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Most people diagnosed with COVID-19 get the infection at home. While we can deal with fever or cough with medication, it is also worth taking care of proper respiratory “hygiene”. Why this is so important, explains physician Krzysztof Pawlak in an interview with Medonet.
- COVID-19 may have a different clinical picture. One of the common complications is the development of pneumonia
- Simple breathing exercises will help you to control your shortness of breath and improve your overall breathing performance
- Patients with COVID-19 should also remember to rest in the right position. Lying down ‘flat’ may worsen the symptoms of the disease
- You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page
Breathing exercises for COVID-19 patients
Most people who test positive will develop a disease at home. However, this does not mean that the infection will be mild.
– COVID-19 is a disease that may have a different clinical picture. One of the most dangerous is the development of pneumonia. Then, inflammation develops not only in the large bronchi, but also within the pulmonary parenchyma, i.e. the alveoli. The effect of developing inflammation is exudate, that is, the accumulation of fluid. Then, the alveoli of the lungs may “stick together”, which reduces the surface area through which oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is released (glued alveoli cannot conduct gas exchange). Therefore, taking into account the lack of an effective drug, proper respiratory «hygiene» is extremely important – Krzysztof Pawlak, a resident of family medicine, explains in an interview with Medonet, who deals with patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 on a daily basis at the POZ clinic.
What is the deal with respiratory “hygiene”? Pawlak posted a set of simple breathing exercises for COVID-19 patients on his Twitter account:
The entry mentions pulmonary rehabilitation, but performing these exercises can be considered during the course of the disease, not only after its completion.
– At the beginning it should be noted that any patient with confirmed COVID-19 or suspected infection should contact their GP. Some accompanying diseases may be a contraindication to breathing exercises – the doctor explains and adds: – Breathing exercises are designed to help fight the feeling of shortness of breath and activate the lower parts of the chest, i.e. improve blood circulation in the lower lobes and overall breathing efficiency.
Among the exercises that can be performed by a person suffering from COVID-19, the doctor mentions, among others: proper breathing – the air is inhaled through the nose and exhaled through the mouth. Breathing should be deep, but not “forceful” – too strong will irritate you and cause you to cough.
– Closed-up mouth breathing is also a simple exercise. Inhale through your nose, then slowly exhale through your pursed lips. 4-5 repetitions, several times a day. Another way is to exhale air through a straw in a glass half full of water. Low resistance engages additional respiratory muscles. Several repetitions several times a day. – adds the doctor.
Always take care of hygiene and disinfection of hands and surfaces. Naturaphy products that you can buy on Medonet Market at attractive prices will work for this:
- Spray for surface disinfection – 75% alcohol,
- Antibacterial hand disinfection gel with olive scent,
- Antibacterial hand disinfection gel with the scent of forest fruit,
- Antibacterial hand disinfection gel with the scent of lavender,
- Antibacterial hand disinfection gel with the scent of melon.
What else is worth remembering when treating COVID-19 at home?
COVID-19: The position in which we rest when sick is important
Pawlak also points out that the position in which we rest during illness is of great importance. Patients with mild breathlessness should not lie “flat”, as this position increases the feeling of breathlessness.
– It is best to be in a semi-sitting position or “on the beach”, that is, lying on your back with your hands behind your head – adds our interlocutor.
In the case of increasing dyspnea, you can consider lying on your stomach in the so-called prone position.
– The mechanism that helps here is not fully understood, but in ICU settings it is a standard procedure in mechanically ventilated patients.
that is, the position “on the stomach”. This is the body position where the person lies flat with the chest and face down and back up.
With COVID-19, position changes are extremely important, especially in seniors. Thanks to movement, we reduce the risk of thrombotic complications.
ZobaczWhy are COVID-19 patients placed on their stomachs?
When should COVID-19 symptoms concern us?
In most cases of COVID-19, we get mild disease with symptoms such as a flu-like infection.
– What should worry us is a fever lasting longer than 2-3 days, neurological disorders such as sensory disturbances or paresis, and increasing shortness of breath. The loss of smell or taste is characteristic, but rather harmless – explains our expert and adds that it is worth getting a pulse oximeter. If the saturation drops below 94%, it is an indication for oxygen therapy in a ward setting.
- You can buy a pulse oximeter from Medonet Market with free shipping
It’s also worth checking out these tips:
- Doctor’s advice for people with COVID-19. How to survive?
- The competition is not sleeping. Biedronka reacts to Lidl’s movement and lowers the prices of COVID-19 tests
- What medications should you have in your first aid kit in case of COVID-19? [WE EXPLAIN]
- Your doctor advises you on how to get COVID-19 at home. “It makes no sense to take medications prophylactically”
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