Call
+918447748545

Published on: Apr 04, 2020
3 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Anyone With Flu Like Symptoms Are Now Encouraged

The Bold Strategy the UK has adopted against COVID-19

The UK government had outlined its Coronavirus strategy in three distinct steps. The first stage was to contain the virus. This was implemented when spread of the virus was primarily by infected patients from abroad. Public health advice was provided, campaigns on washing hands, not touching the face, practicing safe hygiene. Potentially infected individuals were informed to self-quarantine for 14 days whilst waiting for symptoms to develop and testing to occur. Now it is evident this is not enough. The virus has spread to enough people that transmission can now occur locally, between people who have never been abroad. Containment is not the aim, mitigation of number of cases to prevent burdening the health services. The second stage aims to reduce the epidemic’s peak, flatten it out so the number of cases do not occur at once.

Anyone with flu like symptoms are now encouraged to stay home for 7 days, and testing will only occur for hospital admissions. Beyond this little appears to have changed. Schools will remain open, social gatherings have not been cut yet (but is expected over the next week) and general life will continue as normal. This is a risky measure, one that suggests the government is not taking the issue seriously. France, Spain and Italy have enacted lockdown measures, Germany has begun cutting social gatherings. So why is the UK not following in step? Are people going to die as a result of this inaction?

DELAY THE SPREAD

The answer is of course complex. PM Boris Johnson has acknowledged that as a result of his decision people may die, especially the elderly who are seen as a very vulnerable population. But this plan has been discussed with multiple scientists, doctors, public health specialists, and there is method in the madness. Currently the UK is in the early stages of the epidemic. The number of infected are expected to rise sharply in 4 weeks, with a peak in 10–14 weeks. Implementing harsh restrictions too early can lead to “self isolation fatigue”, resulting in people not following the restrictions stringently or leaving their homes at the height of the epidemic. Restrictions also come with their own problems, and implementing them may lead to more harm than good. Simple measures such as hand washing and self isolation can itself reduce the peak of cases by 20%.

Schools have not yet been closed because COVID-19 does not appear to affect children as much. Closure of schools would also mean parents having to stay at home to look after their children (after all, nurseries, creches and other forms of childcare would still result in a spread of infection). In some cases these parents are also healthcare professionals, and the UK needs every single doctor, nurse and allied health professional to be on the frontline treating patients.

So what is the strategy? The NHS is currently full of patients due to the winter burden, one that is expected to taper off in the coming months. Slowing the onset of the epidemic’s peak to Summer, spreading it across the next few months so the maximum number of people can be treated in the hospital setting without overburdening. The aim is no longer to prevent the spread of infection but to protect the most vulnerable age groups. This model allows the young and healthy to become infected, almost encourages it.

INFECT YOUR CITIZENS

Now this sentence may sound ridiculous when said out loud. Allow infection. But why? The UK has acknowledged there is no way to stop the infection. Whilst the mortality in the elderly population and those with medical conditions are high, in the young and healthy it manifests as a mild illness with almost all infected cases recovering. More importantly, recovered patients have immunity against the virus, manifesting as antibodies in their blood. Immune patients cannot infect other people, so the more immune patients there are the slower the virus will spread. This is known as herd immunity, and the process is discussed in length in our blog on vaccines. Herd immunity needs to be achieved before the onset of winter in 2020, as winter admissions alongside COVID admissions would result in a disaster.

https://medium.com/@rajneesh.dwivedi/developing-a-vaccine-for-covid-19-part-1-f7263ae9bf88 Rajneesh secondmedic

The strategy is of course risky, and one that has not been implemented before. And since the infection will not be contained people will die. But by spreading the burden of the infection across a longer time period will allow those who require treatment to receive it in a far less burdened health system. And it has received support from health professionals, even those who are fierce critics of the PM and Conservative government. But it has resulted in confusion amongst the population, a population that looks at authoritative action taking place in other countries and not understanding why their own doesn’t follow suit. The issue is these draconian measures are not sustainable, and if implemented correctly the UK strategy may result in far less lasting damage on its health service and the economy.

Dr Rajan Choudhary, London UK

Head Of Products, Second Medic Inc (www.secondmedic.com)

Read Blog

When Minor Symptoms Become Serious: Why Early Warning Signs Should Never Be Ignored

Most people associate serious illness with severe pain, dramatic symptoms or sudden medical emergencies. In reality, many life-threatening and chronic conditions begin quietly. A mild ache, occasional fatigue or subtle bodily change may seem harmless at first. Understanding when minor symptoms become serious is critical to protecting long-term health and preventing avoidable complications.

In India, delayed diagnosis remains a major contributor to disease burden. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), a significant number of chronic diseases are detected only after complications develop. This delay often begins with ignoring early warning signs.

Why Minor Symptoms Are Often Ignored

People commonly dismiss early symptoms because:

they are mild or intermittent
busy schedules limit medical visits
fear of diagnosis leads to avoidance
symptoms are attributed to stress or ageing

Unfortunately, this delay allows underlying conditions to progress.

Why Serious Diseases Start Subtly

In early stages, many diseases:

affect small areas
cause minimal functional disruption
trigger compensatory mechanisms in the body

As a result, symptoms remain mild until damage accumulates.

Examples include:

hypertension causing no pain
early diabetes causing mild fatigue
early cancers causing vague discomfort

Common Minor Symptoms That Can Become Serious

Persistent Fatigue

Occasional tiredness is normal, but ongoing fatigue may signal:

anaemia
thyroid disorders
diabetes
heart disease
chronic infections

When rest does not relieve fatigue, evaluation is essential.

Unexplained Pain or Discomfort

Mild but persistent pain may indicate:

early joint disease
nerve compression
gallbladder or kidney issues

Pain that persists or worsens should not be ignored.

Changes in Weight or Appetite

Unintended weight loss or appetite changes may signal:

metabolic disorders
gastrointestinal disease
malignancy

These changes often precede more severe symptoms.

Breathlessness on Mild Exertion

Occasional breathlessness may progress into:

heart disease
lung conditions
anaemia

Early detection prevents sudden cardiac or respiratory events.

Digestive Changes

Persistent bloating, constipation, diarrhoea or acidity may indicate:

irritable bowel conditions
food intolerance
liver or pancreatic disease

Digestive symptoms are often early warning signs.

Frequent Infections

Repeated infections suggest:

weakened immunity
nutritional deficiencies
chronic illness

Ignoring this can allow serious conditions to progress.

How Delay Worsens Outcomes

When early symptoms are ignored:

disease progresses silently
treatment becomes more complex
complications develop
recovery takes longer

WHO and Lancet studies consistently show that delayed diagnosis increases morbidity and mortality.

Minor Symptoms and Chronic Diseases

Diabetes

Early signs include:

fatigue
increased thirst
frequent urination

Many people remain undiagnosed until complications arise.

Heart Disease

Early warning signs may include:

mild chest discomfort
breathlessness
unexplained tiredness

Ignoring these increases heart attack risk.

Cancer

Early cancer symptoms are often vague:

persistent pain
unexplained weight loss
changes in bowel or bladder habits

Early-stage cancers are far more treatable.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Minor symptoms require attention when they:

persist beyond a few days or weeks
worsen over time
interfere with daily activities
occur repeatedly
are accompanied by weight loss, fever or pain

Trusting bodily signals is a key preventive strategy.

Role of Preventive Health Checkups

Preventive checkups help:

identify hidden abnormalities
detect disease before symptoms escalate
track health trends over time

NITI Aayog emphasises early screening as a national health priority.

Psychological Barriers to Early Consultation

Fear and denial often delay care.

Common thoughts include:

“It will go away”
“I am too young for serious illness”
“I don’t want bad news”

However, early reassurance is far better than late intervention.

Benefits of Acting Early

Responding to early symptoms:

improves survival rates
reduces treatment complexity
lowers healthcare costs
preserves quality of life

Early care is almost always simpler and more effective.

Building Symptom Awareness

Developing awareness includes:

listening to the body
noting changes from baseline health
tracking symptom patterns
seeking timely advice

Self-awareness is the first step toward prevention.

Role of Digital and Preventive Healthcare

Modern healthcare tools support early action through:

easy access to consultations
report reviews
symptom tracking
follow-up reminders

Technology reduces barriers to early care.

Conclusion

Understanding when minor symptoms become serious can mean the difference between early recovery and long-term complications. Many life-threatening and chronic diseases begin with subtle warning signs that are easy to dismiss. Paying attention to persistent or unusual symptoms, seeking timely medical advice and prioritising preventive health checkups are essential steps toward safeguarding health. Early action does not create illness—it prevents it. In healthcare, listening early often saves lives.

References

ICMR – Early Disease Detection and Lifestyle Disorder Reports
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) – Disease Awareness and Diagnosis Data
NITI Aayog – Preventive Healthcare and Early Screening Strateg
WHO – Early Symptoms and Disease Progression Guidelines
Lancet – Delayed Diagnosis and Health Outcomes Research
Statista – Preventive Healthcare Awareness Trends
EY-FICCI – Economic Impact of Late Disease Detection

Request A Callback

+91

By using this website/app, I confirm that I am at least 18 years old and consent to the processing of my personal data in accordance with the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Declaration.