BY Dr. Charuni Kohombange
As the pandemic continues, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports over 211 million of confirmed Covid-19 cases and 4.4 million deaths across the globe, at the time of writing. According to the officially released reports of the Epidemiology Unit, more than 412,000 cases have been reported and the death count has surpassed the 8000 tragic landmark in Sri Lanka. With the rapidly spreading Delta variant, home-based management of mildly symptomatic patients was initiated as the health system is overwhelming. In general, patients are observed and managed for two weeks from the identification of the infection and discharged unless severe symptoms persist. However, the recovery from the Covid-19 infection may take time which may vary from person to person. This article aims to explain the sequel of recovery from the disease.
Post Covid-19 effects
Most of the people who contracted Covid-19, recover completely within a few weeks from the infection. However, some people even after having mild disease continue to experience certain symptoms after the initial recovery.
These symptoms may include:
- Muscle weakness and joint stiffness
- Extreme tiredness and lack of energy
- Persistent cough and breathlessness
- Loss of appetite, weight loss, difficulty in swallowing
- Difficulty in sleeping, nightmares/flashbacks, particularly if the patient had been severely ill and hospitalised
- Problems related to memory (For example, not being able to remember some events, think clearly and being forgetful)
- Mood changes like anxiety and depression
- Breathing exercises: It can help to manage breathlessness and reduce its impact on the day-today activities. Take a slow breath through the nose and allow the air to fill up the chest and breathe out gently through lips
- Breathing control while walking: By synchronising your breathing in and out with the stepping will reduce breathlessness while walking. It will help to walk in a flat and also to climb stairs and slopes
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- Keep well hydrated and continue steam inhalation
- Avoid persistent, deliberate throat clearing as much as possible
- Chewing sugar-free gum or taking sugar-free sweets/lozenges will promote the saliva flow to lubricate the throat and reduce throat clearing
- Avoid smoking
- Talk for short periods at a time. Stop and take a break if your voice feels tired
- Always use your normal voice. Don’t worry if all that comes out is a whisper, just avoid straining to force the voice to sound louder
- Avoid attempting to talk over background noises such as loud music and started engines, as this will force you to try raising the volume, which can be damaging
- Feeling anxious when breathless
- Worries about health or about family or friends getting ill
- Feeling low in mood
- Poor sleep
- If you were treated in a hospital or a treatment centre, you may also experience nightmares and feelings of panic with any reminders of the hospital
- Take a diet rich in proteins and energy: Protein foods include beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins. Eat more beans and pulses and reduce the intake of red and processed meat
- Drinking more fluids: Set yourself a target to drink two liters of water each day. Try drinking at the end of the meal - drinking before or during a meal may cause you to feel too full
- Try eating little and often: For example, choose smaller meals and snacks rather than three larger meals
- Get enough vitamins and minerals: Different coloured fruits and vegetables contain their own combination of vitamins, minerals and fibre, try to eat one portion from each colour group. Aim to take five fruits and vegetables per day