Our Services / Covid-19

What is Covid-19?

Covid-19 is an illness that causes mild to severe respiratory symptoms from a virus called SARS-CoV-2. For some, it can even be deadly. While there are now multiple vaccines that significantly reduce your risk of a severe infection, you should still take steps to avoid spreading or catching the disease. 

The virus that causes Covid-19 spreads via water droplets in the air. You can also catch the illness if the virus is present on your hands and you proceed to touch your face. From there, the virus travels into your lungs and airways, where it multiplies before possibly spreading to other tissues. 

To avoid getting the illness or spreading it to others, wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, and wear a mask when you’re near others. 

What are the symptoms of Covid-19?

For some people, Covid-19 causes mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for everyone. While symptoms can range from mild to moderate and not everyone will experience the same thing, common symptoms of Covid-19 include:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Congestion
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste
• Loss of smell
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Usually, any symptoms you get from Covid-19 appear 2-14 days after your initial exposure. You may not know when you were exposed, but you should get a Covid-19 test if you have symptoms or were around someone with the infection. 

How is Covid-19 treated?

Arizona Chest & Sleep Medicine provides care for Covid-19 when home care cannot effectively manage your symptoms. You can manage the disease at home by staying hydrated, using a humidifier to soothe your airways, and taking over-the-counter medications. 

If your condition worsens despite these strategies, more advanced care for Covid-19 includes:

• Supplemental oxygen
• Antiviral medications
• Monoclonal antibody infusion
• Mechanical ventilation

You should continue to wash your hands as often as possible as you recover from Covid-19 and follow the team’s advice closely. 

If you’d like to learn more about Covid-19 and how to manage the infection, call Arizona Chest & Sleep Medicine or book an appointment online today.