot of the body's serotonin is produced in the gut and this is a hormone that affects mood and sleep. So as well as stomach pains and more trips to the toilet a bad gut can impair your ability to sleep well.

The stress caused by the coronavirus could lead to an unhealthy gut.

Dr Lisa Das, Consultant Gastroenterologist at OneWelbeck said: “We generally take our health for granted until something goes awry. Simple pleasures such as enjoying meals with friends and family can become life-changing when the gastrointestinal tract starts acting up. Before symptoms are present there are a few general checks we can do at home to try to prevent problems becoming prevalent.”

She said it's important to keep an eye on your stools as this is a key to good gut health and any variation in this might be cause for concern.

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She also added that people should keep track of their oral health: "We all brush our teeth twice daily, but paying a bit more attention to your mouth can highlight problems early. Small aphthous ulcers occur in many around colds/flu, but if they’re not healing in a reasonable time or if they’re recurring, these can be a warning sign for more serious problems such as inflammation of the bowel or intestines. It’s important to visit your dentist when you are able to do so as they may detect dental signs of acid reflux".

As well as this Dr Lisa added that people experiencing tummy troubles should monitor their waste measurements, their skin for rashes and moles and also their eyes.

She added: "Dry eyes can be environmental, but also can be a hint at autoimmune conditions affecting the tear glands, salivary glands and various joints also."

5. Fight or flight

Many of us are in uncharted waters at the moment and the coronavirus lockdown is something we have never experienced before. Our brain has no past events to compare this to and the uncertainty can activate our fight or flight responses.

Uncertainty is a trigger for stress and many people are experiencing this a lot more than usual. This can be anything from not knowing when you will be able to go back to work, to the uncertainty over whether or not the supermarket will have all of the products you need in store.

Speaking to The Sun Ms Muston added: “The NHS now clinically recognises the link between how we feel emotionally and how we feel physically. It is not possible to separate mind and body into two. When we experience stress or anxiety our bodies go into fight or flight mode. This is an evolutionary defence mechanism and means we can respond immediately to the threat of danger.

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"However, prolonged exposure to fight or flight can have a detrimental impact on our health. For instance, we can eat too much, or too little, which often has a knock on effect on our body weight. Our sleep can be disturbed, which can then lead to low energy and mood and even depression.

"Likewise, excess stress or anxiety can also be the trigger for conditions such as IBS. And increasingly people might then rely on smoking or drinking to ‘let go’. In fact, anecdotal evidence from our research did indeed reveal that people were indeed turning to alcohol and cannabis to help them through lockdown which is a big worry.”

6. Brain fog and mood swings

Stress seems to be the key to most lockdown issues and chronic stress is known to cause brain fog and mood swings.

The disruption of the prefrontal cortex means you might not be as on top of things as you would usually like.

This part of the brain also looks at emotional regulation and when this is out of sync you can be sure to experience both mood swings and brain fog.

If you are experiencing brain fog you may feel as though you are in a constant state of thought that you cannot get out of.

It can also affect your memory and your ability to store and share information.

During these extraordinary and unprecedented times, it’s so important we look after our mental health and wellbeing as well as our physical health

Nadine Dorries

Speaking to The Sun, founder of Vitamin Injections London, Biana Estelle said there are some ways to treat brain fog: “One of the most powerful antioxidants, glutathione (GSH) is naturally produced by the body. It moves through cells continuously, collecting toxins and free radicals before removing them, playing an integral role in maintaining health and wellbeing.

“A recent study showed that daily consumption of glutathione is highly effective at increasing the body’s own stores, subsequently allowing it to rid itself more easily of harmful toxins and free radicals. 

“By removing these toxins and free radicals, glutathione can not only aid with the appearance of ageing and encouraging skin luminosity but it can also help to prevent serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, neurological issues and more. It’s also hailed for its prevention and relief of “brain fog”.

7. Mental health

This week is mental health week so the conversation on the topic has been all over social media. But experts say it's important to check in on your mental health more often.

During the lockdown pandemic a huge strain has been put on our mental health as many of us face security issues when it comes to financial matters, while others struggle to be away from their loved ones.

Mental health issues can lead to other complications such as trouble sleeping and eating.

During the pandemic many people have been left unable to do the things they would usually do to boost their mental health.

While you can still exercise outside, gym classes are off limits.

Mental health minister Nadine Dorries said: “During these extraordinary and unprecedented times, it’s so important we look after our mental health and wellbeing as well as our physical health."

If you or someone you know if struggling you can use the new app that has been launched by the Samaritans.

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Samaritans Self-Help features a mood tracker that allows people to record how they feel. It recommends evidence-based coping techniques based on how you’re feeling, as well as activities that others have found useful when experiencing similar feelings.

Samaritans product manager Felix Macpherson said: “Over the past two years we have worked alongside people who have experienced emotional distress and suicidal thoughts who have found it difficult to talk to a Samaritans volunteer, in order to understand what they find most useful for coping with distress.

“We brought the launch of Samaritans Self-Help forward in the hope that it will prove a valuable place for support for those observing social distancing, facing prolonged isolation or lacking the privacy to make a call to the helpline.”