Post-COVID Respiratory Treatment

What is COVID-19?

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by the newly discovered virus: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This highly contagious virus spreads quickly throughout the world and has affected millions of people.

COVID-19 symptoms vary in type and severity. Though the virus primarily affects the lungs, doctors are learning that it may also damage other organ systems, such as the kidneys, heart, brain, or skin.

After recovering from a COVID-19 infection, many people may continue to experience symptoms that affect their daily life. People with post-COVID symptoms may refer to themselves as COVID-19 long-haulers. 

The ongoing symptoms following a COVID-19 infection are also known as post-COVID conditions, long COVID, and chronic COVID. A common chronic COVID-19 symptom is respiratory (breathing) difficulties.

Who needs post-COVID respiratory treatment?

Anyone who continues to feel sick in the weeks or months following a COVID-19 infection can benefit from post-COVID respiratory treatment at Respacare.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 long haulers include:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Body aches
• Difficulty focusing or concentrating
• Inability to exercise or return to pre-COVID activities
• Problems sleeping
• Headaches
• Mood changes
• Rash

Anyone infected with COVID-19 may develop chronic symptoms, including asymptomatic people and people with mild symptoms. If you had a COVID-19 infection and continue to have breathing problems, schedule a consultation at Respacare.

What happens during post-COVID respiratory treatment?

Researchers and doctors are still learning about COVID-19 and the long-term effects of the disease on the respiratory system. Currently, post-COVID respiratory treatment at Respacare includes testing and monitoring. 

The specifics of your treatment depend on whether you were hospitalized or not.

Post-hospitalization with COVID-19 respiratory treatment

Many hospitalized patients with COVID-19 had imaging scans showing inflammation in their lungs. Respacare provides monitoring and testing of lung health and function after hospitalization with COVID-19.

It’s vital that any patient who was hospitalized with COVID-19 get care from pulmonary experts like those at Respacare. Testing and monitoring help determine the type of treatment that can help improve your breathing, such as inhaler therapy.

Not hospitalized with COVID-19 respiratory treatment

Patients who weren’t hospitalized during their COVID-19 infection but now have long-hauler COVID-19 symptoms like shortness of breath benefit from respiratory testing and monitoring at Respacare.

The pulmonary experts at Respacare can determine if you have problems with lung function by checking your blood oxygen levels, looking for signs of lung inflammation, and performing a pulmonary function test to check for residual lung damage. Then, they develop a treatment plan to help you manage your symptoms.

When COVID-19 continues to affect your lung health long after your recovery, you need post-COVID respiratory treatment at Respacare. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.