The Covid-19 lockdown has increased the sales of alcohol by 55%. People are bored at home and not sure what to do so they consume alcohol in the name of ‘chilling’.
But did you know you are more prone to get affected by corona virus by consuming alcohol? The disease caused by corona virus affects the respiratory system the most.

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• What happens when you take the first sip?
As soon as you take the first sip, your body makes it a priority above all the other functions that it carries out to metabolize the alcohol and send it out of the body. The metabolism of alcohol takes place in your liver where it is broken down into two parts viz., water and carbon dioxide. It’s the liver’s job to detoxify your body. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, alcohol can’t be stored in your body. Hence, it’s metabolism is prioritized.

When you consume too much alcohol at once, without giving proper time to your liver to carry out its metabolism, some quantity of alcohol remains in your liver and slowly starts damaging it followed by other body parts. Consumption of too much alcohol at once also pressurizes the liver to carry out its metabolism.

• Liver diseases
I. Fatty liver
When alcohol remains in the liver, it develops molecules that inhibit fat oxidation in the liver and lead to condition called fatty liver.
This condition seen in 90% of the people who consume 45ml-60ml per day.
If you drink that much or more on many days of the week, chances are that you are already on the first stage of fatty liver.
Symptoms include sudden weight loss, pain above the abdomen and fatigue.
Although this disease can be treated by completely stopping the consumption of alcohol for six weeks.

II. Liver Hepatitis
During the metabolism of breaking down alcohol, highly toxic chemicals are released. These chemicals lead to inflammation destroying the liver cells hence, causing the replacement of healthy tissues by scar tissues.
The amount of alcohol that leads to this condition is not yet known. However, consumption of 105ml of hard drinks or seven beers or seven glasses of vine or seven shots of spirits over a long period of time might put you at risk.

Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, abdominal tenderness, loss of appetite and often low grade fever.

III. Liver Cirrhosis
It is the most advanced form of liver disease which starts with fatty liver to liver Hepatitis and at last liver Cirrhosis. Sometimes a person might develop Liver Cirrhosis without undergoing Liver Hepatitis.
When the healthy liver tissues are replaced by scar tissues, it becomes difficult for the liver to function.
Hence, the body does not produce enough protein or filter the toxins as required. This leads to liver damage.
Symptoms include Jaundice, skin itching., Etc

• Note to the heavy drinkers
If you spot a yellow tinge on your skin, pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen or have a sudden weight loss, consult your doctor immediately.

• Bacterial growth in the gut
Sometimes because of alcohol, bacteria grows in the gut and then moves to the intestinal wall and then to the liver Hence, damaging it.

• Effects on heart
Alcohol causes a condition called cardiomyopathy, in which the heart becomes weak. It also causes irregular heart beat pattern known as arrhythmia.
Some people might also develop the problem of high blood pressure.

• Effects on Immune system
The people who drink everyday or almost everyday, might catch cold, cough, flue or other illness very soon as compared to the people who don’t drink.
Alcohol weakens your immune system and makes you prone to all the infections.

• Effects on respiratory system
Excessive drinking damages the lungs. The airway starts altering over a period of time, making the inhalation process difficult, decreasing the production of saliva and also increasing the risk of bacterial growth in the mouth. These factors further lead to lung disease and infections. As the immunity decreases, the risk of the spread of bacteria into the windpipe and lungs also increases.

• Respiratory system diseases

1. Alcoholic Pneumonia
   Alcohol weakens the function of processing the bacteria in the body. The immune function in the lower airways is also weakened, thereby weakening the body’s ability to remove mucus from the lungs. This leads to aspiration.
   Pneumonia often leads to death.
   Symptoms include excessive coughing, fever or chills, chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, etc.
2. Additional lung diseases caused by alcohol
   • Tuberculosis
   • Sepsis
   • Lung infection
   • Aspiration
   • Severity in asthma cases

• Other effects
It might lead to cancer of mouth, throat, liver, pancreas, oesophagus or breast.
Pancreatic inflammation is also a result of alcohol.

Hence, consumption of alcohol causes various harm to your body. So next time you brag about you drinking tolerance and capacity, know that the jokes are on you.
As we battle Covid-19, it’s important for us to do every possible thing and keep our immunity system strong.
Covid-19 affects the respiratory system therefore, we must avoid everything that affects our respiratory system.
As for alcohol, it affects our immunity system as well as respiratory system. So it’s a request to everyone to avoid alcohol as it makes you more prone to Covid-19. There won’t be any chilling if you won’t be living.

9 HORRIFIC MINUTES!! For 9 minutes Derek Chauvin, pinned down George Floyd, kneeling on his neck as the 46 year old black man’s woeful pleas ‘I cant breathe’ fell on deaf ears with three other officers watching Floyd’s distraught soul depart with no remorse. The horrendous murder in Minneapolis befuddled citizens across the globe, resenting this ghastly incident. Thus began a myriad of events in America that unleashed pandemonium in these already tumultuous times. worldwide. Americans took to the streets protesting vehemently, waving banners and billboards with fury, demanding justice against this heinous crime of police brutality. As police forces and the national guard have tried to trample the voices of the protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets, there seems to be no backing down among them. Their protest gained unprecedented momentum especially on internet with netizens going berserk, trending hashtags, people extending legal aid and financial donations, celebrities observing a moment of ‘Blackout’ on their social media pages.

This inferno of justice prevails worldwide with a recent crusade of shoving and dumping sculptures and statues of the tyrant, bigoted slave traders, colonial rulers, Confederate generals who have been glorified and idolized despite their brutal schemes and pro-slavery regimes. Powerful images of hordes of protesters jostling the statue of Edward Colston, a fraudulent philanthropist involved in slave trade into the Bristol harbor, United Kingdom. Along with the stone effigy of Leopold II in Brussels, Belgium being vandalized and disfigured and many revered imposters.

Alongside this anarchy there is the alarm death toll statistics due to COVID-19 which as of June 9th has crossed 1 lakh and 2.4 million confirmed cases in USA, 41 thousand deaths in UK followed by 3 lakh confirmed cases. Their respective urging citizens to abide by social distancing norms however, the palpable angst and fear that is prevalent worldwide. Furious protesters especially in America not deterred to crusade against these heinous crimes. It definitely made us question if racism was a much bigger issue than the current COVID-19 fear!

The first ‘Black Lives matter’ protest was initiated when a judgement on the shooting of Trayvon Martin was passed in favor of George Zimmerman and was let off the hook, scot free. This movement was nationally utopian and gained much acquiescence worldwide. It had shocked the conscience of millions. However, what changes the current scenario is the social media prowess for today’s situation. With millions of users glued to their phones, the protests in USA were brought into the public attention. This time there was no ambiguity in the injustice rendered against the innocent man, with recordings of the gruesome murder being circulated on the internet definitely awakened people. From guards manhandling protesters to George Floyd’s sad, poignant funeral service everything is present on the internet. People responded to the plight of these victims even through generous donations, promoting businesses run by the Black community or even providing them food services.

Also with a worldwide lockdown issued and unemployment, people have actually been able to take some time off their rigid routines and pay heed to these hate crimes. Simultaneously unearthing many such stories, like Breonna Taylor, a medical professional in Louisville who was struck at least eight times by the police on account of a ‘no knock warrant’ issued due to an alleged drug trafficking report. The spiking unemployment rate has definitely played especially in case of the African- American population. Also the appalling statistics of 2019 have quite contributed to this unrest. African Americans made up less than 14% of the population but accounted for more than 23% of the just over 1,000 fatal shootings by the police. The government paying no attention to the problems faced by the African Americans in terms of employment, housing, education this disdain definitely drove people to revolt against these current apartheid like times. So let’s question our anemic beliefs again, ‘Can we breathe now?’

From the day of Independence, India has considerable growth in all the fields. The reason for this development is the educational rate of the country. In India, Education is common to both genders. But the level of literate women was lower than men in India. There are some superstitions against women and their education. In many villages, girls we’re not allowed to educate. They were compelled to take care of their homes. Many of the girl’s future we’re destroyed by blind myths and superstition activities.

Gender discrimination and male domination towards females are still happening. In some villages, people refused to allow their girl children to school because of insecurity for their children. Many of the girls have to walk for a long distance for schooling it makes them feel insecure. Indian government constructs a school in rural villages to solve their insecure setback. Crime against women also a reason for the hesitation in coming out of their homes. For that, the Government takes strict action and punishment for crimes against women. Now, women’s involvement is increasing in various fields it is one of the reasons for India’s development.

Gender equality and common education for both gender will take the country into a great height. The government gives full support and keep encouraging women to move forward. And also taking steps to promote women’s education in India.