Introduction
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, it is important to understand the risk factors associated with severe cases of the virus. A doctor recently shared some insight into who is most at risk for severe COVID-19, and the warning signs to look out for. If you recognize yourself in the description, it is important to take extra precautions to protect your health. In this article, we will discuss the warning signs and what you can do to reduce your risk.
If This Sounds Like You, You’re at Risk for Severe COVID, Says Doctor
If you’re feeling any of the following symptoms, you may be at risk for severe COVID-19, according to a doctor.
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent chest pain or pressure
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face
These symptoms can be a sign of a severe COVID-19 infection, and it’s important to seek medical attention if you’re experiencing any of them. Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that people with underlying health conditions are at a higher risk for severe COVID-19.
“People with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease, are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19,” Redfield said. “It’s important for people with these conditions to take extra precautions to protect themselves.”
Redfield also said that people should be aware of the signs and symptoms of severe COVID-19, and seek medical attention if they experience any of them. He also urged people to take preventive measures, such as wearing a face mask, washing their hands often, and avoiding large gatherings.
“It’s important to remember that COVID-19 is a serious illness, and it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones,” Redfield said. “If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, seek medical attention right away.”
One of the vital curious features of COVID-19 is that when contaminated, some individuals stay fully asymptomatic, whereas others find yourself hospitalized and unable to breathe. For the reason that begin of the pandemic, well being specialists and researchers have been finding out the extremely infectious virus in hopes of understanding why the kind of infections varies so dramatically on a person-by-person foundation. In response to one infectious illness skilled, it boils down to 3 components. Learn on to seek out out the three commonest components that affect the sort and severity of COVID signs—and to make sure your well being and the well being of others, do not miss these Certain Indicators You have Already Had Coronavirus.
The primary and solely controllable a part of the equation is how the person is contaminated and the dose of the virus they obtain, says Carlos R. Oliveira, MD, Ph.D., Yale Medication pediatric infectious illness physician. “For instance, if a person contaminated with COVID-19 coughs instantly on you, you’ll seemingly get a a lot greater dose of the virus than if you’re contaminated by touching a contaminated floor,” he factors out. “A better infectious dose normally results in extra speedy onset and extra extreme signs.”
This can be a prime instance of why sporting a masks and social distancing is so essential in defending your self and others. A number of research have concluded that masks are efficient in stopping tiny, contaminated viral particles from transmitting from person-to-person. Whereas they may not cease all of them, they may actually assist scale back the viral load, seemingly leading to a much less severe an infection.
One other essential think about figuring out the sort and severity of COVID signs is “the well being standing on the time of an infection,” in keeping with Dr. Oliveira. Early on within the pandemic, it turned clear that individuals with sure pre-existing circumstances have been extra vulnerable to extreme an infection than others.
In response to the CDC, anybody who’s affected by most cancers, power kidney illness, COPD (power obstructive pulmonary illness), Down Syndrome, coronary heart circumstances, equivalent to coronary heart failure, coronary artery illness, or cardiomyopathies, an immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from stable organ transplant, weight problems (physique mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or greater however < 40 kg/m2), extreme Weight problems (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), sickle cell illness, sort 2 diabetes mellitus, are pregnant, or a smoker, are on the highest danger of extreme an infection.
“It’s particularly essential for individuals at elevated danger of extreme sickness from COVID-19, and people who stay with them, to guard themselves from getting COVID-19,” the CDC warns.
Age can also be a vital issue, in keeping with Dr. Oliveira, influencing not solely the severity of the virus however the signs it may well manifest. “A number of research (together with Agyeman, Mayo Clinic, 2020) have proven that in adults, lack of scent is a standard early manifestation, occurring in as much as 40-60% of infections. It might even be the one manifestation of an infection in some adults,” he factors out.
In distinction, lack of scent is never seen in kids, he provides, citing the COVID Symptom Examine. “In reality, gastrointestinal signs, like stomach ache, lack of urge for food, and diarrhea, are frequent preliminary manifestations in kids, occurring in about 1 in 3 instances.”
“As is the case for a lot of infectious illnesses, the development of discernible signs might be fairly variable,” Dr. Oliveira says.
RELATED: 7 Ideas You Should Comply with to Keep away from COVID, Say Docs
Because of the truth that asymptomatic unfold is a standard attribute of COVID, taking precaution even if you really feel wholesome is essential in an effort to forestall the unfold of the virus. So comply with Dr. Anthony Fauci‘s fundamentals and assist finish this surge, regardless of the place you reside—put on a face masks, social distance, keep away from massive crowds, do not go indoors with individuals you are not sheltering with (particularly in bars), observe good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it turns into out there to you, and to guard your life and the lives of others, do not go to any of those 35 Locations You are Most Prone to Catch COVID.