If you find yourself feeling short of breath you can buy or ask your GP for a pulse oximeter to measure and monitor your blood oxygen levels. Shortness of breath usually occurs a week after initial infection. For those who go to hospital, their shortness of breath tends to get worse before improving.
The older you are, the longer you might experience shortness of breath and the longer it takes for you to get over it. For those who get it, children have shortness of breath for an average of two days but it can last up to five. Adults aged have shortness of breath for three days on average but it can last up to eight, while people over 35 years old tend to have shortness of breath for five days but can take days for the symptom to clear.
People experiencing shortness of breath tend to have multiple other COVID symptoms, be older and frailer, and more likely to be overweight and have pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or lung disease.
These other symptoms can include fatigue , headache , loss of smell anosmia , persistent cough , unusual muscle pains and chest pains. Depending on your age and sex, you should contact your doctor if you have multiple different symptoms of COVID in the first week of being ill.
You should get urgent medical help if you have breathing problems, are suddenly confused, or your lips or face are turning blue. If you are experiencing shortness of breath when doing small tasks, buy or ask your GP for a pulse oximeter to monitor your blood oxygen levels at home. If you have shortness of breath alongside other symptoms of COVID, especially abdominal pains and diarrhoea, you should:.
You can find advice for people with asthma on our blog , and the British Lung Foundation has lots of helpful information about lung conditions and COVID In this webinar, our experts answer all your questions about immunosuppression and COVID vaccinations including whether they are safe, how effective they are, and how you can protect yourself when infection rates are high. We take a look at the science behind the two drugs that have been put forward as COVID treatments: molnupiravir and ivermectin.
We compare the safety and effectiveness of natural immunity from COVID infection and the protection from vaccines. In this webinar, we hear about your personal experiences with Long COVID, and our experts discuss its definition, symptoms, and treatments. Some scientists and academics are speculating that this winter could see many of us hit with a bad bout of flu. Back in July, we updated our data methodology to minimise the impact of diminishing numbers of unvaccinated contributors. Internet rumours about swollen testicles following COVID vaccination have raised concerns about vaccines and the potential risk of impotence and infertility.
But is there really anything to be worried about? In this webinar, our experts look at the evidence around COVID and vaccination in pregnancy and whether vaccines can affect fertility. COVID is not the only cause of shortness of breath. Other issues that may cause this and similar symptoms include:. The virus responsible for COVID can infect the lungs, causing shortness of breath and other symptoms.
Shortness of breath can be mild, requiring home care, or severe, requiring treatment in a hospital. Learn more about the other symptoms and what to expect here.
COVID rehabilitation can help people regain their physical strength, cognitive ability, and mental health after illness. Learn more here. COVID has numerous symptoms and may also cause diarrhea. Learn more. People with COPD may experience more severe symptoms of the new coronavirus. Learn about the risks and precautions a person with COPD should take here. Medically reviewed by Cameron White, M. What it feels like. How quickly shortness of breath develops. When to seek medical care.
Breathing exercises and tips. What if shortness of breath gets worse? Could it be something else? Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Anxiety disorders are characterized by episodes of intense fear, worry and sheer panic that can be crippling. They may seem out of proportion to the situation at hand, they can be triggered by any situation and can be experienced by anyone. You get a squeezing or tightening pain in your chest, or it can be dull like indigestion.
But as a symptom of coronary artery disease, it needs to be diagnosed and treated by your physician. Everyone experiences the early warning signs of a heart attack differently.
You experience pain in varying degrees, or you may experience cardiac arrest as a first symptom. The key is to trust your body.
While you can express your pain or discomfort, make someone aware then call The fallout from this ongoing battle between your immune system and the virus leaves behind pus, which is made up of excess fluid and dead cells debris in your lungs. According to a review of 13 studies published in the Journal of Infection, having shortness of breath poses a greater risk of severe and critical disease outcomes with COVID Persistent or worsening shortness of breath can lead to a critical health condition known as hypoxia.
This can deprive your brain of oxygen. When this happens, confusion , lethargy , and other mental disruptions may occur. Ongoing shortness of breath is a symptom of pneumonia , which can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS. This is a progressive type of lung failure in which fluid fills up the air sacs in your lungs. With ARDS, breathing becomes increasingly difficult as stiff, fluid-filled lungs have a harder time expanding and contracting. In some cases, help breathing with mechanical ventilation is needed.
Below are some of the warning signs to watch out for that may indicate a progression to ARDS or other serious respiratory conditions:. Get immediate medical attention if you have these or other serious symptoms. If possible, call your doctor or hospital in advance so they can give you instructions on what to do. These lung injuries may cause the formation of scar tissue known as pulmonary fibrosis. Scarring further stiffens the lungs and makes it harder to breathe.
Here are some of the most common:.
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