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Delhi continued to battle with air pollution for the 10th consecutive day post-Diwali as a dense layer of smog blanketed parts of the national capital on Sunday. Several parts of the national capital recorded very poor air quality levels on Sunday morning as per the data issued by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India). Today morning, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 351, Bawana 383, CRRI Mathura Road 323, Dwarka Sector 8 at 341, IGI Airport at 326, ITO 328, Lodhi Road 319, Mundka at 358, Najafgarh at 341, New Moti Bagh at 394, Okhla phase-2 at 339, RK Puram at 368, and Wazirpur at 366, as per SAFAR-India data. As of 5 pm on November 10, Delhi's AQI stood at 334, with Anand Vihar at 353, Dilshad Garden at 262, and Jahangirpuri at 377. For tomorrow, AQI in adjoining cities of Noida and Gurugram is forecasted to be at 208.92 and 77.51, respectively. Multiple visuals from Delhi's Kartavya Path showed the area surrounding India Gate engulfed by a layer of smog. The AQI in the area was recorded at 357 as of 7 am. High-rise buildings were also covered in smog in the Kalindi Kunj and surrounding locality, as the AQI was recorded as 323 in the area. An AQI is considered "poor" between '200 and 300', "very poor" at '301 and 400', "severe" at '401-450," and 450 and above is "severe plus." As the air pollution levels in the national capital reach "very poor," doctors say that even people with no history of respiratory diseases are suffering from breathing issues. Dr. Nikhil Modi, Senior Consultant for Respiratory Critical Care at Apollo Hospital, told ANI that apart from the regular patients, those who haven't had any respiratory issues in the past are showing up with symptoms such as runny noses, sneezing, coughing, and having increasing difficulties breathing. As it is, respiratory illnesses in the national capital are estimated to have shot up by around 15-20%. The Apollo doctor further suggested that the government close the schools for children as they remain vulnerable. Whenever the pollution levels have gone beyond a certain limit, the government has opted to close the schools, Dr. Modi said. "For the last few years, we have been seeing that the government has taken action. Whenever this pollution level has gone beyond a certain limit, they have opted to close the schools. This is important because children are from a vulnerable group. As adults, we are masked and can protect ourselves better, but children usually are not that effectively taking these measures. Secondly, their lungs are still in developing stages, so they are bound to have more harm due to this pollution," the doctor told ANI. Siddharth Singhal, Head of Health Insurance, Policybazaar.com, notes that while most standard health plans in India cover pollution-related ailments, it is always advised to also go for an OPD plan along with a health insurance plan to cover consultations, medications, and diagnostic tests that may be required frequently due to pollution. "Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR and some other parts of India have shot up post Diwali. Effects of this are very evident in the form of sore throats and breathing problems, among others. This can also result in respiratory ailments and chronic conditions like asthma, bronchitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumonia, and severe cases of respiratory or bronchial obstruction. Health insurance becomes critical to cover such expenses. Most policies typically cover emergency hospitalization for respiratory issues like asthma or COPD exacerbations requiring ICU or critical care," he adds.

Layer of smog covers Delhi as air quality remains 'very poor'. Here's why you need an insurance cover for this

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dogs across the country have been falling ill with an unidentified sickness.</li><li>Its symptoms include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and energy loss.</li></ul>A mysterious respiratory illness is spreading between dogs across the US, and veterinarians aren't sure what's causing it. In some cases, it's been deadly.It's not uncommon for dogs to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/pets/can-dogs-get-colds">develop a cough</a> this time of year, Dr. Sorin McKnight, an associate veterinarian at Wellborn Road Veterinary Medical Center in Texas, told Business Insider.But what's concerning about this disease, which McKnight herself hasn't witnessed, is that vets don't yet know if it's caused by a familiar bug, like the flu, or something new entirely.If they don't know what it is they don't know how to treat it, McKnight said, "so the unknown part I think like, is the unsettling part."A group of scientists at the University of New Hampshire's Veterinary Diagnosis Laboratory and the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies thinks they may have identified a bacteria that could be responsible, but it hasn't been confirmed yet, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/mystery-dog-illness-respiratory-what-know-rcna125992">NBC news reported.</a>But these reports could be caused by different bugs, and it's important not to panic, veterinarian Dr. Silene St. Bernard, who is the regional medical director working with VCA animal hospitals, told BI.Some of the first known reports of the disease started in Oregon in early August. Since then, the state has recorded more than 200 case reports of the disease, Andrea Cantu-Schomus, communications director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, told the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.avma.org/news/oregon-dealing-respiratory-illness-incidents-dogs">American Veterinary Medical Association</a>. Other states that have reported cases include <a target="_blank" href="https://cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/respiratory-illness-canine/">Colorado</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2023-11-19/dogs-coming-down-with-an-unusual-respiratory-illness-in-several-states-nh">New Hampshire</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.westernmassnews.com/2023/11/20/concerns-rise-following-mystery-respiratory-virus-dogs/">Massachusetts</a>.Here's what to look out for in your pooch, and how to do your best to protect your dog against infection.<h2>How to protect your pup</h2><div type="image" title="A picture taken on August 7, 2023 shows an abandoned dog at a shelter cared for by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation." height="2149" width="3222" msid="105396026" hostid="261"></div>The first line of defense in dogs is the same as humans — staying <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dog-owners-vaccine-hesitancy-problem-research-journal-2023-10">up to date with vaccinations</a>, McKnight said. The shots are helpful in keeping your dog protected against other sicknesses that might make their immune systems weaker, St. Bernard said.But the easiest way to avoid it is just to keep your dog away from others. Like kids at school, infection spreads easily in areas of high traffic, like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/side-hustles-from-home-sniffspot-rent-backyard-dog-park-2023-1">dog parks</a>, boarders, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/celebrity-dog-groomer-charges-300-an-hour-luxury-pet-haircuts-2020-7">groomers</a>, McKnight said.It probably spreads through direct contact with an infected dog or by coming into contact with fluids from an infected dog, St.Bernard said."I think we've all learned more than we ever wanted to know about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-coronavirus-spreads-droplets-aerosols-poop-2020-5">respiratory disease and how it passes</a> over the last few years. But it wouldn't be any different really in dogs than it would people," she said.So with transmission in mind, keeping your dog away from others for a little while, "would be the best way to avoid it. You know, just trying to stay away to not get infected," McKnight said.It's especially prudent to take note of this ahead of the holidays when many people opt to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dogvacay-raises-25-million-2014-11">board their dogs</a> as they travel.<h2>What to do if you think your dog got infected</h2><div type="image" title="A doctor with blue latex gloves checks up on a dog" height="1414" width="2121" msid="105396027" hostid="261"></div>Symptoms differ from case to case but tend to mirror that which you might see in humans: cough, sneezing, runny nose, and low energy, the <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/dog-respiratory-illness-oregon-colorado-7495daf374ddb8179593b2276248da75">Associated Press reported</a>.Sometimes, these symptoms come on fast and leave just as quickly. So as soon as you notice these symptoms, if you're able to, McKnight said you should get your dog to a veterinarian and have them take a chest X-ray.Other times though, these symptoms persist, and the dog can develop pneumonia or other lung problems. These are the sicknesses that can result in death, according to McKnight.McKnight said that if your dog's cough persists and they start seeming more tired and less interested in food, it could be a sign that they've developed something more serious.If you haven't already, you should bring your dog to a veterinarian at this point.Though this illness is something to watch out for, St. Bernard told BI that she wasn't sure this disease is any more deadly than the normal bugs that dogs can catch this time of year."I wouldn't panic at this point. I understand mystery illnesses, sounds exciting and scary, and all those things. But lots of illnesses are mysteries. We don't know what causes everything," St. Bernard said.

A mysterious respiratory illness that infects dogs is spreading across the US. Here's how to protect your pooch, and what to do if you think they have it.

As temperatures begin to drop, health experts in the US have expressed concerns over the triple threat of flu, Covid-19 and <keyword id="12300615" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="respiratory-syncytial-virus" source="Orion">Respiratory Syncytial Virus</keyword> (<keyword id="591272" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rsv" source="Orion">RSV</keyword>), urging the public to get the required preventive vaccinations and be aware of symptoms of severe illness. While the three are all highly contagious respiratory infections caused by different viruses, RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but can be dangerous for some infants and young children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (<keyword id="6379474" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="cdc" source="Orion">CDC</keyword>). Surveillance data collected by the CDC clearly shows a rise in RSV cases nationwide in recent weeks, with cases detected by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests more than tripling over the past two months, reports <keyword id="106387" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="xinhua-news-agency" source="Orion">Xinhua news agency</keyword>. Children with underlying health conditions, such as chronic lung disease or heart problems, may also be at higher risk for severe illness from respiratory viruses, said Nusheen Ameenuddin, a paediatrician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. If left untreated, severe cases of Covid-19, RSV or the flu can develop into pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, said Dr Peter Hotez, a co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital. RSV is also known to cause bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, according to the CDC. Both pneumonia and bronchiolitis can be deadly, especially in children with underlying health conditions, according to experts. Hotez urged parents to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu. "There are three viruses circulating", he said, "and if you can take one or two of them off the table by getting your child vaccinated, that makes things much more straightforward". The Covid-19 vaccination rate in the US lags behind that of many other high-income countries. Less than half of the total booster-eligible population has received a dose, according to the latest CDC data. About 226.6 million people, or 68.2 per cent of the total US population, completed a primary series. But only 49.1 per cent of the total booster-eligible population has received a booster dose, CDC data shows. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-reports-830-fresh-covid-cases-1-death/articleshow/95094898.cms">India reports 830 fresh Covid cases, 1 death </a><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/almost-every-child-on-earth-will-suffer-from-heatwaves-by-2050-unicef/articleshow/95094595.cms">Almost every child on earth will suffer from heatwaves by 2050: Unicef</a>

US health experts concerned over triple threat of flu, Covid, RSV

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A study found links between 32 health problems and eating ultra-processed foods.</li><li>The link was stronger for some problems than others, such as depression and type 2 diabetes.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ultra-processed-foods-marketed-as-healthy-2023-9">Ultra-processed foods</a> have been linked with a higher risk of developing 32 health problems in a study. But experts say that they don't need to be cut out of our diets entirely.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-077310">research</a>, published in The BMJ on Wednesday, was based on 45 existing studies that assessed the potential health effects of ultra-processed foods, involving over 9.8 million participants in total. The studies looked at the amount of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reduce-ultra-processed-foods-nutritionist-tips-2024-1">UPFs</a> participants ate and if they developed any health problems.This is the latest study to look at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ultra-processed-foods-american-diets-2016-3">potential health risks of UPFs</a>, which have become a concern as they make up more and more of our diets. So far, research suggests that UPFs are not as healthy as whole foods such as vegetables, whole grains, and beans, but the US government's dietary guidelines don't recommend cutting them out.The review <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stop-counting-calories-avoid-processed-foods-weight-loss-tim-spector-2022-5">defined UPFs</a> as industrially produced foods made from chemically modified ingredients and additives rather than whole foods, such as packaged snacks, carbonated soft drinks, instant noodles, and readymade meals.None of the studies were funded by or associated with ultra-processed food manufacturers.<h2>UPFs were linked to health problems such as cardiovascular disease and depression</h2>The review found links between consuming UPFs and 32 health issues, including a higher risk of dying in general, as well as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eating-ultra-processed-foods-ovarian-brain-cancer-risk-2022-2">cancer</a>, and mental, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and metabolic problems.According to a press release, a 10% increase in UPF consumption was tied to a 12% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.Seven studies found a direct link between eating more UPFs and the risk of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/colorectal-cancer-high-mortality-young-people-signs-symptoms-disease-2024-1">colorectal cancer</a>, and a further six studies found that the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which include heart attacks and coronary heart disease, increased the more UPF participants consumed.Other health problems linked to eating a lot of UPFs included:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-lower-blood-pressure-heart-attack-risk-stroke-cardiologist-2023-3">Hypertension</a> (high blood pressure)</li><li>Obesity, especially abdominal</li><li>Death from any cause</li><li>Anxiety</li><li>Depression</li><li>Sleep problems</li></ul>It also found limited evidence for associations between higher UPF consumption and asthma, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and other cancers, including breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and central nervous system tumors.<h2>Some UPFs may be beneficial for our health, so more research is needed</h2>Evangeline Mantzioris, program director of nutrition and food sciences at the University of South Australia, who was not involved in the study, said in a statement: "this research highlights the importance of people limiting their intake of UPF and replacing it with whole foods."However, the researchers categorized the associations for most health problems as "low" or "very low" in credibility.Plus, the team acknowledged that not all UPFs appear to affect health in the same way. In one study, UPFs were generally associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, but certain sub-categories of UPF were actually associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, such as ultra-processed cereals, dark/wholegrain bread, packaged sweet and savory snacks, fruit-based products and yogurt, and dairy-based desserts.The authors of the study recommended that the public should be encouraged to eat fewer UPFs, but dietitians have previously told Business Insider it's unwise to completely cut out UPFs, as they can be an easy and cheap way to get calories and nutrients.Instead, dietitian Taylor Grasso previously told BI it's best to aim for an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/processed-ultra-processed-foods-ok-to-eat-2023-8">80:20 ratio</a> of whole to processed foods to help people eat healthily but not obsess over food.Gunter Kuhnle, professor of nutrition and food science at the University of Reading, UK, who was also not involved in the study, said in a statement that as the results discussed in the review are based on very weak data and don't touch on the causes of the health problems mentioned, they don't justify any changes in dietary recommendations.<h2>It's unclear why UPFs are linked to so many health problems</h2>The review suggested several reasons why UPFs might be linked to health problems.Firstly, a person who eats a lot of UPFs may have a poor diet in general, which can lead to health problems. Or, it could be that UPFs replace nutritious foods in people's diets.The additives in UPFs, such as non-sugar sweeteners, emulsifiers, and colorants, could also cause health issues. The authors pointed out that sweeteners, for instance, have been classified as "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aspartame-is-a-possible-carcinogen-but-still-safe-to-ingest-2023-7">possibly carcinogenic</a>" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, although at levels higher than most people would consume.It could also be that the industrial processing involved in producing UPFs or the packaging they tend to come in could contaminate the foods with harmful substances.But, the authors acknowledged that they don't know for sure why UPFs cause these issues, and that further research is needed.

Ultra-processed foods have been linked to 32 health problems in a study. But experts say you don't have to give up all your favorite snacks just yet. 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A new drug called Nirsevimab protected healthy babies against <keyword id="13301074" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rsv" source="Orion">RSV</keyword> in a late-stage trial.</li><li>RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in US babies under 1, the CDC has said.</li></ul>A new drug could help protect healthy babies from a common respiratory virus that can make them sick, according to the doctors and scientists <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/944911" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studying the drug.</a>A late-stage trial published in the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110275#article_references&amp;uccLastUpdatedDate=2021-12-17%2006%3A19%3A07.32%20%2B0000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New England Journal of Medicine Thursday</a> found nirsevimab, an antibody injection, cut the number of babies requiring medical attention for a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection by about 75%.RSV is the leading cause of bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways, and pneumonia in babies under the age of one in the US, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the CDC.</a>In most cases, RSV causes mild, cold-like symptoms lasting up to two weeks but one to two of every 100 children younger than six months require hospital treatment, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the CDC said. </a>At present, there's only one drug available — pavivizumab — that might prevent RSV. However, it's reserved for babies at highest risk from the virus, such as those born prematurely or with underlying lung or heart conditions.Pavivizumab's protection lasts one month, which means infants need five injections throughout the season when RSV is most prevalent, which is during fall, winter and spring in most of the US.The latest trial's results, pending regulatory approval, suggest that nirsevimab might be used to protect healthy, term babies from RSV as a one-off shot for a season, the study authors said.The scientists found RSV-associated infection requiring medical attention occurred in 1.2% of 994 infants that got nirsevimab, compared with 5% of 496 babies that got a dummy drug. This corresponds to an efficacy of 74.5%, the study authors said.There were no serious adverse events related to the drug, they said.Dr. William Muller, study author and an associate professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/944911" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said of the findings</a>: "These exciting data show that nirsevimab has the potential to offer RSV protection for all infants, which would be a paradigm shift in the approach to this disease."Muller told <a href="https://wgntv.com/news/medical-watch/new-vaccine-shows-potential-to-help-prevent-rsv-in-babies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chicago news outlet WGN9,</a> that RSV can be a "big problem" for "little babies, particularly under age 1"."It can cause them to get an pneumonia, have difficulty breathing, have difficulty maintaining appropriate oxygen levels," <a href="https://wgntv.com/news/medical-watch/new-vaccine-shows-potential-to-help-prevent-rsv-in-babies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he said, per WGN9.</a>"We don't really have any great treatments for it. We provide oxygen. We provide IV fluids and suctioning. They really have to recover on their own," he said. "We completely relate to the frustration parents feel when they see their child struggling to breathe and we don't have any medicines to give them," Muller added, per WGN9.Mueller told <a href="https://wgntv.com/news/medical-watch/new-vaccine-shows-potential-to-help-prevent-rsv-in-babies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WGN9 </a>that the new drug nirsevimab was administered as an injection into the muscle, in a "very similar" way to a vaccine.Nirsevimab works differently to a vaccine, though — it doesn't trigger the bodies own immune system to produce disease-fighting antibodies. Instead, it's an antibody itself, which can bind to and stop cells from getting infected. Julian Tang, a professor of respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester, who was not involved in the study, cautioned that antibody drugs such as nirsevimab could be expensive.Tang added: "But in principle it will be useful to reduce RSV bronchiolitis illness and hospitalisations each season for these young children, which is a major <keyword id="11897506" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="healthcare" source="Orion">healthcare</keyword> burden," <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/077b8ca4-9a3c-11ec-931c-643306e9125f?shareToken=fc6e532a2640a1631baed30c89a6eb3d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he told The Times.</a>The trial was funded by drugmakers AstraZeneca and Sanofi.

New injection could help save babies from RSV, a common but potentially deadly virus

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US government launched a Mask Innovation Challenge to create the next generation of masks.</li><li>The new designs must address common problems like foggy glasses and skin irritation.</li><li>Contestants must enter phase 1 by the April 21 deadline. </li></ul>The US government is offering up to $500,000 for those who enter their designs into a next-generation <a href="https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/mask-innovation-challenge/">face mask competition</a>. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on Tuesday announced a competition for anyone wanting to create the next best facemask that can continue to be worn after the <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> <keyword id="43587" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="pandemic">pandemic</keyword> to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases.New designs should address "notable barriers" people have that are bothersome or keep them from wearing one, the agencies said. These issues include <a href="https://www.businessinsider.co.za/the-best-south-african-mask-for-spectacle-wearers-2020-5">foggy glasses</a>, irritated skin, unclear speech, ineffectiveness, trouble fitting, and lack of visible facial expressions. "The Mask Innovation Challenge seeks to develop innovative and effective designs for mass-producible, low-cost-per-use devices to be worn by the general public in order to provide protection from respiratory disease pathogens," the agencies said.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/selling-face-masks-small-business-owners-pivoted-covid-19-pandemic-2021-3">A pivot to selling face masks saved small businesses. Here's what they learned from a year of selling the world's most in-demand product</a>The challenge comes in two phases: Phase one is the design phase in which contestants must submit their plans for a redesigned mask meeting the competition's criteria by the April 21 deadline, and Phase 2 is the "proof of concept," where contestants will be asked to submit their solutions to an unknown scenario.The agencies said more details will be released on the second phase at a later date. Up to 10 winners in phase 1 to receive no more than $10,000 each, and it will select up to 5 winners to split a $400,000 pot. People in the US began <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctor-face-mask-recommendations-comfort-protection-2020-12">wearing face masks</a> more than a year ago to help slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Since then, many new face mask designs have been released, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-masks-for-coronavirus-chart-2020-9">some more effective than others</a>, though. Now, as the country braces for a post-pandemic world as millions of people receive a COVID-19 vaccine each day, questions loom about the future of face mask wearing. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-the-vaccine-will-not-be-enough-to-stop-coronavirus-2020-9">Dr. Anthony Fauci</a> has said people will need to wear <keyword id="1252845" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="face-masks">face masks</keyword> through 2021, and the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/face-masks-needed-until-2022-cvs-ceo-dr-anthony-fauci-2021-2">CVS CEO Karen Lynch</a> said masks will likely be needed until at least 2022 "for the safety of the nation." Meanwhile, many states have begun <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-mask-mandate-covid-staff-wear-masks-toyota-target-abbott-2021-3">lifting their face mask requirements</a>, worrying public health officials who say it's not yet time.

You could win $500,000 from the US government for designing the next generation of face masks

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-live-updates-latest-news">coronavirus</a> has one main mode of transmission: respiratory droplets that leave a person's mouth or nose when they sneeze, cough, or talk.</li><li>Studies have also found virus particles in the air as aerosols, as well as in feces and semen, but those pose less of a transmission threat.</li><li>Here are the five ways people could transmit the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>, ranked in order of <keyword id="27263" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="risk">risk</keyword>.</li></ul>Coronavirus particles have been found in spit, mucus, poop, semen, floating through the air, and on various surfaces, like doorknobs and packages.But your chances of getting sick after coming into contact with the virus in these different situations vary. Here are the five ways we know the coronavirus can spread, and how risky each one is for you.<h2>1. You're most likely to catch the coronavirus after other infected people cough, sneeze, or talk near you</h2>The coronavirus' main mode of transmission is via respiratory droplets: The particles travel best between people in little drops of liquid — saliva and mucus, usually. These typically travel <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-passes-between-people-6-feet-apart-2020">3 to 5 feet</a>.<div type="image" title="San Fransisco social distancing" height="1276" width="1702" msid="76038703" hostid="261"></div>If an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loud-speech-coronavirus-droplets-study-2020-5">loudly</a>, or eats within that distance of someone healthy, droplets could land on them. Then if the particles enter a person's eyes, nose, or mouth, they can become infected.An infected person can transmit the virus without ever knowing the had it — about 35% never show symptoms, according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/planning-scenarios.html">CDC</a>. Respiratory droplets are usually more than 5 micrometers in diameter. That's relatively heavy, so they generally stay in the air for less than a minute until gravity pulls them down.Maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others, avoiding touching your face, washing hands thoroughly and frequently, and wearing gloves can help prevent this form of transmission.<h2>2. The coronavirus can live in poop, so exposure to raw sewage could be risky</h2>Research suggests the virus could also spread via <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/some-wuhan-coronavirus-patients-have-nausea-vomiting-diarrhea-2020-2">fecal matter</a>: Multiple studies have found traces of it in infected patients' poop.This is a health risk in places where waste-management systems can't adequately treat raw sewage. If contaminated water reenters the water system and then gets used for cooking, farming, or hygiene practices, there's a risk of <keyword id="6393040" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="infection">infection</keyword>.In some cases, exposure to contaminated feces can also be a problem if people use the bathroom then don't wash their hands before touching others or handling food. (In medicine, this is known as fecal-oral transmission.)<div type="image" title="coronavirus bathroom" height="891" width="1188" msid="76038708" hostid="261"></div>Accordingly, careful food-handling and washing is also important. Both the US and Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend boiling drinking water if there's a possibility it could be contaminated with sewage, and avoiding raw food like shellfish or produce that may have been harvested or washed in contaminated water.<h2>3. The virus can linger in the air in the form of particles known as aerosols</h2>Scientists know that viral particles can linger in the air in the form of aerosols (which are smaller than droplets), but they still aren't sure of the concentration required to infect a person who walks through that space later on.This is known as airborne transmission; the measles virus can spread that way, living for <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/transmission.html">up to two hours</a> in an airspace where an infected person coughed or sneezed.Coronavirus aerosols pose the biggest threat in healthcare settings. <a href="https://files.springernature.com/getResource/Lan%20AAP_41586_2020_2271.pdf?token=IULUvIufpS8AXE43riPpExKrcZMUcwpHIO0w4yhOno61RnG9Vz6%2Fr7GCrI5AcBi92o1n3tikPjKFkiYotkHNpNM75Zwrwg1JnULfD6ql3lbuFqJwFq26SD3caLE%2FOTAruCh%2FZ3DLB4IVSRfpmhKqIJz7hANkydQI%2Fp%2FsfYBXvPmpvjISgQTPHrDIJNW6AFPC6R1Se4bGQnT7HNP7lnlhp40M0VnqSPp7kwO%2Fuk2bUqzCp2RvCd7lKNljEfwNOQfAqowTnxANPyYX7ogUnDMC4H9by2bXV8IgzTIBcZHqxxdKvbq3Cbqav%2Bb9DzW9Uean">Research published last month</a> in the journal Nature found that there were high concentrations of live virus in the air in and around certain areas of two hospitals in Wuhan, China. The study showed that viral particles were present in air samples from crowded places, poorly ventilated bathrooms, and rooms in which healthcare workers removed their protective equipment.<div type="image" title="ventilator hospital" height="1667" width="2223" msid="76038710" hostid="261"></div>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations.html">also says</a> that certain hospital procedures, like intubating a patient, "could generate infectious aerosols." A <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0885_article">recent CDC study</a> found that the coronavirus could travel up to 13 feet (4 meters) as an aerosol in hospital settings.However, when aerosolized virus particles are dispersed in a well ventilated room, only small amounts linger. It's unclear if that'd be enough to infect someone.<h2>4. Virus particles do not spread easily on surfaces, according to the CDC</h2>The CDC updated its guidance last week to clarify that the coronavirus does not easily transmit via contaminated surfaces. (That wasn't completely new information — the CDC has said for months that the main way that the virus spreads is via droplets.)The risk with surfaces is that droplets could land on them after a sick person talks, coughs, or sneezes nearby. Another person could then touch these surfaces and subsequently touch their face, thereby getting infected. But the risk of that is low.Research has shown that live coronavirus particles can survive for anywhere from three hours to seven days on surfaces, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-long-can-coronavirus-live-on-surfaces-how-to-disinfect-2020-3">depending on the material</a>. But — as with aerosols — the existence of live virus particles in any concentration doesn't necessarily translate into a new infection.<div type="image" title="how long covid 19 can live on common surfaces" height="2332" width="1667" msid="76038711" hostid="261"></div><h2>5. The coronavirus has been found in semen, but it's not clear yet whether it can be sexually transmitted</h2>A <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2765654?utm_source=For_The_Media&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=ftm_links&amp;utm_term=050720_term=050720">study</a> from Chinese scientists published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-found-in-semen-questions-of-sexual-transmission-2020-5"> coronavirus particles</a> in the semen of 16% of male patients studied — both from patients who had active infections and those who had recovered.However, the researchers aren't sure whether the virus spreads through sexual contact. Many types of viruses that aren't sexually transmitted have been <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe1803212">found</a> in semen in the past."The presence of viruses in semen may be more common than currently understood, and traditional non-sexually transmitted viruses should not be assumed to be totally absent in genital secretions," the researchers wrote.Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-coronavirus-spreads-droplets-aerosols-poop-2020-5">Business Insider</a>

5 ways people could transmit the coronavirus — from respiratory droplets to semen — ranked in order of risk

<keyword id="6355460" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi">Holi</keyword> or the Festival of Colours is just around the corner, all set to usher in a colourful spring after the austere winter and promising to bring the colour of joy and passion in our humdrum life. But before you start preparing for the traditional colour splash, have you got all the ingredients to make it a green Holi? <keyword id="2132784" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-colours-industry">Holi colours industry</keyword> was pegged to <keyword id="30450" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Touch">touch</keyword> Rs 4,500 crore in 2012-13, according to an analysis by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (<keyword id="6355988" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Assocham">Assocham</keyword>), and the numbers are sure to go up this year. Interestingly, the <keyword id="47445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-market">Indian market</keyword> has also witnessed a growing demand for hazard-free herbal colours. The market for <keyword id="2132783" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Herbal-dyes">herbal dyes</keyword> is estimated to be growing at 30-40% annually although the products are a bit expensive. 
 While a chemical-free colour plunge is the most desirable and eco-friendly way of celebrating Holi, you must walk through the market once to find out what’s in store. Broadly speaking, you will find three types of <keyword id="586078" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="chemical-colours">chemical colours</keyword> here – powders, pastes and wets or liquid ones. Most of these are chemical/synthetic dyes, containing substances such as <keyword id="2132786" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Oxides">oxides</keyword>, <keyword id="6395221" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="heavy-metals">heavy metals</keyword> (lead, chromium, nickel and cadmium), <keyword id="1322867" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="acids">acids</keyword>, <keyword id="2132787" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Alkalis">alkalis</keyword>, <keyword id="2132789" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Powdered-glass">powdered glass</keyword> and <keyword id="2132788" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mica-dust">mica dust</keyword> – all supremely harmful for your skin, hair and eyes. 
 The powders mostly have <keyword id="2132790" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Toxic-colorants">toxic colorants</keyword> and an asbestos/silica base; the pastes have a mix of toxic compounds and inferior quality oils and water colours include strong alkalis. No wonder we get itches, rashes, redness and swelling after a thorough colour soak, a colour-filled balloon attack or a terrific <keyword id="2132798" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pitchkari">pitchkari</keyword> fight. Also, darker shades like red, blue and green have high levels of chemicals, metal oxides and industrial dyes, which are used to provide thick texture. Shiny colours can also contain powdered glass. 
 
10 chemical colours that can harm you 
If you revel in rainbow hues and mostly buy synthetic colours, here’s a harm list for your ready reference. 
 
1. Abeer/Gulal: Popularly believed to be the least harmful of all chemical colours, this one contains a whole lot of mica dust that can cause <keyword id="100486" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Skin-irritation">skin irritation</keyword> and other infections. This <keyword id="2132796" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Powder-colour">powder colour</keyword> is available in many hues including red, pink, green, yellow and magenta. 
 
2. Red &amp; pink: These colours have mercuric oxide and rhodamine B; both can cause <keyword id="1654686" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="eye-irritation">eye irritation</keyword>, <keyword id="28956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="skin-cancer">skin cancer</keyword> and more. 
 
3. Blue: Has <keyword id="890372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prussian-blue">Prussian blue</keyword> that may cause contract dermatitis. 
 
4. Green: Contains copper carbonate/copper sulphate; this may cause severe eye <keyword id="6450271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="allergy">allergy</keyword> or even temporary blindness. 
 
5. Yellow: Features auramine, which may cause eye and skin allergy, as well as respiratory and <keyword id="2132814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Digestive-tract-irritation">digestive tract irritation</keyword>. 
 
6. Orange: Contains chromium Iodide, which is toxic to blood and liver. 
 
7. Violet: Has methyl violet; this can be carcinogenic and may cause severe eye irritation. 
 
8. Purple: Contains chromium iodide; this can also be carcinogenic and may cause <keyword id="6465125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="asthma">asthma</keyword> or allergy. 
 
9. Silver: One of the components is aluminum bromide and it is also known to be carcinogenic. 
 
10. Black: Contains lead oxide, which may cause renal failure and learning disabilities in the long run. 
 
 
 
Go ‘natural’ to stay safe You can either buy herbal dyes or use home-made colours, which are clinically safe and totally <keyword id="6356826" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="environment">environment</keyword> friendly. The herbal variant is now easily available in the market and uses components such as flour, henna or arrowroot powder as base, and vegetable dyes to add colour. But before buying them, make sure they are non-carcinogenic, lead-free and lab-tested for safety. 
 You can also prepare <keyword id="583108" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-colours">Holi colours</keyword> at home as you get some excellent colorants from certain flowers and plants. All you need to do is dry and powder them or soak/boil them in water. Add a little scented oil and eco-friendly Holi colours will be ready for use. Take a look at the 8 exotic colours you can prepare at home. 
 
1. <keyword id="2132779" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ruby-Red">Ruby Red</keyword>: Prepare red sandalwood powder/paste or mix it in plenty of water and boil for <keyword id="2132794" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Liquid-colour">liquid colour</keyword>. You can also crush dry red hibiscus flowers and boil it in water. Peels of red <keyword id="92372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Pomegranates">pomegranates</keyword> or twigs of madar tree produce a vibrant red when boiled in water. Otherwise, put carrot or tomato juice in plenty of water to take the stickiness out and use it. 
 
2. <keyword id="2132806" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Turmeric-yellow">Turmeric Yellow</keyword>: This one is the easiest to make. Mix turmeric or haldi powder with double the amount of besan to prepare a vivid yellow powder. Flowers like marigold and yellow chrysanthemums can also be dried and crushed to obtain different shades of yellow. To produce liquid colours, mix any of these powders in plenty of water and boil it. 
 
3. Profound Pink/Magnificent Magenta: Soak sliced beetroot in lots of water for 12 hours or so before using the liquid. 
 
4. Sunny Orange: Put tesu or palash flowers (flame of the forest) in water and soak overnight. Or boil them in water for a vibrant yellow-orange shade. 
 
5. Emerald Green: Dried and powdered henna leaves will work best. For wet colour, soak the henna leaves overnight or prepare a paste of spinach/coriander/mint, and mix it in water. 
 
6. Turquoise Blue: Jacaranda and blue hibiscus flowers can be dried, powdered and used. 
 
7. Dark Brown: Boil tea leaves or coffee powder. Let it cool before using. 
 
8. Charcoal Black: Boil dried amla in an iron vessel and leave it overnight. Mix with water and use. 
 
3 tips for a ‘safe’ Holi 
1. Say ‘no’ to colours: Especially pastes and liquid colours, as these tend to stain the skin deeper and last longer. Avoid colours altogether if you are suffering from asthma, eye or <keyword id="624291" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Skin-infections">skin infections</keyword>, or any other chronic disease. 
 
2. Cover yourself well: The more you do that, the less exposed you will be to harmful chemicals. Wear full-sleeve dresses and don a pair of sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes. Apply baby oil, cream or waterproof <keyword id="74032" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sunscreen">sunscreen</keyword> lotion on your skin – so that the stains will get off easily. 
 
3. See your doctor: Don’t neglect post-Holi syndromes like skin or eye irritation. A mild anti-allergic and soothing skin lotion should be able to fix it, but severe allergy, <keyword id="2132809" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chemical-burn">chemical burn</keyword> or <keyword id="2132810" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Retinal-damage">retinal damage</keyword> cannot be ruled out either. See your doctor as soon as you can and start proper treatment. 
 
Image credit: Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Usher In The Festival
Of Colours; Gear Up For A Chemical-free Holi

Slaven Vlasic/Getty ImagesMark Cuban.<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban accused 3M of failing to keep prices of its face masks low during a time when they are critical to combatting the coronavirus in the country. </li><li>On March 21, the billionaire took to Twitter to accuse 3M of allowing its distributors to raise the prices of the masks to turn a profit. </li><li>In an interview with Bloomberg, Cuban admonished the price gouging of N95 respirator masks, calling the act "wrong" and "criminal."</li><li>3M has said the company cannot control the prices that distributors charge for 3M products.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban called out the manufacturing giant 3M for failing to keep the prices of faces masks low and to get the critical protective gear to health workers on the frontlines of battling the coronavirus. "I'm excited that 3M has increased capacity. But supply hasn't been matched with demand," the billionaire told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-28/mark-cuban-aiding-mask-effort-says-3m-fails-to-stop-profiteers">Bloomberg News</a>. "Why is 3M not telling distributors, pick up the phone, sell your inventory to the hospitals, or will never let you buy more product?"Since the novel coronavirus has swept the country, the billionaire has pledged his money and efforts towards helping get health workers the personal protective equipment they need - including the coveted N95 masks that have been in short supply. Prices for the respiratory masks have soared with state governments, hospitals, and the general public scrambling to purchase the protective gear. On March 20, 3M Chairman and CEO Mike Roman announced it would double its global production of N95 respiratory to a rate of more than 1.1 billion per year after "see[ing] the pleas from our heroic doctors, nurses and first responders for the respirators."Despite earning the praise of President Donald Trump for its joining efforts to battle the novel virus, Cuban claimed the manufacturing company wasn't being honest about what it was doing with the masks after production. "3M lists all its distributors online, the ones buying and selling these things, and these distributors are making as much money as they possibly can," Cuban told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-28/mark-cuban-aiding-mask-effort-says-3m-fails-to-stop-profiteers">Bloomberg News</a>, adding that the resellers don't have to sell the masks to hospitals. "It's wrong, it's criminal."Cuban explained that, until recently, 3M had been selling the masks exclusively to distributors instead of sending these masks directly healthcare providers. Cuban accused 3M of sitting on the sidelines while their distributors increased prices. "It would have been very easy for them to say very strongly, 'If you don't sell if you don't take the inventory we're providing you and sell directly to hospitals and healthcare providers that need the masks, when your contract comes up, we're going to end that contract,'" Cuban told <a href="https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/6143511379001/#sp=show-clips">Fox News</a>. "But that's not what they did. And I have a huge problem with that. "Cuban claimed he first discovered 3M's oversight when he began receiving emails from 3M's distributors offering to sell him N95 masks at "premium prices."Reuters/Nicholas PfosiVarious N95 respiration masks at a laboratory of 3M, that has been contracted by the U.S. government to produce extra marks in response to the country's novel coronavirus outbreak, in Maplewood, Minnesota, U.S. March 4, 2020."I have emails saying, 'I have a 100,000 masks per sale at $8 per piece.' I would ask if these were 3M masks, N95s, and if they could prove it. I literally have been offered billions of masks at premium prices from $4 to $8, million-dollar minimum orders, who knows what's real."Cuban claimed that 3M's distributors have been selling the N95 masks to resellers in black markets who are jacking up the prices even higher than the distributors did. "It's operating like an illegal drug market, not a legitimate market," Cuban told Bloomberg News. "I get wanting to make millions of dollars, but people are dying."Cuban said he has spoke with the federal government about stopping the "middlemen" who have allowed the masks to jack up prices of the N95 masks. Although he told Bloomberg News that he also reached out to the 3M CEO himself, he maintained on Fox News that Roman could have stepped in and stopped the price gouging much sooner. "This could have stopped a long time ago if the CEO of 3M's said we only want you to sell it to health care providers," Cuban told Fox News. 3M did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. But a representative told Bloomberg News that the company cannot control the prices dealers charge for 3M products. The manufacturing giant also released a letter from Roman to Attorney General William offering its support to curb "pandemic profiteers.""On behalf of 3M and our 96,000 employees worldwide, I would like to offer our support as you protect the public from counterfeiting and price-gouging with respect to critical medical devices, including the respirators and masks that are critical to our country's medical personnel," Roman wrote.Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email <a href="mailto:covidtips@businessinsider.com">covidtips@businessinsider.com</a> and tell us your story. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-usa-nationwide-lockdown-trump-2020-3">Can the US actually implement a nationwide lockdown?</a></h3>

Mark Cuban calls out 3M for allowing distributors to jack up prices for critical N95 respiratory masks

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Scientists and doctors are increasingly reporting <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-live-updates-latest-news">coronavirus</a> symptoms related to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-blood-clot-complications-in-severe-covid-19-treatment-debate-2020-4">blood clots</a>.</li><li>Blood-vessel-related complications have manifested in <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> patients' legs, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-coronavirus-diagnosis-ct-scans-lungs-2020-2">lungs</a>, hearts, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-patients-minor-strokes-neurological-symptoms-2020-5">brains</a>, and skin.</li><li>Doctors still aren't sure how or why the virus triggers excessive clotting, but they're looking to treat these symptoms with blood-thinners and clot-busting drugs. </li></ul>The coronavirus isn't just a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-coronavirus-diagnosis-ct-scans-lungs-2020-2">respiratory infection</a>.Some of the most dangerous and least understood symptoms — from <keyword id="63250" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="strokes">strokes</keyword> to pulmonary embolisms to "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-toes-frostbite-coronavirus-skin-lesion-discolored-swollen-feet-2020-4">COVID toes</a>" — have been tied to excessive <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-blood-clot-complications-in-severe-covid-19-treatment-debate-2020-4">blood clotting</a>.Clots form when blood thickens, hindering flow through a vein. They usually happen in legs or arms, but clots can also move to the lungs, heart, or brain. In the most serious cases, clots can be fatal, leading to strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms, and more.Doctors still don't understand exactly how or why the coronavirus is causing <keyword id="30946" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="blood-clots">blood clots</keyword>. Lewis Kaplan, a physician at the University of Pennsylvania and head of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, told the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/22/coronavirus-blood-clots/">Washington Post</a> that doctors hadn't seen any clotting like this before."The problem we are having is that while we understand that there is a clot, we don't yet understand why there is a clot," he said. "We don't know. And therefore, we are scared."Here are the coronavirus symptoms associated with blood clots.<h2>The coronavirus causes blood clots of all sizes throughout the body</h2>Doctors treating coronavirus patients are seeing blood clots cause kidney failure, heart inflammation, and even immune system complications.In one high-profile New York case, a blood clot forced doctors to amputate Broadway actor Nick Cordero's leg. After he was hospitalized with <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword>, Cordero started experiencing clotting issues in his right foot. Doctors put him on blood thinners, but that affected his blood pressure and caused intestinal bleeding. Eventually, doctors had to amputate.<div type="image" title="Nick Cordero 3" height="1789" width="2385" msid="76235001" hostid="261"></div>A <a href="https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2765934/autopsy-findings-venous-thromboembolism-patients-covid-19-prospective-cohort-study">study</a> of the autopsies of 12 German patients who died of COVID-19 found that about 60% had undiagnosed deep-vein thrombosis — when a blood clot forms in a vein located deep inside your body, like the legs or arms.<h2>Blood clots can travel to the lungs, causing pulmonary embolisms</h2>A quarter of the German COVID-19 patients analyzed in the autopsy study were killed by pulmonary embolisms. That's when large clots that form in other parts of the body travel to the lungs, blocking lung arteries.Another study of five <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32299776">autopsies</a> of coronavirus victims in New York City found that some people's lungs fill with hundreds of "micro-clots" that cause inflammation.Pulmonary embolisms aren't always fatal: In some cases, smaller clots restrict blood flow and airflow into the lungs without creating a full blockage. That can decrease blood-oxygen levels — a common symptom of coronavirus.<div type="image" title="Coronavirus lung autopsies showing many small sources of inflammation" height="489" width="777" msid="76235003" hostid="261"></div><h2>Heart complications might be linked to clotting, too</h2>Blood clots in arteries can cause heart attacks.A <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2763845">study</a> of 187 Chinese patients with COVID-19 found that nearly 30% of those studied suffered heart damage, which resulted in cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmias. This might also be part of the reason why coronavirus patients with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-death-age-older-people-higher-risk-2020-2">underlying health problems</a> tend to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-illness-symptoms-peak-decline-china-2020-2">have higher death rates compared to otherwise healthy patients</a>. A Chinese CDC study found that patients with <keyword id="22908" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="heart-disease">heart disease</keyword> had a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-death-rates-preexisting-conditions-heart-disease-cancer-2020-2">death rate</a> of about 10%.<h2>Blood clots are also tied to strokes </h2>Strokes occur when arteries carrying blood vessels to and within the brain get blocked (which clotting can cause), or when a blood vessel ruptures.A <a href="https://www.thrombosisresearch.com/article/S0049-3848(20)30120-1/pdf">Dutch study</a> of 184 coronavirus patients in the ICU found that nearly one-third of them had blood clots. Around 4% had blood clots blocking arteries. Thomas Oxley, a neurosurgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-causes-strokes-inflammation-in-blood-vessels-clots-2020-4">previously</a> told Business Insider that strokes have been observed in older COVID-19 patients as well as some <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-causes-strokes-inflammation-in-blood-vessels-clots-2020-4">younger patients in their 30s and 40s with mild COVID-19 symptoms</a>. He believes these cases involved blood clots that traveled from the body into the brain. <div type="image" title="strokes CT scan brain blood clots" height="3000" width="4500" msid="76235007" hostid="261"></div><h2>Clotting might cause some skin problems reported by coronavirus patients</h2>Doctors have also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unusual-skin-problems-coronavirus-symptoms-rash-toes-blister-2020-5">reported clotting</a> in the small blood vessels in coronavirus patients' skin, which causes rash-like patterns. One highly discussed skin problem associated with the coronavirus, though still mysterious, is "COVID toes": darkened legions and swelling on the toes. Some experts believe the reaction <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/should-you-be-worried-about-blood-clots-with-covid-19/">may be due</a> to small blood clots in the blood vessels of the feet. In the legs, swelling is one of the most common signs of clotting."It's possible that this is a skin reaction or caused by a small clog or micro-clots in the blood vessels found in the toes," pulmonologist <a href="http://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff/18275-humberto-choi">Humberto Cho</a> told the<a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-covid-toes-and-rashes-common-symptoms-of-coronavirus/"> Cleveland Clinic</a>. He added, however, that doctors are still looking into the cause of the symptom.<div type="image" title="An example of &quot;COVID Toes&quot;" height="2274" width="3032" msid="76235011" hostid="261"></div><h2>Doctors are racing to figure out how the coronavirus causes clots</h2>Scientists still aren't sure why COVID-19 is causing clots. But one theory is that they're the result of blood vessels' reactions to being invaded by the virus, Oxley said.The virus attacks cells via a receptor called ACE2, which can be found throughout the body, including in the stomach, lungs, heart, nose, and blood vessels. According to Oxley, when the virus binds to ACE2 receptors in the walls of our blood vessels, the vessels become inflamed, which can cause clotting.Another explanation could be that the body's immune system triggers a hyperactive inflammatory response as it tries to fight the virus. That might impact its clotting factors: proteins that help control bleeding by thickening the blood."One of the theories is that once the body is so engaged in a fight against an invader, the body starts consuming the clotting factors, which can result in either blood clots or bleeding," Harlan Krumholz, a cardiac specialist at Yale-New Haven Hospital Center, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/22/coronavirus-blood-clots/">told The Washington Post</a>. Other viruses such as <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281780498_Thromboembolic_events_in_patients_with_severe_pandemic_influenza_AH1N1">H1N1</a>, or swine flu, and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-004-0519-8">SARS</a> also heighten patients' risk of blood clots.Aylin Woodward and Lydia Ramsey contributed reporting.

Many of the coronavirus' most mysterious and dangerous symptoms have one thing in common: blood clots. This isn't solely a respiratory infection.

A few months ago, my doctor told me that I couldn’t run outside anymore. I didn’t protest. For the past four years, I’ve gone on a run every alternate day in Gurgaon, in the NCR region. However, I find my stamina decreasing each year. And the headaches and coughs are getting worse. I finally caved in and went to a doctor after a bout of incessant coughing kept me up for hours at night. “Go to a gym,” he said, “and make sure that the gym has an air purifier”. On April 17th, <a href="https://www.stateofglobalair.org/sites/default/files/soga-2018-report.pdf">a report </a>released by the Health Effects Institute, an American non-profit, showed that India accounted for roughly 25% of all deaths related to <keyword id="55910" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Pollution">air pollution</keyword> in 2016, while <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> led with 26%. Furthermore, India and China together accounted for 50% of all 106 million disability-adjusted life years, which is the number of healthy years lost in a person’s life due to air pollution. The report, titled “The State of Global Air”, explained that outdoor air pollution, or exposure to PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers), and indoor air pollution (the residential burning of coal, biomass and waste) together accounted for well over 6 million deaths in 2016. This makes air pollution the highest environmental health risk and the fourth highest cause of deaths in the world after high blood pressure, obesity and tobacco usage. And the problem is getting worse. The number of annual deaths attributable to PM2.5 have increased by more than 20% from 1990 and 9% from 2010 on a global level. Not only does being exposed to PM2.5 lead to lung diseases and respiratory infections, but it can also increase the chances of heart attacks and strokes and has been linked to diabetes, mental illnesses and degenerative brain diseases like dementia. As recently as last year, a toxic <keyword id="68139" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Smog">smog</keyword> over <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword> (in November 2017) resulted in a <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Science/Ql9lrhoB3jixBXDzxrKJJI/Delhi-pollution-Smog-shortening-lives-say-doctors-as-hospi.html">threefold rise in patients</a> at the city’s Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute. Manoj Khati, a shopkeeper and long-time resident of Delhi, said that what he initially thought was a heaving cough turned out to be chronic bronchitis. "For three days I haven't stopped coughing, I felt as though I would die," he said in a statement to the AFP at the time. The Health Effects Institute’s report initially presents air pollution as a global problem by saying that 95% of the world’s population live in areas that exceed the WHO’s guidelines for healthy air. However, 58% live in areas that do not meet the body’s least-stringent air quality target (PM2.5 concentrations above 35 micrograms per cubic meter), and they are largely in the developing world - North Africa, West Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and China. In fact, the relative difference in PM2.5 concentrations between the least-polluted and most-polluted countries is rising rapidly, from a 5-fold gap in 1990 to a 11-fold gap in 2016, as developing countries are prioritising economic growth over pollution control. The report, does however, highlights China’s progress in reducing air pollution compared to countries in the Indian subcontinent. India has a population-weighted annual average concentration of 76 micrograms per cubic meter compared to China’s 56. While China experienced a dramatic increase in average weighted concentrations prior to 2010, its exposure levels have since declined. Meanwhile, from 2010 to 2016, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India have recorded the sharpest increases in PM2.5 concentrations in the world. The air pollution problem isn’t only restricted to cities. People living in rural areas are becoming increasingly vulnerable to health problems caused by the burning of solid fuels like biomass and coal for the purposes of cooking and heating. Household air pollution lead to 2.6 million deaths in 2016, a large share of which came from countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 2.45 billion people in the world are exposed to indoor pollution, of which 560 million are in India and 416 million are in China. The lower access to healthcare in rural areas makes the problem especially acute. Nearly <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/15/health/india-air-pollution-study-intl/index.html">75% of deaths</a> due to air pollution in India are said to take place in rural areas. Most importantly, the burden of air pollution falls disproportionately on the very old and the very young. Around 62% of the burden of disease attributable to exposure to PM2.5 falls on people above the age of 50, while 28% of the total years lost due to indoor burning of solid fuels fall on children below the age of 5. Not only are we failing our senior citizens, but we’re also failing the youngest members of our global population. I’ve started running on a treadmill in a swanky gym not too far from my house. I’m slowly building up my stamina again. But the headaches and coughs, while less severe, are still a problem. I can’t completely avoid exposure to the air outside. I have no option to leave my house every day during the week for work or on the weekend in pursuit of a social life. Like every other resident in the National Capital Region, I am trapped in a gas chamber. And because the day-to-day changes in air quality are minimal, we choose to ignore the problem. As the saying goes, if it’s everyone’s problem, then its no one’s. While the Modi administration has sought to protect its own by <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/india-pollution-air-purifiers/exclusive-faced-with-delhis-pollution-modis-government-bought-air-purifiers-idINKBN1GW0TR">installing air purifiers</a> in the Prime Minister’s office and six other government agencies, the government’s efforts to reduce air pollution on a local and national scale leave a lot to be desired. There have been a few steps in the right direction, however. At the beginning of this month, fuel stations in New Delhi <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/auto/car-news/bharat-stage-6-fuel-goes-on-sale-in-delhi-ncr-heres-how-itll-affect-your-car/1118188/">started selling Bharat Stage VI</a>, the cleanest category of fuel in the country. The move will need to be backed up the gradual phasing out of old vehicles and the priority production of compliant vehicles by manufacturers. Additionally, in order to reduce indoor air pollution, the government is also <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/6-000-new-distributors-to-boost-lpg-s-rural-reach-117101900465_1.html">expanding the distribution</a> of liquefied petroleum gas to people in rural areas. The Central Pollution Control Board is also setting emission standards for a range of industries from power to cement. In January this year, the government <a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=175437">announced the launch</a> of its National Clean Air Programme, aimed at controlling air pollution in the medium term. Coincidentally, the environment ministry released the <a href="http://envfor.nic.in/sites/default/files/NCAP%20with%20annex-ilovepdf-compressed.pdf">draft guidelines</a> of the programme yesterday, inviting recommendations by the 17th of May. The guidelines include protocols for setting up an extensive network of monitoring stations, an air quality forecasting system, a pollution management plan for 100 cities and a plantation drive. However, the guidelines did not include any specific targets for pollution reduction and they were heavily skewed towards the monitoring of air quality as opposed to its improvement. The State of the Air report concluded on a note of urgency with respect to India. “If no further action is taken, population exposures to PM2.5 are likely to increase by over 40% by 2050”. If you thought the air in Indian cities was unbreathable now, it’s going to get a lot worse over the next three decades. We can all go to gyms if we can’t run outside, but where will we go if we can’t walk outdoors anymore?

India accounts for 25% of all air pollution deaths in the world

Washington, May 18 () COVID-19 can cause serious cardiovascular complications including heart failure, heart attacks and blood clots that can lead to strokes, scientists have warned. The researchers from the University of Virginia (UVA) in the US also cautioned that COVID-19 treatments can interact with medicines used to manage patients' existing cardiovascular conditions. The article, published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, aims to serve as a guide for emergency-medicine doctors treating patients who may have or are known to have COVID-19. The authors note that much attention has been paid to the breathing complications of COVID-19, but less has been said about the cardiovascular complications that can lead to death or lasting impairment. "As we encounter more and more patients with COVID-19-related illness, we are increasing our understanding of its impact on the body in general and the cardiovascular system in particular," said William Brady, of UVA's Department of Emergency Medicine. The researchers noted that heart failure is a particular concern in patients with COVID-19. One study, the authors note, found that almost a quarter of COVID-19 patients -- 24 per cent -- were suffering acute heart failure when they were first diagnosed with the coronavirus. The authors state that it remains unclear if the heart failure was the result of COVID-19 specifically or if the virus was worsening undiagnosed heart failure. Of the patients with heart failure, nearly half were not known to have high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, they said. The report also noted that COVID-19, and other diseases that cause severe inflammation throughout the body, increase the risk that fatty plaque built up in the blood vessels will rupture, leading to heart attacks and stroke. Influenza and certain other viruses have been associated with increased risk of plaque ruptures within the first week after the disease was diagnosed, the authors noted in their review of the available COVID-19 medical literature. They also described potential drug interactions in COVID-19 patients. For example, the highly publicised malaria drug hydroxychloroquine can interact with medications designed to regulate heart rhythm, in addition to causing heart damage and worsening cardiomyopathy, the authors said. Remdesivir, an antiviral that is the only COVID-19 treatment authorised by the FDA, can cause low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythm, they said. It's important for doctors to bear these interactions in mind when treating patients with COVID-19, the authors noted. "As we gain more experience with this new pathogen, we realise that its adverse impact extends beyond the respiratory system," Brady added. SARSAR

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