Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a great deal of fear and anxiety among people all over the world. As the virus continues to spread, it is important to be aware of the symptoms that can indicate infection. While some of the symptoms are mild, there are some that can be more serious and even life-threatening. In this article, we will discuss the COVID symptoms that are scaring patients the most and provide tips on how to stay safe and healthy during this time. We will also provide some helpful advice on what to eat and what to avoid to help reduce the risk of infection.
The COVID Symptoms Scaring Patients Most — Eat This Not That
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been a source of fear and confusion for many people. With the virus spreading rapidly, it’s important to understand the symptoms that are scaring patients the most. Here’s a look at the symptoms that are causing the most concern and what you can do to protect yourself.
The Most Common Symptoms
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can last for several days. Other symptoms may include fatigue, body aches, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell.
The Most Serious Symptoms
The most serious symptoms of COVID-19 are difficulty breathing, chest pain, and confusion. These symptoms can indicate that the virus has progressed to a more serious stage and may require hospitalization. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately.
Eat This, Not That
To protect yourself from COVID-19, it’s important to practice good hygiene and social distancing. Additionally, eating a healthy diet can help boost your immune system and reduce your risk of infection. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Avoid processed foods, sugary drinks, and foods high in saturated fat.
Stay Informed
It’s important to stay informed about the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep up with the latest news and follow the advice of your local health authorities. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your doctor or healthcare provider.
Despite COVID-19 rates dropping across the U.S, many people are still dealing with symptoms of the virus. “As long as there are people who are not vaccinated, as long as this virus is around in any part of this world, and as long as those variants exist—whether that would be Omicron, Delta or any other variant—this will spread and that can lead to resurgence and more waves of this pandemic or disease,” says Devang Sanghavi, MD. “That’s why I would strongly insist and request everybody out there who’s not vaccinated to get vaccinated at least—that would be them doing their part.” Here are the COVID-19 symptoms causing the most concern. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Lingering heart issues are one of the more concerning symptoms of COVID-19. “Type 2 heart attacks are more common with COVID-19,” says cardiologist Wendy Susan Post, M.D., M.S. “This heart attack can be caused by increased stress on the heart, such as a fast heartbeat, low blood oxygen levels or anemia, because the heart muscle isn’t getting enough oxygen delivered in the blood in order to do this extra work. We have seen this in people with acute coronavirus disease, but it is less common in those who have survived the illness. Blood tests have shown that during COVID-19, some people have elevated levels of a substance called troponin in their blood [a sign of damaged heart tissue], along with EKG changes and chest pain.”
Brain fog is a common and scary symptom of both COVID and long COVID, and should never be ignored. “Advocate for yourself, know if you’re not feeling right, [and recognize when] this isn’t a headache or a migraine,” says Dr. Monique White-Dominguez, a physician with Sameday Health in Los Angeles. “This isn’t my anxiety or my depression. I don’t feel right, I’m not sharp. I can’t remember what I did 30 minutes ago and that’s not normal.”
“Some individuals develop medium to long-term symptoms following COVID infection, including brain fog, fatigue, headaches and dizziness,” says neurologist Arun Venkatesan, M.D., Ph.D., says. “The cause of these symptoms is unclear but is an active area of investigation.”
The pandemic understandably caused a huge spike in mental health issues related to what continues to be a traumatic and frightening experience. “The mental health fallout from the pandemic will continue to grow,” says Lisa MacLean, MD, psychiatrist at Henry Ford Health System. “History has shown that the mental health impact of disaster outlasts the physical impact, suggesting that today’s elevated mental health need will continue well beyond the coronavirus outbreak itself… many communities are seeing an increase in domestic violence, drug overdose and suicide… in some areas, mental health and suicide-hotline use have dramatically increased.”
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The loss of smell and taste may not be seen as serious when compared to COVID-19 symptoms such as heart issues, but it severely impacts quality of life over the long term. “The other thing that maybe has gotten lost with this [Omicron] surge is that there are long-term effects of COVID-19 for up to 50% of people who get infected,” says infectious disease physician Stephen Parodi, MD. “They get long-term complications and sometimes it can be as simple as losing your smell for a while, which is not a benign thing. Your smell actually is important for tasting, which is important for eating, which is important for your own mental health,” adding there are “long-term effects on the brain and on the nervous system.”
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Some people are reporting scary long-term issues with shortness of breath, especially in “long COVID”. “Recovery from lung damage takes time,” says Panagis Galiatsatos, M.D., M.H.S., an expert on lung disease at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. “There’s the initial injury to the lungs, followed by scarring. Over time, the tissue heals, but it can take three months to a year or more for a person’s lung function to return to pre-COVID-19 levels. Lung healing in of itself can produce symptoms. It is similar to a leg bone breaking, needing a cast for months, and having the cast come off. No one would expect to begin to run right away with the newly-healed leg bone. As the leg strengthens and muscle re-grows, patients will experience discomfort from this healing. This is what our lungs go through, too!”
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Follow the public health fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live—get vaccinated or boosted ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don’t travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don’t go indoors with people you’re not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.