What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Coronaviruses belong to a large group of viruses that are known to cause severe respiratory illness ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in humans. Coronaviruses are commonly found in animals such as civet cats and are known to be transmitted between animals and humans.
Coronavirus disease COVID-19 is caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (2019-nCOV) that was first discovered in Wuhan, China, in 2019. It has never been previously detected in humans. COVID-19 is highly infectious and one of the most lethal types of coronavirus diseases that has affected people across the globe . Animals as the potential source of COVID-19 have not been confirmed yet and are still under investigation.
Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Some of the common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) include the following:
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Common cold
- Body aches
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Nasal congestion
- Sore throat
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pressure or pain in the chest
How Does Coronavirus (COVID-19) Spread?
COVID-19 spreads from one person to another through the respiratory droplets. The transmission occurs when:
- The respiratory droplets of an infected individual are inhaled by a healthy person
- Surfaces or objects with droplets from an infected person are touched by a healthy person and the person then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus can survive on inanimate surfaces from a few hours up to a few days.
How Long Does It Take to Exhibit Symptoms of COVID-19 After Getting Infected?
The time taken between getting infected and exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 ranges from 1 to 14 days, but most commonly around 5 days.
Risk Factors for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Older people and individuals with pre-existing illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, lung diseases, heart conditions, and cancer are more prone to develop serious illnesses than others due to coronavirus infection.
How Can You Protect Yourself and Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Some of the standard recommendations to protect and prevent the spread of infection include the following:
- Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing with a tissue or your elbow to prevent the spread of droplets.
- Clean your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water or if not available, use alcohol hand sanitizers.
- Wear masks to prevent direct inhalation of droplets from affected individuals.
- Practice social distancing by keeping a distance of at least 6 feet from people, especially those who are coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid close contact with anyone showing signs and symptoms of respiratory illnesses such as cold and cough.
- Stay home and isolate yourself at home from others and avoid public places or crowds.
- Consume meat or eggs only after cooking them thoroughly.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you exhibit signs and symptoms of coronavirus.
- Avoid travelling to places with a high incidence of COVID-19 cases.
For more in-depth information and the current status of COVID-19, we have listed some authoritative websites below for your reference.
https://www.cdc.gov
https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coravirusesonavirus-2019/advice-for-public
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19
If I have persistent cough or breathlessness after Covid or Long covid symptoms what tests may be required ?
To investigate this after a thorough detailed history and assessment investigations such as a Chest x ray, Lung function tests and Ct scan of the Chest can be done .
On a case by case basis further tests can be considered .
● ABOUT DR ANAND SINGH
About Dr Anand Singh
Dr Anand Singh is a highly experienced Consultant Respiratory Physician with over a decade of experience in the field.
Dr Singh is a well known Chest Consultant and Sleep Consultant who provides personalised treatment plan.
Dr Anand Singh is a consultant Respiratory Physician at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
(Watford General and Hemel Hempstead Hospital where he leads the Sleep and Non-Invasive ventilation Service
and Respiratory High Dependency unit. He undertakes sub-speciality clinics in Interstitial Lung diseases
and Sleep Apnoea as well as conducting general respiratory medicine clinics.
Professional Memberships
Recommended by patients
What is Shortness of Breath?
Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, is discomfort or difficulty in breathing or the inability to get enough air to breathe. It can occur suddenly or gradually over a period of time and can be classified into acute or chronic shortness of breath respectively.
What are the Causes of Shortness of Breath?
The most common causes of shortness of breath are associated with heart and lung conditions and may include:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) flare-up
- Interstitial Lung disease
- Bronchiectasis
- Stress and anxiety
- Disordered breathing
- Allergies to pollen, dust, or mould
- Anaemia
- Pneumonia
- Croup
- Upper airway obstruction
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pleurisy
- Abnormal heartbeats
- Enlarged heart
- Heart failure
- Heart attack
What are the Symptoms Associated with Shortness of Breath?
Symptoms of shortness of breath that require attention by your physician include:
- Difficulty breathing when lying flat or with mild activities like walking, climbing stairs, etc
- Breathlessness that does not go away even after resting for 30 minutes
- Chills, high fever, and cough
- Bluish colouration of lips or fingertips
- Wheezing – an abnormal whistling sound that occurs on breathing
- Stridor – a high-pitched noise that occurs on breathing
- Swelling of feet and ankles
- Chest pain or chest tightness
- Abnormal heart rate
- Profuse sweating, exhaustion, or dizziness
What are the Risk Factors of Shortness of Breath?
Some of the commonly known risk factors for shortness of breath may include:
- Chronic lung or heart condition
- Exposure to asthma triggers
- Obesity
- Low haemoglobin level
- Muscle weakness
- Constant stress
- Smoking
- Not physically fit due to illness or lack of exercise
How is Shortness of Breath Diagnosed?
To determine the underlying cause of your shortness of breath, your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history, perform a physical examination, and may recommend certain diagnostic tests for further verification, including:
- Pulmonary function tests
- Chest x-ray
- Blood tests
- CT scan
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- Echocardiogram
- Exercise stress test
How is Shortness of Breath Treated?
Treatment options for shortness of breath are dependent upon the underlying cause and include:
- Lifestyle changes, such as refraining from smoking
- Avoiding asthma triggers, such as pollen, dust mites, animal dander
- Stress reduction through exercise, meditation, etc
- Oxygen therapy or pulmonary rehabilitation program
- Bronchodilators / Inhalers to relax airways
- Breathing techniques
- Medications depending on underlying cause
- Weight management
How Can You Prevent Shortness of Breath?
Things you can do to prevent and manage shortness of breath include:
- Getting a routine health checkup
- Following action plan developed by your physician
- Adhering to prescribed medications regularly
- Following a healthy lifestyle by avoiding risk factors associated with shortness of breath such as smoking
- Avoiding exposure to pollutants in the air, indoors and outdoors
- Speaking to your doctor to get acquainted with concerns, worries, or queries related to shortness of breath
● ABOUT DR ANAND SINGH
About Dr Anand Singh
Dr Anand Singh is a highly experienced Consultant Respiratory Physician with over a decade of experience in the field.
Dr Singh is a well known Chest Consultant and Sleep Consultant who provides personalised treatment plan.
Dr Anand Singh is a consultant Respiratory Physician at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
(Watford General and Hemel Hempstead Hospital where he leads the Sleep and Non-Invasive ventilation Service
and Respiratory High Dependency unit. He undertakes sub-speciality clinics in Interstitial Lung diseases
and Sleep Apnoea as well as conducting general respiratory medicine clinics.
Professional Memberships
Recommended by patients