Como cuidar do seu coração na pandemia do COVID-19: exercícios respiratórios

Abstract

The disease caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) mainly affects the respiratory system, and may progress in the most severe cases to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and the first cases were reported in December 2019 in Wuhan Province (China). As a result, COVID-19 reached European countries and infected 2,159,791 people until June 1, 2020. On that same date (June 1, 2020), the global epicenter is concentrated in the Americas, with the United States of America have 1,734,040 confirmed cases with 102,640 deaths. In this context, in the world, there are already 6,057,853 confirmed cases with 341,166 deaths (WHO, 2020). In Brazil, the first case of COVID-19 was officially notified on March 4, 2020 with the first death on March 18, 2020. On June 1, 2020, 514,849 people were infected and 29,314 Brazilians lost the fight against disease and their deaths were confirmed (2). According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), as of the third week of March, most Brazilian states and municipalities started to adopt measures of social distancing, from which citizens were instructed to stay at their homes , being allowed the circulation of only people of essential services (health, safety, food professionals...) as a strategy to face COVID-19. In April, WHO began to guide the use of masks to avoid contamination when circulating on the streets. In this sense, the great majority of Brazilian cities have adopted the use of masks as a protection strategy in circulation by public transport and spaces. However, starting a sudden state of quarantine implies a radical change in the lifestyle of the population. In many cases, it can impact physical fitness and, essentially, increase psychological impacts. In this context, individuals are subjugated to post-traumatic stress, symptoms of confusion and anger. In addition, stressors that have become more prevalent with the longest quarantine duration have been identified, including: (i) fear of infection; (ii) frustration; (iii) boredom; (iv) lack of supplies; (v) inadequate information; (vi) financial losses; and, (vii) stigmas (3). In this context, adopting strategies that may be available to part of the population that is restricted to their homes and that can have a positive impact on mental health and still help to maintain pulmonary function, seems appropriate and welcome at a critical moment.