One of the symptoms of COVID-19 is shortness of breath. What does that mean?

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Breathing deeply can be difficult if you are short of breath. You may feel winded or as though your lungs aren't getting enough air. Shortness of breath, often known as dyspnea, is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19, the disease produced by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Unlike many other illnesses that can cause shortness of breath, COVID-19 patients' symptoms can remain and quickly worsen. Continue reading to discover more about what to look out for if you get shortness of breath caused by the new coronavirus, how to distinguish it from other causes, and when to seek medical help.

What does it feel like to be short of breath?

Breathing can be difficult if you are short of breath. It has the potential to leave you gasping for air. It's possible that your chest is too constricted to fully inhale or exhale. Each shallow breath requires more work and causes you to become winded. You may experience the sensation of inhaling through a straw. It might happen whether you're active or when you're at rest. It can happen gradually or all of a sudden. Shortness of breath can be caused by high-intensity or severe workouts, excessive temperatures, or high altitudes. Anxiety can also cause changes in the rate and pattern of your breathing.

What effect does anxiety have on shortness of breath?

Your biological fight-or-flight reaction can be triggered by acute stress or anxiety. In response to a perceived threat, your sympathetic nervous system initiates a cascade of physiological responses. When you try to breathe, your heart may accelerate, your breathing may become rapid and shallow, and your voice chords may tighten. Because the muscles in your chest take over much of the job of breathing, your breathing becomes faster and shallower. When you're relaxed, you breathe primarily via your diaphragm, allowing you to take deeper, more complete breaths.

Is shortness of breath one of COVID-19's earliest symptoms?

Shortness of breath caused by COVID-19 usually appears a few days after infection. Some people, however, may not have this symptom at all. It usually appears between days 4 and 10 of the disease's course. It usually occurs after milder symptoms, such as:

body pains
exhaustion
low-grade fever

The beginning of shortness of breath, accompanied with abrupt reductions in oxygen saturation after very little exercise, may help clinicians distinguish COVID-19 from other prevalent disorders, according to doctors' observations while working in a clinic.

Why does COVID-19 make it difficult to breathe?

In healthy lungs, oxygen passes through the alveoli and into neighbouring capillaries, which are microscopic blood vessels. The oxygen is then delivered to the remainder of your body. The immunological reaction to COVID-19, on the other hand, inhibits normal oxygen transmission. White blood cells produce inflammatory substances known as chemokines or cytokines, which mobilise more immune cells to attack SARS-CoV-2-infected cells.

he result of your immune system's continued battle with the virus is pus, which is made up of excess fluid and dead cells (debris) in your lungs.

Coughing, fever, and shortness of breath are common respiratory symptoms as a result of this.

If you have COVID-19, you may be at a higher risk of developing respiratory problems if you:

smoking
age 65 or older
diabetes
COPD
cardiovascular illness
have a weakened immune system

Also read Does obesity increase the risk of COVID-19

What to Be Aware Of

Shortness of breath increases the likelihood of severe and critical illness outcomes with COVID-19, according to a review of 13 studies published in the Journal of Infection. While home monitoring for minor occurrences of breathlessness is generally recommended, the safest course of action is to call your primary care physician if you're unclear what to do. Shortness of breath that persists or worsens can lead to hypoxia, a life-threatening condition. When you are unable to breathe properly, your oxygen saturation levels can fall below 90%. Your brain may be deprived of oxygen as a result of this. Confusion, drowsiness, and other mental disturbances result when this happens.If oxygen levels drop to roughly 80% or lower in extreme situations, important organs are more likely to be damaged. Shortness of breath that persists is a sign of pneumonia, which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This is a type of lung failure that progresses as fluid fills the air sacs in your lungs. Breathing becomes more difficult with ARDS because the rigid, fluid-filled lungs have a harder difficulty expanding and contracting. In some circumstances, mechanical ventilation is required to assist with breathing.

Last but not least

Shortness of breath can be caused by a variety of medical issues. It's unlikely to be a symptom of COVID-19 on its own. When shortness of breath is accompanied by a fever, cough, or body aches, it's more likely to be a sign of COVID-19.Shortness of breath usually appears 4 to 10 days after you get the new coronavirus. Shortness of breath can be modest and only last for a short time. However, it can cause pneumonia, ARDS, and multi-organ dysfunction or failure in some situations. These problems have the potential to be life-threatening. Shortness of breath should be regarded carefully at all times. If you have any concerns, contact your doctor straight away.

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