When you should seek care for COVID-19
Your friend got it. Your uncle got it. And after the many gatherings you attended over the holidays, you may be wondering if you also have COVID-19.
If you’re asymptomatic, you can do a test at home and avoid a trip to the emergency department, say experts like Dr. Jeff Bahr, chief medical group officer for Advocate Aurora Health. And if you’re otherwise healthy and have mild symptoms, you can treat them at home. A positive case should always be followed by masking and isolating.
However, if you’re experiencing symptoms like shortness of breath at rest or during mild activity, or if you have any underlying conditions like asthma, diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that are being exacerbated, then it may be time to connect with your doctor, he said.
Resources like the LiveWell app can also help you point you in the right direction, whether that’s doing additional testing or being evaluated by a doctor. You can even check your symptoms online and get an idea of what steps to take next.
“Whether you’ve had a known exposure or not, if you have a fever, trouble breathing or an exacerbation or worsening of an existing diagnosis, or if you’re immunocompromised, you should seek care sooner rather than later so your health condition does not worsen and your need for additional healthcare resources does not increase by the time you present or interact with one of our healthcare professionals,” Dr. Bahr said.
If you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath, start with our COVID-19 Symptom Checker or call 866-443-2584.
Importantly you must go to the ER if you are short of breath with Covid. Silent hypoxia is THE single source of why Covid kills people. My mom almost died and still struggles a year later, still on oxygen a year later- with NO pre-existing conditions. An extended family member DID die – a young woman in her 30s. Everyone should own a pulse oximeter and get educated. It is not like pneumonia when you feel short of breath and have time. It is far worse. Thankfully the latest variant doesn’t seem to viciously attack the lungs like earlier variants.