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What is Spike Protein?
In SARS CoV virus, the genetic material is enveloped and is surrounded by a capsule that is made up of three types of proteins- Spike Protein, Membrane Protein and Envelope Protein.
The Spike Protein are protrusions on the surface of the virus like the spokes on top of a crown. Hence the SARS CoV virus is called as Corona Virus. It is a part of the structure of the virus.
What is the function of Spike Protein?
Spike protein has a receptor binding domain that helps it attach to the human host cell. It acts as a bridge in connecting the virus to the human cell.
What is the link between Spike Protein and the variants of Covid-19?
Mutation is a natural phenomenon in every living cell. The different strains of Covid-19 is based on the mutations in the Spike Protein (example; Delta Plus has been formed as a result of Delta acquiring a mutation called K417N in the spike protein).
What is the significance of Spike Protein?
Most of the vaccines developed are designed to target the Spike Protein. The vaccine induces formation of antibodies in our body that will go and attach to the Spike Proteins. Hence the receptor binding domain in the Spike Protein gets blocked and it cannot attach to the human cell and prevent transmission of its genetic material. Hence the cell will not get infected. This is called competitive inhibition.
What is SARS-COV-2 Spike Protein Antibody test?
The role of vaccine is to induce production of antibodies specific to the Spike Proteins. The SARS-COV-2 Spike Protein Antibody test can be conducted after 14 days from the second dose of vaccination. With the help of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG we can measure the level of antibodies produced in the body after vaccination.
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The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses several challenges to clinicians. Clinical assessment is indispensable, but laboratory markers, or biomarkers, can provide additional, objective information which can significantly impact these components of patient care. In this article, we will discuss 10 different markers which can give a quantitative indication about the severity and prognosis of Covid-19. It has to be noted that this is not an exhaustive list and it is up to clinician’s judgment which test/s needs to be conducted on the patient based on the history and condition. This is just for information purpose.
-This test can help to assess the severity of the disease.
-This test helps to easily assess the risks of pulmonary complications.
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D-dimer  is one of the protein fragments produced when a blood clot gets dissolved in the body. It is normally undetectable or detectable at a very low level unless the body is forming and breaking down blood clots. Then, its level in the blood can significantly rise.
Blood clotting is an important process that prevents you from losing too much blood when you are injured. Normally, your body will dissolve the clot once your injury has healed. With a  blood clotting disorder, clots can form when you don't have an obvious injury or don't dissolve when they should. These conditions can be very serious and even life-threatening. A D-dimer test can show if you have one of these conditions.
A D-dimer test is most often used to find out whether you have a blood clotting disorder. These disorders include:
In Covid-19 patients, where the virus affects the lung and in the process there is a series of cascading immunological response called as "Cytokine Storm", there is inflammation in the pulmonary tissue which can cause internal bleeding and clotting. The clotting process releases D-Dimer which can be detected through the test and that can give an indication about the extent of the infection also help the clinician the further treatment regime.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a structural component of cell membranes and serves as a building block for the synthesis of various steroid hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids. Besides their structural role where it provides stability and fluidity, cholesterol also plays a crucial role in regulating cell function. Cholesterol does not mix with water. Therefore cholesterol (lipid) is packaged together with apoproteins (protein) in order to be carried through the blood circulation as a Lipoprotein.
So one thing is clear- Lipoproteins play the role as a carrier and transporter of lipids across the body. Triglycerides and Cholesterol are different types of lipids that circulate in your blood: Triglycerides store unused calories and provide your body with energy. Cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones as discussed previously.
Sources of Triglycerides: Triglycerides are fats from the food we eat that are carried in the blood. Most of the fats we eat, including butter, margarines, and oils, are in triglyceride form. Excess calories, alcohol or sugar in the body turn into triglycerides and are stored in fat cells throughout the body.
Sources of Cholesterol: Eggs, cheese, shellfish, organ meats, sardines and full-fat yogurt are cholesterol-rich.
Since both Triglycerides and Cholesterol cannot be transported, they need a carrier and that carrier is Lipoprotein. Let us know more about lipoproteins
Types of Lipoproteins
It is very important to know the types of Lipoproteins to know more about Cholesterol and Triglycerides.
So what is the main concept of Good Cholesterol and Bad Cholesterol?
Contrary to popular belief where Cholesterol rich food is considered very bad for health, it is not actually how things work in our body. The amount of cholesterol in your diet and the amount of cholesterol in your blood are very different things. Although it may seem that eating cholesterol would raise blood cholesterol levels, it usually doesn’t work that way. The body tightly regulates the amount of cholesterol in the blood by controlling its production of cholesterol.
When your dietary intake of cholesterol goes down, your body makes more. When you eat greater amounts of cholesterol, your body makes less. Because of this, foods high in dietary cholesterol have very little impact on blood cholesterol levels in most people.
So How HDL and LDL is regulated?
As we read in the article that Cholesterol needs a carrier to be transported and HDL and LDL are the two main carriers. There is as such no food that contains high LDL or HDL.
There are factors that regulate the levels of HDL and LDL.
Factors that raise LDL:
Factors that raise HDL:
What is the role of HDL and LDL on Heart health?
LDL is considered bad Cholesterol as it moves Cholesterol from the Liver towards the cells of the body. This is linked to formation of Atherosclerosis which is a cause of Coronary Artery Disease
HDL is the opposite as it removes the excess cholesterol from the body towards the Liver and excretes the excess Cholesterol through bile.
What is the role of Triglycerides?
Triglycerides are excess fat component from our diet which the body transports from the Liver to the cells of the body. High Triglycerides level are also liked to Atherosclerosis. Factors that raise Triglycerides level in our body are: Excess Sugar, Alcohol, lack of exercise, eating more calories than we consume.
Triglycerides are different from Cholesterol. But the healthy heart mantra is:-
Low TG
Low LDL
High HDL
Long COVID is when people continue to have symptoms of COVID-19 for weeks or months after the initial illness.
Signs and symptoms of  Covid-19 that lasts for greater than 12 weeks  and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis are most commonly described as long COVID.
What are the symptoms of long COVID?
Common Long Covid Symptoms  include extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness and "brain fog" – problems with memory and concentration.
Other symptoms include difficulty sleeping, heart palpitations, dizziness and joint pain.
How does long COVID affect people’s lives?
This is a condition that can have a huge impact on people’s lives. Many are unable to return to work or have a social life. Many have described how it affects their mental health, especially as the course of the condition is often fluctuating; just as they feel they are getting better, the symptoms return.†Because long COVID affects people’s ability to work, it has “important economic consequences†for them, their families and for society,
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Garlic is a vegetable in the  Allium  family of bulb-shaped plants. It grows in several sizes and colors and it can be planted alongside other vegetables as a natural pesticide.
You'll know where the garlic is planted long before you see it, as its strong, sulfuric fragrance will declare its location very distinctly. Although dining on garlic-flavored foods may give you "garlic breath," doing so can improve your health by lowering high blood pressure and bad cholesterol.
When looking at potential benefits of foods in relation to cancer prevention, it's helpful to look both at population studies (do people who eat a large amount of the food have a lower rate of cancer?) and the possible mechanism by which they work (does the biological mechanism fit?)
It's certainly not possible to prevent all cancers, but population studies have found a reduced risk of the following cancers in people who consume more garlic:
Garlic has natural antioxidants and is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral. The knobs and cloves of garlic contain high levels of sulfur, flavonoids, and selenium. And, when it is crushed, chopped, or bruised, garlic produces the compound allicin.
It is garlic's antibacterial properties that may help to prevent cancer as well as its ability to enhance genetic repair, slow down cell proliferation, and prevent the formation of carcinogenic substances  in the body.
Four of the cancer-fighting compounds in garlic include:
There are several mechanisms by which garlic may inhibit the development of cancer. There are additional mechanisms by which it may also slow the cell cycle in cancer cells already present or induce apoptosis (cell death). Examples of just a few of these are discussed here.
Garlic's ability to enhance genetic repair, in particular, is worth noting. Cancer begins when a series of mutations (damage to DNA in cells) leads to a cell grows out of control (a  cancer cell) and becomes a cancerous tumor.
Damage to DNA in genes in the human body is common, caused by both environmental carcinogens and the products of normal metabolism in the body. Even when substantial damage occurs, however, the body has a way to either repair the damaged DNA or eliminate un-fixable damaged cells. Tumor Suppressor Genes are genes we all have that carry the blueprint for proteins that do these jobs. When these genes are mutated, a person may have an increased risk of developing cancer (a genetic susceptibility). BRCA Gene mutation  are an example of mutated tumor suppressor genes.
Cancer is common, affecting one in two men and one in three woman during a lifetime (not including skin cancer). While we are familiar with some of the causes and can thus avoid them, there is much that we don't understand. Therefore, a dietary compound that enhances DNA repair when damage occurs is exciting.
A 2019 study further supported the role of garlic in DNA repair in that (at least in the lab) garlic appeared to enhance the expression of tumor suppressor genes.
Just as dietary components may lower cancer risk, there are some that increase risk as well. Both nitrosamines and heterocyclic amines fall into this category. Heterocyclic amines are one of the reasons that grilled meat is associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. The grilling process itself, and exposure to heat alone can result in these carcinogens being formed. (Grilling vegetables does not result in heterocyclic amines). Garlic appears to inhibit the formation of both heterocyclic amines and nitrosamines in grilled food.
Adding a little garlic to your meats before grilling might help, but there are other ways to reduce carcinogens in food, such as marinating meats for 20 minutes before cooking, cooking at lower temperatures, and using the right charcoal.
There is currently research looking at the potential role of garlic in cancer treatment. While the research is still in its infancy, and we don't know whether studies done in the lab can translate into actions in the human body, it doesn't necessarily matter if you are using garlic to enhance the taste of the foods you eat. According to a 2019 study, garlic may affect signaling pathways in cancer growth in a number of ways.
Few studies have been performed looking at the potential role of garlic treatment in humans, though a 2019 study was encouraging. Gastric cancer is very common worldwide, being the leading cancer diagnosis in some countries. A 2019 study in China found that both H. pylori treatment (the bacterial infections associated with stomach cancer) for two weeks or garlic supplementation for seven years were associated with a significantly reduced risk of death due to gastric cancer.
Cancer cachexia, a syndrome that includes both unintentional weight loss and muscle loss (atrophy), is thought to be directly responsible for roughly 20% of cancer-related deaths. To date, the prevention and treatment of cachexia has been challenging, and supplementation of calories alone is inadequate.
A component of crushed garlic, A-ajoene, has intrigued researchers as a potential therapy in reducing cancer cachexia. A 2019 study looked at the effects of an ajoene extract both in mice and in human cancer cells grown in the lab. It was found that ajoene may function in two separate ways both to reduce the inflammatory responses that contribute to muscle atrophy and by actually promoting muscle protein synthesis. It's not yet known if these results will mean that ajoene (a sulfur compound present in crushed garlic) can protect against muscle atrophy in people with cancer, but garlic may help in yet another way. A lack of appetite is far too common with cancer, especially advanced cancer, and garlic can spice up a meal to make it more appetizing.
Ginger and the winter season have the best equation. On cold morning days, a cup of ginger tea is an absolute pleasure to soothe your throat. Ginger is also known as Adarak in Hindi, is one of the healthiest spices on the earth. The ginger spice comes from the roots of the plant. Ginger is a plant with leafy stems and yellowish-green flowers.
Ginger is a perennial plant scientifically known as Zingiber officiale Roscoe. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family contains essential oils and resins. It provides a specific odor and spicy flavor. It is a popular home remedy for nausea, stomach pain, and other health issues.
Ginger has been used now for more than 2,500 years. This plant originated in Southeast Asia. It is cultivated now throughout the humid tropics, with India being the largest producer. Now it is growing in China, Japan, parts of South American, and Africa.
Ginger may have various properties such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-viral, and other healthful properties. Below are some benefits of ginger-
Ginger is beneficial to reduce nausea and vomiting. It helps lower nausea through a direct effect on the stomach rather than on the central nervous system. Research suggests that ginger may help reduce nausea and vomiting caused by drugs used to treat HIV infection. It also treats nausea due to vertigo, nausea after surgery, and vomiting from chemotherapy. ÂÂ
A cup of hot ginger tea is the famous solution that may reduce your cough and cold instantly. The ginger contains compounds gingerol and shogaol may help fight off a cold because they can lower a fever, reduce pain, and suppress a cough. ÂÂ
Research suggests that ginger has a warm effect that may help reduce cold and cough symptoms. In 2013, the researcher concluded that fresh ginger beneficial for respiratory infections. ÂÂ
Ginger has antioxidant properties that help reduce the free radicals in the body that may cause obesity. It contains gingerol and shogaol compounds that may contribute in various biological activities in the body. Research suggests that gingerol has anti-obesity properties that help food to digest faster and stimulate the body to speed digested food through the colon.
Ginger may help to reduce menstrual cramps by lowering the contractions of your uterus. According to the studies, taking ginger powder 500-2000 mg during the first 3-4 days of a menstrual cycle decreases pain in women and teens with painful menstrual periods. ÂÂ
Some studies suggest that consuming ginger during pregnancy may reduce the morning sickness symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. However, taking any herb or medication during pregnancy is a big decision. Before taking ginger, be sure to discuss the possible risks with your doctor. ÂÂ
In Ayurveda, ginger is a highly recommended hair growth treatment. It contains various minerals and fatty acids that help in hair thickening and encourages hair growth. Ginger also has natural antiseptic properties that help to prevent dandruff formation. ÂÂ
Ginger contains anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce joint pains like hip and knee joint pain. ÂÂ
The Delta Plus variant is a mutant version of B.1.617.2 strain, which was called Delta by the World Health Organization. Experts say the Delta strain drove the second wave of COVID-19, infecting millions and leading to the deaths of thousands.
What the government says on Delta Plus
According to an official statement, the Delta Plus Variant has shown
How dangerous is the new Delta Plus variant?
There is very little evidence of how virulent the new strain is.
Experts in Maharashtra, one of the worst-hit states during the first and second waves, say that owing to the new variant, the third wave may come earlier than predicted. The state, which has reported most of the cases of the new variant, is already preparing for a third wave.
The Delta Plus is active in US, UK, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Poland, Russia, China, and India.
Maharashtra is currently collecting data, including travel history and vaccination status, of those who have reported this version of the virus.
Are vaccines not effective against this variant?
It's too early to say. The government says Covishield and Covaxin are effective against the Delta variant but data on how effective they are against the Delta Plus will be shared later.
Stress is the body’s response to a challenge or demand. Everyone experiences stress, which can be triggered by a range of events, from small daily hassles to major changes like a divorce or job loss. The stress response includes physical components such an elevated heart rate and blood pressure, thoughts and personal beliefs about the stressful event, and emotions, including fear and anger. Although we often think of it as being negative, stress can also come from positive changes in your life, like getting a promotion at work or having a new baby.
Stress serves an important purposeâ€â€Âit enables us to respond quickly to threats and avoid danger. However, lengthy exposure to stress may lead to mental health difficulties (for example, anxiety and depression) or increased physical health problems. A large body of research suggests that increased stress levels interfere with your ability to deal with physical illness. While no one can avoid all stress, you can work to handle it in healthy ways that increase your potential to recover.
There are several other methods you can use to relax or reduce stress, including:
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