It has been a while now that Novel Corona Virus has taken a toll over our lives and has created havoc. The virus and its effects are new to all of us and hence there are very few things we know about its impact, that has happened only by observing and studying certain things.
Studies are still on regarding COVID-19; whether it has long-term effects? how long does it take to attack and damage our organs? what all precautions can be taken, what is the recovery period? what all post COVID precautions to be taken? and the list goes on.
Can a COVID recovered patient get reinfected?
Though many studies are still going on for this question; experts say it is possible that you can be attacked by the virus again after recovery. Precautions are very important for a longer while after recovery.
World Health Organization posted the recording of a podcast where DR. Maria Van Kerkhove answers a few questions about people getting reinfected after getting recovered from COVID.
Although, recovering from COVID takes around two weeks for mild cases, and 4-5 weeks for severe cases; you might find certain long lasting effects of it like fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, itchy throat and mental health issues.
Why Post COVID care is necessary?
The virus attacks the heart, brain and other organs as well along with severely damaging to the respiratory tract.
This takes longer time for the body to recover from the illness and be back to normal functioning.
A recovered COVID patient might have mild symptoms of the illness. There are many long term effects that patients have been complaining about like- fatigue, headaches, body ache, breathing problems.
Certain studies show that there are long term impacts of COVID on your cardiovascular health having many heart issues even months after recovering from COVID-19.
Hence, post COVID care is necessary.
Precautions to be taken for post COVID health.
You may feel lethargic; it is because all of your energy has been drained out. So your body needs that energy back to function regularly as it did before the illness.
1.Have a nutritionist diet
Avoid following all those fad diet for a few weeks post COVID. Right now, your body is in need of a balanced diet which is full of nutrients.
All the minerals and vitamins, proteins ad fiber is needed to bring your body back to its healthy self.
Add more of protein rich foods like lentils, pulses, boiled egg. Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and grape fruit will make the best natural anti-oxidants to flush out all the toxins off your body.
Eat in small portions and increase number of meals in a day for easy digestion.
And most important, drink enough water and stay hydrated.
2.A little bit of workout might work wonders
In these day, working out might sound exhausting or even wrong to many but many doctors recommend slow to moderate intensity cardio workouts.
It will help your in increasing blood circulation throughout your body thus increasing enough oxygen for every organ.
Simple yoga asana, deep breathing exercises will increase your lung capacity. AS lung is the most severely damaged organ by corona virus, it is essential to keep up with your lung health.
Walking for a few minutes might help too and it is the simplest form of exercise and highly beneficial.
3.Keep a check on your mental well being
All that time spent in isolation and being away from your loved ones and work might have drained your emotional and mental health.
Isolation tends to make patients feels helpless as well as hopeless.
Working on your mental health is necessary for further recovery. Talk with your loved ones, spend time with them. Relax and try not to directly start with your work.
Anxiety might get triggered and your state of mind might get disrupted.
Play little memory games, as COVID affects your brain and neural cells. Crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku and other word games will help and prevent further memory problems.
4.Rest well and enough
Many doctors suggest resting well and try to isolate for further 6-7 days to prevent the spread of virus; as some research show that the virus lingers in your body for about 7 days even after symptoms disappear.
Sleep better and try to have uninterrupted sleep for long hours. A well rested mind and body can heal faster.
Do not start your daily hectic routine just yet; give yourself some time to recover completely from the battle you have just returned successfully!
5.Keep a check on your oxygen levels
Even after the symptoms are gone, your body might be low in oxygen and can further decline if not taken necessary precautions.
An oximeter will help you with this. There are chances that your lungs are not fully recovered yet and treatment is needed. And if that is the case your oxygen level will fluctuate.
Visit your doctor if your oxygen level drops below 90.
6.Observe and look for any other symptoms, if
COVID is known to have long term effects on your body even after all the symptoms are gone.
The specific time of full recovery is not found yet but it is said that it might take a few weeks or months.
If you are facing a difficulty in breathing all the time or are having serious issues, contact your doctor immediately.
7.Follow all the rules to prevent the spread
Even if you have recovered from COVID, there are chances you might get reinfected and preventing the spread is necessary. Simple steps can help you do it.
- Wear masks always when around people; keep social distancing.
- Us hand sanitizers and wash your hands whenever necessary.
- Keep a check on you and your loved one’s health.
- Eat nutritionist food and exercise to boost your immunity.
Summing it…
Post COVID care is essential for your body and mind to fully recover and to be back to its normal healthy self.
There is risk of getting reinfected by COVID once recovered and hence it is necessary to take all the post COVID precautions to prevent its spread.
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