How to recover from COVID-19 at home?

 Everyone clearly remembers how one night in March 2020, our lives changed completely. The whole world slowly woke up to worldwide shutdowns because of a coronavirus outbreak. It’s been two years of learning how to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak while waiting for an end to the pandemic.

We never expected our lives to be affected to this extent because of COVID-19. The pandemic has changed the social, mental and physical landscape of the world.

Today, as we look around we have only just begun with the third wave of illness that might lead to another sweep of lockdowns in the nation.

We have come a long way from the initial few months of the pandemic. We know that mild cases can be managed at home, under the supervision of a physician.

Let us take a look at what you can do in order to recover from COVID-19 at home and make the recovery process, a seamless one.

Who can recover from COVID-19 at home?

Most people with no or mild symptoms like fever, coughing, body pain, weakness and normal oxygen saturation can recover from COVID-19 by being isolated at home without the requirement of hospitalization.

In case of serious symptoms like shortness of breath, oxygen saturation less than 94%, the patient should be taken to the hospital immediately.

Let us take a look at some guidelines to recover from the illness at home.

Did you know?

In a clinical trial with over 3000 patients, it was found that remote patient monitoring is an effective strategy for managing COVID-19 at home.

Follow these steps to prevent COVID-19 infection.

Guidelines to recover from COVID-19 at home

Here are some general guidelines to recover from COVID-19 at home while self-isolating.

1. Connect with the doctor: When the symptoms start, make sure you contact your doctor immediately, start with the medications and complete the medicine course.
2. Blood tests: Do blood tests as prescribed by your doctor.
3. Isolate yourself: Keep yourself isolated in a well-ventilated room.
4. Eat-in separate utensils: And keep your used utensils away from the other family members.
5. Use a triple layer mask if around family members. Discard it in a paper bag after 72 hours, cutting it into pieces.
6. Always follow hand hygiene to avoid spreading infection.
7. Avoid sharing personal items: Do not share beddings, utensils, towels, and any other items with anyone in the house.
8. Disinfect surfaces: Like bedside table and other furniture. It also includes disinfecting the toilet at least once daily and the bathroom after use.
9. Measure SPO2 and temperature: Measure your SPO2 level 2–3 times a day and if it drops below 94% discuss it with your doctor for hospitalization. Measure temperature as required.
10. Other comorbidities: like diabetes, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, needs close observation in order to ensure that people with comorbidities don’t face any complications.

If you have diabetes and have caught the COVID-19 virus, you must be stressed and thinking about all the rumours. I understand what you are feeling and so I will suggest you read our blog, “Coronavirus and diabetes“ to clear your doubts.

Also, if you know someone who could find these guidelines useful, then do share it with them. If you or your family member have been tested positive for the COVID-19 virus then enrol in Zyla’s COVID-19 care plan for personalised care and treatment.

Home treatments to recover from COVID-19 at home?

While following the above guidelines to keep everyone around you safe, you must also follow the below COVID-19 care tips to have a smooth recovery:

Always follow hand hygiene to avoid spreading infection.

1. Eat right to win this fight!

Nutrition plays a very important part in recovering from infection. With the right diet, you can boost your immunity and ensure a smooth recovery from the illness.

• Eat healthy home-cooked food to ensure you have an adequate intake of nutrients.
• Have small and frequent meals throughout the day.
• Have soft food in main meals like rice dal, khichdi, daliya, vegetable oats or curd rice etc.
• Have 2–3 vitamin C rich fruits in mid meals like apple, papaya, guava, mosambi, orange, kiwi, grapes etc.
• Have protein-rich mid meals like dal soup, raw paneer, sattu sharbat, paneer ka pani, kale chane ka pani, boiled egg whites or boiled moong/ chana.
• Limit excess of salt, oily, processed and preserved food.

2. Keep your hydration level up!

In any viral illness — it is extremely important to stay well hydrated. Adequate fluid intake will detoxify your body and restore water loss due to dehydration.

• Water: Keep yourself hydrated with 3 litres of warm water every day, it will help to lower the body temperature and also prevent dehydration.
• Include other fluids: Like lemon water, coconut water, bael sharbat, sattu water, dal soup to boost immunity and fulfill nutritional requirements.
• Kadha: Have immunity booster drinks like herbal tea or kadha. To prepare kadha, boil 5–6 basil (tulsi) leaves, add a pinch of cinnamon (dalchini) and turmeric (haldi) powder, 1-inch ginger (adrak) and licorice (mulethi), and a pinch of black pepper (kali mirch) powder in a cup of water and drink at least 2–3 times a day. They have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
• Golden milk: Add a pinch of turmeric (haldi) powder in a glass of milk and drink once or twice a day recover from COVID-19 at home.

3. Steam inhalation

• Ajwain inhalation: Boil 1 tbsp of ajwain seeds in water and do steam inhalation 2–3 times a day. This will help you get rid of congestion and help in proper airflow through the lungs.
• Steam nebulizer: You can also take steam with the nebulizer as given by the doctor.

4. Gargle

• Saline gargle: Gargle with warm saline water at least 2 times a day to relieve sore throat and cough.
• Herbal gargle: Add 1 tsp cinnamon (dalchini) powder and a pinch of black pepper (kali mirch) powder in a glass of warm water, strain the water and gargle with it, do this twice daily for a week or more.

5. Practice planned breathing!

• Breathing exercises: Perform breathing exercises by taking slow deep breaths through your nose and breathing out through the mouth. Repeat this exercise at least twice a day to prevent COVID-19 lung damage.
• Tackle shortness of breath: Lie in a prone position that is on the belly and try to breathe deep if you are experiencing breathing difficulties.

6. Move but don’t exert!

• If you are able to walk, then start walking for 15 minutes twice daily in your room.
• Other exercises could include light stretching or yoga. Gradually improve stamina with small and easy exercises for 30 minutes per day.
• Avoid doing any weight-bearing exercises for a while.

When to seek emergency medical attention

While you recover from COVID-19 at home, immediate medical attention should be sought if serious signs and symptoms develop. These symptoms include:

1. Difficulty in breathing
2. Oxygen saturation Spo2 < 94%
3. Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
4. Pale, grey or blue skin, lip or nail color

Contact your doctor if you experience these symptoms and seek advise for hospitalisation.

For customized care from experts, download the Zyla app today and enrol in our COVID-19 care plan.

Now that you know who can recover at home, it is important that you follow above-mentioned guidelines and home remedies. This way, you can prevent the spread of coronavirus and have a speedy recovery for yourself.

Let’s jump on to another essential aspect of contracting COVID-19 virus and that is, guidelines for people who are taking care of a COVID-19 patient.

Guidelines for caregivers

1. Caregivers must wear mask around the patient and must not touch it during use. It must be disposed off on a regular basis.
2. The number of caregivers must be limited while treating COVID-19 at home.
3. Help the patient follow the doctor’s instructions and other COVID-19 care tips.
4. Make sure that the patient drinks a lot of fluid and gets enough rest.
5. If the patient has breathing issues or chest pain, immediately contact doctor.
6. Clean and disinfect the things like table, doorknob, utensils etc.
7. Other family members are supposed to be quarantined in the house but must reside in different rooms and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from the sick person.
8. Visitors should not be allowed to meet the patient until he/ she recovers.

If you’re stuck at home due to COVID-19 spread and not able to take care of yourself, then here are some ways which you can try, read our blog- 9 Ways to stay healthy at home during coronavirus pandemic.

Must know do’s and don’ts to recover from COVID-19 at home

Don’ts

• Don’t panic: Stay calm and relaxed when you test positive.
• Don’t go out or use public transport.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, mouth or face without washing your hand.
• Don’t share utensils, beddings, or water with any of the family members.
• Don’t allow visitors at home or don’t visit someone else’s home.

Do’s

• Stay isolated till further instruction.
• Cover your mouth and sneeze into your elbow or use a handkerchief/tissue.
• Practice good hand hygiene: wash your hands for at least 30 seconds.
• Treating COVID-19 at home requires you to monitor your symptoms daily and update your doctor regularly.
• Protect your immune system by consuming a balanced diet and getting enough sleep.
• Dispose of your masks properly in order to avoid infecting others.
• Consult your doctor before ending your isolation period and ask for any post covid recovery tests.

Hopefully, all of the above information is useful and helps you or a family member to recover from COVID-19 at home.

Remember to self-isolate and follow sanitary precautions in order to prevent the spread of infection. With a healthy diet, hydration, breathing exercises and plenty of rest, all under your doctor’s supervision — you should be able to recover quickly and get back to normal life.

It’s important to keep in mind that while there is an overwhelming amount of information available about COVID-19, always consult your healthcare provider, and reach out to them for any concerns or questions you might have.

It is also advisable to get yourself vaccinated so that you have stronger immunity and defeat COVID-19 easily. For more information, read our blog- The effectiveness of coronavirus vaccine.

Keep COVID-19 precautions to stay safe.

If you have been tested positive for COVID-19 and are looking for treatment, then Zyla can help you. Visit our website- Zyla.in and enrol in our COVID-19 care plan. Or if you’re dealing with post-COVID 19 symptoms, then you can enroll in post COVID healthy recovery plan.

Zyla has a team of doctors, nutritionists, physiotherapists and psychologists who can help you have a speedy recovery. Visit our website- Zyla.in or download the Zyla app now.

Stay strong! Stay healthy!
Source: https://blog.zyla.in/how-to-recover-from-covid-19-at-home-zyla-health-fbc3556f5bbd.