Let me ask you something, have you gone out for groceries lately? When you did go out, did you find yourself more nervous about what you may have caught after you got home? Have you accidentally touched your face and eyes while you’re out? Have you been paying attention to how much distance you have between yourself and other people if you are out? The world has really changed over the course of the last few months, hasn’t it? Without a doubt, you’ve heard of the horrible pandemic caused by the illness known as COVID-19. Today we are going to look at COVID-19, some Early Symptoms of COVID-19….do you have it?
Be sure to read the article for some great information on this horrible illness.
I’m sure you’re filled with the same questions I am “What exactly is COVID-19? What are the early symptoms to watch for? You may think you know, but you’d be surprised at some of the recent findings.
First off, what exactly is COVID-19?
Well according to the Mayo Clinic “COVID-19 is a newly identified respiratory virus that can spread easily. It shares several symptoms with influenza, but it’s treated differently. COVID-19 infection may appear two to 14 days after exposure and can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing”
What are the symptoms of COVID-19? How will I know if I have it?
They are not only big questions but the questions. According to research, the symptoms of COVID-19 are: Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19. This is the longest known incubation period for this disease. It is currently being investigated if the virus can be transmitted to others if someone is not showing symptoms. While experts believe that it is possible, it is considered less common. Symptoms vary from person to person, so you may experience some of the lesser-known ones, such as gastrointestinal problems, or runny nose. However, for the most part:
Those symptoms include: cough, fever, difficulty breathing, pneumonia in both lungs.*
If you are feeling tired, or cold, or you feel your throat aches, don’t hesitate to take precautionary measures. You could also have COVID if you are feeling weak, or like you are walking underwater. All of these are early warning signs.
But there are other things that you should watch out for and they don’t all include your breathing. For example: “About 200 COVID-19 patients at three hospitals in Wuhan, China, around 50% reported at least one digestive symptom, and 18% reported diarrhoea, vomiting or abdominal pain”https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-diarrhea-symptoms.html
Appetite loss is another issue that you may not recognize as a symptom. The Business Insider said that appetite loss is a symptom that could often be missed https://www.businessinsider.com/mild-coronavirus-cases-high-fever-dry-cough-2020-3 and so those who feel as if they are not eating enough should possibly get themselves checked. In addition, those with pre-existing conditions may experience symptoms of their normal conditions that seem more intense than usual. If any chronic illnesses are flaring up, this could be an early warning sign you are harbouring the virus. On average, symptoms can last for 17 days before an individual is fully recovered, so those who feel ill in any way should get themselves checked sooner rather than later.
As mentioned, despite the thought that this is a respiratory illness. breathing could never be affected at al. The disease could be hiding in other parts of your body. Livescience also reported that “Doctors have recently added “loss of smell” as a potential symptom that may show up alone without any other symptoms,” which means other symptoms of the body could be affected. NPR also reports this, so it looks like this is becoming a recognized issue. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/03/26/821582951/is-loss-of-smell-and-taste-a-symptom-of-covid-19-doctors-want-to-find-out. If you can’t smell that bubbling soup on the stove, you may have COVID-19.
According to https://www.sciencealert.com/10-coronavirus-symptoms-you-may-not-be-aware-of Science alert, you could also experience things like headache or dizziness, or even feel like you are going to vomit, but never experience breathing problems. It’s not common, but in these crazy times, symptoms like these should not be ignored.
Don’t assume that you’ll know if you have it either. Many people think that if they are just feeling mildly unwell, then they can’t possibly have this deadly disease. According to CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/health/covid-19-recovery-rates-intl/index.html, about 80% of cases are mild, so you may think that you just have a cold or are a little run down from the mental trauma of isolation. However, a mild case could be enough, with any of these symptoms, to cause a butterfly effect through the community if you go out.
Let’s get this out of the way- if you’re worried about COVID-19 that is okay. It’s perfectly natural to be afraid in times like this where there is so much uncertainty. Every time the sun rises anew, the world seems like a different place than it was the previous day. As a matter of full disclosure, even as I write this I’m worried. I’m worried about myself, my friends and my family. I’m also worried about you, yes you the reader. We’ve reached a turning point in history that there is no going back from. But here is the thing about this turning point; we’re all in this together. We will get through this and we will endure together. It’s natural to have anxiety in times like these, especially when there will always be ghouls who try to profit off tragedy. The main thing to keep in mind is that we will survive this. We’ll help each other survive it.
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