How shortness of breath manifests itself in coronavirus

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The infectious disease COVID-19 often affects the lower respiratory tract, especially in adults. The condition may be accompanied by a feeling of shortness of breath and pain in the chest area. You need to know how shortness of breath manifests itself in coronavirus and what to do while doing it.

Why does shortness of breath appear

With shortness of breath, a person experiences chest discomfort. It is accompanied by shortness of breath and shallow breathing. At the onset of coronavirus disease, shortness of breath is not observed. It makes itself felt in 4-5 days.

During this time, the infection enters the lungs. In them, an inflammatory process, edema and fluid accumulates. The alveoli cease to function normally, gas exchange is disrupted. At the same time, the concentration of oxygen in the blood decreases, the destruction of hemoglobin occurs and a large number of platelets are produced.

Clots form in the blood, which clog small blood vessels. This threatens with thrombosis, especially for people with vascular pathology. The body needs to replace the supply of oxygen, from which breathing becomes more frequent and shallow. With Covid-19, shortness of breath can be severe or mild. It depends on such factors:

• state of immunity;
• age;
• the presence of chronic diseases.

Some patients feel shortage of air only during physical exertion, and some find it difficult to breathe even at rest.

How shortness of breath manifests itself in coronavirus

Shortness of breath with Covid-19 does not appear from the first days of the illness. The initial symptoms are usually:

• weakness;
• sore or sore throat;
• nasal congestion;
• loss of smell;
• temperature increase.

It takes several days for the virus to spread to the lower respiratory tract. The patient has the feeling that he cannot take a deep breath.

Shortness of breath with coronavirus is usually accompanied by other symptoms:

1. Chest pain. It occurs due to inflammation in the airways. Felt when inhaling and when coughing.
2. Lack of air. The patient feels that he does not have enough air when inhaling. To make up for this, he begins to breathe more often.
3. Pallor of the skin appears due to insufficient supply of oxygen to the blood.
4. The cough may appear one or two days before the onset of shortness of breath.
5. An increase in body temperature up to 38 degrees, sometimes even higher.

If shortness of breath is accompanied by a high fever, an urgent need to seek medical attention.

Some patients do not have a cough, but an increase in body temperature is always observed. In severe cases of the disease, the respiratory rate is more than 30 times in one minute.

This state is accompanied by:

• confusion of consciousness;
• excited state;
• increase or decrease in pressure.

In very severe cases, the patient is connected to a ventilator.

Shortness of breath symptoms

If you suspect COVID-19, it is necessary to objectively assess the patient's condition. Chest tightness and rapid breathing are not only caused by covid pneumonia. This condition occurs due to stress, if a sick person experiences fear and worries about their health.

How to determine at home

How to understand that respiratory failure is caused by damage to the lung tissue? Shortness of breath can be associated with other ailments such as asthma. It can also occur if a person experiences severe anxiety in the event of a panic attack. To understand whether shortness of breath is associated with pneumonia or not, a simple test can be done at home:

1. Take a deep breath.
2. Hold your breath for about 15 seconds.
3. Exhale.

If these simple steps are straightforward, then the easy ones are most likely fine. If you have difficulty breathing, chest pain or coughing, call your doctor. How else is shortness of breath manifested with COVID-19? The patient's sleep is disturbed. He gets tired quickly and is very weak. Even ordinary household chores tires him.

There is another way to understand whether there is shortness of breath or not. It is necessary to count the breathing rate by holding your palm in the solar plexus zone. If the number of inhalations and exhalations is more than 20 times per minute, then there are breathing problems. This is a sign of respiratory distress. If such symptoms are found, they seek medical help for examination and treatment.

Clinical diagnostics

For the correct diagnosis and treatment in the hospital, a comprehensive examination of the patient is carried out using therapeutic methods and modern equipment:

• check the air conductivity of the lung tissue;
• determine the tidal volume of the lungs to find out the degree of respiratory failure;
• measure the level of saturation (blood oxygen saturation);
• do blood tests and PCR tests.

Shortness of breath can be a symptom of coronavirus or be a sign of equally serious lung conditions such as neoplasms, fluid buildup, and emphysema. To clarify the diagnosis, the patient is prescribed computed tomography. This is the most accurate method for examining the lungs for viral pneumonia. It allows you to find out how many percent of the lung tissue is damaged by the infection, and where the lesions are located.

What to do if shortness of breath worries

If the patient is on outpatient treatment and the difficulty in breathing is weak, then he must strictly follow all the doctor's prescriptions.

In addition to treatment, you need to drink more fluids, such as warm tea or plain water.

If you feel worse, immediately call an ambulance. How to tell if your condition is getting worse:

1. The sick person begins to breathe heavily. He is increasingly worried about shortness of breath.
2. The debilitating coughing attacks intensify.
3. The condition worsens at night.
4. Severe acute respiratory syndrome may develop. Shortness of breath is one of its symptoms.

Interesting! What does 90 saturation mean in coronavirus

At home, you can alleviate the patient's condition. It should be placed on the bed in a reclining position. Open a window in the room for fresh air. It is advisable to turn on a humidifier as dry air makes breathing difficult. Ventilators and oxygen masks are only available for inpatient care under the supervision of qualified professionals.

Many patients who have overcome the infection have trouble breathing for a long time. They feel weak and get tired quickly after little physical exertion. This is how the consequences of oxygen starvation can manifest.

In patients who have had an infection in moderate and severe forms, who were treated in a hospital, shortness of breath and pain persist for up to two months. It is more common in older people with severe lung changes. To restore the body, daily walks are necessary. Also, doctors recommend simple exercise and swimming in the pool.

If signs of illness appear, you need to stay at home and call your local doctor. When severe shortness of breath appears, the temperature rises above 38 degrees, they call an ambulance.

Outcomes

Shortness of breath with coronavirus pneumonia is always accompanied by additional symptoms:

• an increase in temperature;
• general weakness;
• chest pain or discomfort;
• cough;
• deterioration of health at night.