If you have any of these symptoms,
contact your doctor right once.
As a doctor, I'm well aware that COVID-19 has proven to be a
master of disguise, especially with its "more transmissible" new
Delta variant. Because the virus targets the lungs, some people can catch it
and have no idea they're infected, while others end up in the Intensive Care
Unit, unable to breathe and on a ventilator. So, what should we keep an eye out
for? What are the signs that our lungs are currently struggling?
Here are some essential points; if you are concerned about your
clinical condition, I would strongly advise you to get professional care as
soon as possible because any respiratory illnesses can quickly worsen. You must
get help as quickly as possible before things worsen. Continue reading.
1. First, Take Stock of the Severity of Your Infection
If you're unlucky enough to catch COVID-19, the infection can
continue up to two weeks in mild cases and three to six weeks in severe or
critical issues. COVID-19 infection severity is categorized into five
categories:
- Asymptomatic
- Mild disease
- Moderate disease
- Severe disease
- Critical—Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, where the virus originated, found that
81 percent of those infected had mild disease, 14 percent suffered severe
pneumonia, and roughly 5% required critical care.
When evaluating whether the lungs are failing, we look for those
who have progressed from mild to moderate disease to severe or critical
illness. Illnesses that are mild to moderate can be managed at home.
Hospitalization is needed for people who have severe or life-threatening
conditions.
The following are 5 symptoms/clinical signs to watch for that will
help you determine if your illness is progressing from moderate to critical
severity and, if so, whether you require urgent medical care.
2. Your Cough is Getting Worse
Patients infected with COVID-19 develop a cough in up to 82
percent of cases. This is usually a dry and itchy condition. According to
experts, coughing episodes that last up to an hour and three or more coughing
attacks in 24 hours are common in the early stages of the disease.
Inflammation in the airways causes coughing. Coughing is a
preventive reflex that protects your body from foreign particles such as
bacteria and viruses. Coughing also expels mucus and cellular debris if your
lungs are inflamed.
In specific ways, a cough is helpful! Coughing too often is
exhausting, but it also stops the supply of oxygen to your lungs, which can
lead to severe problems, including fractured ribs or even tiny brain
hemorrhages.
If your cough is getting worse, it could be a sign that your
infection is evolving to more severe and full-blown pneumonia.
3. You're Finding It Hard to Breathe
Breathlessness was reported by 31% of patients after their first
visit to Wuhan. It's terrifying not to be able to breathe. The degree of
breathlessness is likely the most crucial clinical indicator of your
condition's severity.
- Adults normally breathe in and out 12 to 18 times each minute.
Faster breathing, also known as tachypnea, is defined as
breathing at a rate of more than 20 breaths per minute.
- Breathing difficulties block regular everyday activities — As the COVID-19 infection develops, you may become more breathless. This is a warning sign if it starts interfering with daily tasks, such as being unable to finish a conversation without taking a breath or finding it difficult to eat or drink. Furthermore, you may find it increasingly difficult to go around, manage the stairs, or carry out your everyday duties.
- Strain from breathing: If you watch someone who has severe breathing problems, you'll notice that they use their neck muscles to lift their chest and suck air into their lungs, as well as occasional nose flaring. Due to the mechanical effort of breathing, people with severe breathing issues frequently complain about their chest, tummy, or back pain.
If you have these clinical signs, you should seek medical
attention immediately because COVID-19 has progressed from a moderate to severe
illness.
4. You're Super-Fatigued
Fatigue was one of the most common symptoms reported in the first
COVID-19 experience in China, with roughly 70% of patients reporting it. When
you're sick, it's natural to feel sleepy. However, if your tiredness progresses
to the point where you can't take a shower, don't want to get out of bed or
dress, lose your appetite, or refuse to drink, you're feeling exhaustion.
A high viral load in your body is causing this acute fatigue. Your
body is putting out a massive immune response. This produces a fever, sweating,
coughing, and dehydration. Fatigue can also be caused by the physical effort
required to breathe.
You may get listless as your fatigue worsens, unable to watch TV,
concentrate, or speak well.
Other medical complications, such as a secondary bacterial
infection, are possible. In the most severe cases, sepsis and septic shock can
result from an overwhelming infection.
If your tiredness is getting worse, it could signify that your
coronavirus infection is getting worse and your pneumonia is getting worse. You
must seek urgent help.
5. Your Lips are Blue
Cyanosis is when your lips, fingers, and toes become blue. This is
a significant indicator of impaired lung function, and you should get medical
care right once.
Your lungs transport oxygen to the heart and the rest of your body
when you take a breath in. The lungs also produce carbon dioxide in the air you
exhale.
When you have severe pneumonia, like a COVID-19 infection, your
body may lack oxygen and cannot remove carbon dioxide.
Thanks to well-oxygenated blood, your skin will have a lovely
reddish/pink hue, which is a cherry-red tone. On the other hand, Deoxygenated
blood has a darker red color and appears dark navy blue when light reflects off
the skin. The lips, the tips of the fingers and toes, and the nail beds all
have a bluish tinge.
6. You have Chest Pain
Although chest pain is not widely reported as a significant
symptom of COVID-19, it can occur from any cause of pneumonia.
- Pleurisy can occur when pneumonia damages the lung tissue lining, the pleura. Pleuritic chest pain is a common type of chest discomfort that happens when you take a deep breath. It can also cause pain in the belly, neck, or shoulder. Pneumonia can also induce a pleural effusion, a build-up of fluid in the chest.
- Coughing and straining the intercostal muscles (the muscles that run between the ribs) might produce pain. Coughing too hard might result in a rib fracture, pneumothorax, or lung collapse.
- COVID-19 causes chest tightening, which could be forced to bronchospasm, especially in persons who have a history of asthma or who tend to wheeze when they have a respiratory illness.
7. There's the Additional Threat of Underlying Medical Conditions
For those with which was before medical conditions, COVID-19
pneumonia poses an additional danger:
- Cardiovascular disease: A severe COVID-19 infection puts more burden on your heart, which beats more complicated and quicker to help with oxygenation, but is hampered by dehydration and more excellent resistance from trying to pump blood into sick lung tissue. Angina and a heart attack are more likely as a result of this.
- Diabetes: Diabetic control is constantly disrupted and challenging to treat in any severe acute infection.
- Chronic respiratory disease: Underlying chronic obstructive airways disease, often from smoking, means airways are already damaged and clogged with mucus and debris.
- Hypertension: High blood pressure is linked to cardiovascular disease and puts additional strain on the heart.
COVID-19 can cause complications that are exacerbated by any of
these illnesses. A heart attack, secondary bacterial pneumonia, or a pulmonary
embolus, for example (a blood clot). These things can induce chest pain, but
they can also go undetected.
If your chest pain is getting worse, it's a sign that your
COVID-19 is getting worse, and you need to see a doctor very now.
8. The Doctor's Final Thoughts
It is recommended that you stay at home if you think you have a
COVID-19 infection. This, on the other hand, is a severe viral infection that
causes pneumonia. You must seek care if you believe your condition is
deteriorating.
It's hard to tell how well or poorly your lungs are reacting to a COVID-19 infection. Never worry about wasting anyone's time! Lung function can quickly decline. Therefore, it's always better to act sooner rather than later. If you can identify with any of the five symptoms listed here, it's time to be calling your doctor.