COVID-19 SYMPTOMS REVISITED

One Coronavirus variant that infects the respiratory system can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndrome and symptoms.

After more than a year into the pandemic, it is time to be reminded once again, as the number of cases and fatalities continue to stay high.

The Ministry of Health’s guide on self-rehabilitation for Covid-19 related illnesses explains how Covid-19 affects the lungs: “Coronavirus causes inflammation within the lungs resulting in fibrosis during the positive stage of Covid-19 and it might extend even post deisolation. This fibrosis makes it difficult for oxygen to move quickly from the lungs into the blood.

What is important is the guideline in managing difficulty in breathing, which has been seen as a common symptom in people suffering from Covid-19.

Shortness of breath is one of the symptoms, along with other symptoms such as fever, fatigue and tiredness, cough, sore throat, running nose, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, body ache, loss of smell and taste. However, according to health experts, one need not have all the symptoms.

One of the major problems is the anxiety people go through when they face difficulty breathing, “Feeling anxious can make it worse. It is important to stay calm and manage your difficulty in breathing with certain positions.”

Ministry of health has highlighted on certain sitting and standing positions and techniques to relieve difficulty in breathing with pictures and states that, “Your difficulty in breathing should improve as you slowly increase your activities,” adding, “If difficulty in breathing is not easing please go to a health centre as it might be an indicator that one needs oxygen support.”

The MoH guidelines explain that while lying down, most of the lung segments are on the posterior aspect; hence studies have shown that lying on the stomach improves oxygenation. It is also important to change position frequently to prevent complications. MoH recommends Apical and Diaphragmatic breathing exercises in addition to general upper and lower limb exercises. “Being affected by Covid-19 might cause general body ache so maintaining good fitness is required through exercises that make one move the limbs as much as one can to motivate blood circulation and muscle power,” it stated.

Walking has been highly recommended and if to do so is difficult MoH recommends walking with the support of a walker or with help. “Start with two to three steps initially and gradually increase the number of steps and eventually the distance.”

This is when not to exercise — “Having a fever, experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness, feeling severe shortness of breath without any activity, feeling palpitations or if there is a sense of sudden pain in the chest or chest tightness.

It is also better to have the saturation probe on the finger to make sure the oxygen saturation is consistently above 90 per cent. It is important to note that the saturation should not drop more than three units from what it was at rest. If the oxygen level does not improve, then one should go to the nearest health institution.

It is normal to feel difficulty breathing when one exercises, but the gradual building of fitness level can help in becoming less breathless,” pointed out the Ministry of Health.

After more than a year into the pandemic, it is time to be reminded once

again, as the number of cases and fatalities continue to

stay high