What is COVID-19?
COVID-19, often called the novel coronavirus, is a rapidly spreading viral disease and is the cause of the current global pandemic. While experts are still learning about the virus, its behavior, and its long-term health effects, they encourage you to take precautions to prevent the spread to others and keep yourself safe.
Many people make a full recovery after getting COVID-19, while others never experience symptoms. However, if you have any chronic diseases or long-term health conditions, the disease could be very serious or even life-threatening.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
COVID-19 has many associated symptoms, and different people experience them in different combinations. While the most common are flu-like symptoms and a dry cough, other possible symptoms are:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Lethargy and tiredness
- Sore throat
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Pink eye
- Loss of taste
- Loss of smell
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
Severe symptoms, like chest pain, trouble breathing, or difficulty moving or speaking, indicate that you should seek emergency care right away. Before visiting InCare with symptoms of COVID-19, you should call ahead and indicate that your symptoms are consistent with the disease.
How can I help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
COVID-19 spreads primarily through airborne droplets of saliva or mucus. It’s important to follow all current protocols for preventing the spread, including:
- Wearing a mask over your mouth and nose while in public
- Maintaining a six-foot distance from others
- Avoiding unnecessary travel
- Washing your hands frequently and thoroughly
- Covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
- Staying at home away from others if you get symptoms or have been exposed
It’s also important to take protective precautions like avoiding smoking since many symptoms of COVID-19 are respiratory in nature. Smoking can weaken your lungs and make you more susceptible to the disease.
For your convenience, InCare offers video appointments as a safer alternative to an office visit, and in the near future, our team will be offering the COVID-19 vaccine.
How is COVID-19 treated?
If you have COVID-19 symptoms or you suspect you’ve been exposed, you should go to a testing facility. As you await your results, even if you don’t have symptoms, it’s important for you to stay at home, stay hydrated, and avoid other people. You should contact people you’ve been in close contact with and let them know of your possible exposure.
Home care steps for COVID-19 include:
- Drinking lots of fluids
- Rest
- Cough syrup
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
We encourage you to call and let us know before coming in for COVID-19 care. While there’s currently no cure for COVID-19, we can help you take the right steps toward recovery. We might prescribe an antibody medication to help your immune system fight the virus or other helpful medications like corticosteroids.
To inquire about an appointment for COVID-19 or learn more about what to do for your infection, call InCare or book online today.
