As the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned, COVID-19 can cause respiratory infections, which can range from the common cold to more serious illnesses. One of the three most common indicators that you have contracted the virus is having difficulty inhaling and exhaling air, although this is not usually an isolated symptom, but is usually accompanied by fever, cough and general malaise.
"The feeling of lack of air by itself does not speak in favor of an affectation by COVID-19" - explains Doctor José Bujalance, Pulmonologist in Malaga and member of Top Doctors and adds, "the union of this lack of air to other symptoms (mainly fever, irritating dry cough and feeling of discomfort) to be able to think that we are facing a probable contagion by coronavirus ”.
ASTHMATICS ARE NO MORE LIKELY OF GETTING THE VIRUS
Respiratory distress is usually a fairly common symptom in allergies, a challenge for asthmatics. However, asthma sufferers often know well how their attacks progress and most likely will not be alarmed for no reason. In addition, according to this expert, they do not have to worry: “Comparing asthma with coronavirus can create an unnecessary alert in asthmatic patients. An asthmatic person should not take different precautions from a non-asthmatic person. Asthma does not predispose to having a greater probability or possibility of contagion by COVID-19. What it can cause is an evolution different from that of a non-asthmatic person in the case of contracting the disease ”, concludes Doctor Bujalance.
ABOVE ALL A LOT OF TRANQUILITY
In many cases, it is not a disease itself that causes respiratory distress, but the constant state of restlessness and concern in which we find ourselves due to the alarming news that constantly appears on television and the other media regarding COVID- 19.
The Doctor Vila Rovira , founder of the Vila-Rovira Institute of Madrid, warns that "in the current situation of confinement and social alarm, breathing difficulty usually is given by the anxiety and fear of the coronavirus. You have to think that there is little chance of contracting the coronavirus. If we only have anxiety, but there is no constant cough or high fever or other serious symptoms, we must remain calm .
In short, if the respiratory distress appears in isolation, in principle you have nothing to worry about. If, on the contrary, you notice that the symptoms persist and that, in addition, you begin to present a fever, cough or general malaise, it is preferable that you leave doubts. Call 112 or the emergency telephone number set up by Health in your Autonomous Community. Another option is to take the online test that has been launched by the Government or the Generalitat de Catalunya.
