What Living with COVID-19 Feels Like and When to Seek Help

As the total number of global COVID-19 cases nears four million, fear and anxiety surrounding the pandemic have continued to rise. While many states have started to ease lockdown restrictions, medical experts strongly urge against taking social distancing regulations lightly. 

The pandemic has directly affected many people physically, but has also taken a toll on the mental and emotional health. COVID-19 patients have been battling the debilitating physical symptoms of the illness and the psychological effects of self-isolation. 

According to manyCOVID-19 patients, their first reaction to the development of symptoms was denial. They also admit that if they had treated their symptoms seriously, it may have resulted in early diagnosis and treatment, thereby reducing the severity of the condition. 

Here’s a roundup of the most common symptoms and the turning point that indicates its time to seek help.

Mild to Severe Dry Coughing and a Sore Throat

Two of the most common symptoms of the illness, dry coughing and a sore throat shouldn’t be overlooked under any conditions. 

While you may attribute the symptoms to an ice pop you had the night before, seeking timely consultation is essential to rule out concerns or get adequately diagnosed. According to the WHO, over 80% of people recover from the condition without requiring hospitalization. 

Reducing the time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis is imperative to ensure the treatment process is short and non-invasive.  

Shortness of Breath Followed With Difficulty Breathing

While many patients may never experience shortness of breath, it’s quite common as the condition progresses. 

However, in anomalous cases, patients may experience both shortness of breath and difficulty breathing within the first few days of exposure to the virus. 

Normally, breathing difficulties arise within the course of 2–14 days after contracting the virus.

Tiredness

Tiredness, fatigue, and lethargy go by unnoticed for most patients, as they attribute them to improper sleep or an overactive day. However, according to a report, over 44% of COVID-19 patients reported tiredness, exhaustion, and fatigue. 

If you’re suffering from a headache, fever, chills, or loss of taste/smell, we recommend consulting professional medical care immediately. 

A leading telemedicineapp for patients, CallingDr virtually connects patients with doctors using audiovisual technology. 

The state-of-the-art telehealth software platform reduces the risk of medical staff getting infected, and helps patients discuss their medical history and symptoms with a medical practitioner, thereby allowing them to be triaged accordingly.

While the platform doesn’t offer testing for COVID-19, it helps patients take the best course of action based on the mildness or severity of their symptoms.