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As is well known, those who become ill with covid-19 are affected in very different ways. Symptoms, duration of illness, and severity differ.
A minority of those who get sick need hospital care. The rest can be recovered at home, and of course there are ways to ease symptoms in the meantime.
In many respects, the same advice applies as for the flu, for example. However, with covid-19, breathing difficulties are more common.
Emil Brännmark is a specialist in general medicine.
– Breathing problems are one of the most anxious things you can suffer from. Getting so many to understand is one of the hardest things about covid, he says.
READ MORE: Three people say: this was having covid-19
Lie face down
Standing and moving is a good idea, explains Emil Brännmark, because the lungs are better oxygenated then.
– You shouldn’t make an effort to come out with an ongoing covid infection, but it’s good to be awake for part of the day. Partly because of the lungs, but also because it reduces the risk of blood clots, which increases when you have COVID-19, he says.
Bulging up pillows to ease a cough is a well-known trick. Emil Brännmark suggests lying on your stomach, something that is part of the hospital treatment of patients with covid.
– It is also a way to improve ventilation, he says.
READ MORE: This is how crown patients are intensively cared for at Sahlgrenska
If the problems get worse, of course, you should contact the health service, for example, through 1177, or call 112 if it is an emergency.
One symptom of Covid-19 is stomach problems, such as diarrhea. According to Emil Brännmark, medications for diarrhea are not recommended in covid-19. However, it is important to ensure that you do not become dehydrated.
– You should drink and eat to a certain extent. Maybe fluid replacement if you lose a lot of fluid, he says.
READ MORE: Symptoms that are a warning about severe covid-19
“There is no solid evidence for that.”
Drinking a lot is general advice when it comes to infectious diseases with fever. Sweating too much can lead to dehydration with, for example, dizziness and headaches as a result.
Drinking something hot and perhaps eating ice cream is also often mentioned as a way to counteract a sore throat.
Does it help or does it feel more good?
– Above all, it is pleasant, but it can be very important when you feel bad, says Emil Brännmark.
Acetaminophen is generally a good fever medicine and something that most people can use.
Is it true that you “push the fever in front of you” by using antipyretics?
– There is no hard evidence of that. The body has an immune system that works even if you have acetaminophen in your body, says Emil Brännmark.
Finally, remember the importance of mental well-being as well, especially for those whose illness is prolonged.
– It is important to keep in touch with your loved ones. Today there are many ways even if you cannot physically comply.
READ MORE: Finland rations paracetamol for a new wave
Facts: 1177 on how to alleviate covid-19 yourself
- Raise the head of the bed
- Rest but avoid sitting still for long
- You will usually feel better if you take acetaminophen when you have a high fever.
- Avoid smoky environments and smoking
- Hot drink that can be relaxing if you have a sore throat. Ice cream, yogurt, and pain relievers can also feel good.
When and where should I seek care?
Contact a healthcare facility or emergency room immediately if you have one or more of the following complaints:
- Suddenly it gets a lot worse.
- You also have trouble breathing when you rest.
- If it is closed at the health center or clinic on call, seek care from an emergency department.
Source: 1177
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