What To Know About Covid-19 And Asthma?

Covid-19 and asthma: what do you need to know since both look common in some symptoms and both affect the respiratory tract of an individual. Asthma is an acute lung condition that affects the airways making it narrow that causes swelling and eventually loss of breath. Covid-19 is moderately different. It causes inflammation inside the lung rather than bronchial inflammation as prevailed in asthma. Yet it is stated that Covid-19 can trigger asthma.

What Is The Difference Between Covid-19 And Asthma?

Covid -19, Coronavirus is a highly infectious disease that causes sickness from normal cold to major severe conditions like the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-COV-2).

Common symptoms of covid are;

• Fever
• Cough
• Chills
• Difficulty in breathing
• Fatigue and weakness
• Diarrhea or nausea
• Loss of taste and smell
• Running nose and many other common flu symptoms.

Whereas Asthma is a chronic disease in which your airways become narrow, inflamed, and swell. The building of more mucus which leads to wheezing and difficulty in breathing is the next and most severe phase.

Common symptoms of asthma are;

• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Rapid breathing
• Chest tightness

Covid Vs Asthma Cough

Cough is a common symptom of covid and asthma. People with asthma generally develop wheezing with the cough which causes tightness in the chest. These symptoms are less visible in the covid cough as it is often a dry cough accompanied by shortness of breath. Although covid-19 and asthma share many common symptoms, one has to be very vigilant in detecting the difference between the two, so proper medication is initiated to avoid the rise in the severity of the disease.

Can Asthma Increase The Risk Of Covid-19?

Covid-19 has increased the fear among asthma patients that their respiratory ailments can surge the risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. However, studies show that asthma does not bear an eminent risk of contracting the coronavirus infection. In the recent survey, it is noted that the data of the covid-19 patients hospitalized with asthma was not more as compared to the covid-19 patient with no asthma. There is no confirmation that people with asthma are more endangered by this deadly virus.

Are Asthma Patients More Susceptible To Covid 19?

Covid-19 is a disease that primarily affects the respiratory organs of your body. However, it is not stated that asthma is the highest risk factor to acquire coronavirus. But people suffering from asthma should be more cautious. People suffering from asthma are more prone to developing severe symptoms if affected with covid. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), covid virus in asthma can lead to pneumonia if proper care and precautions are not attended to correctly. As advised by the doctors the asthma patients should continue with their medicines and instructions that will help as a defensive shield against the covid-19.

Asthma & Covid-19 Vaccine

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), people suffering from asthma can undergo the covid-19 vaccine as long as they are not allergic to any component of the medicines being injected. Asthma patients if inhaling any steroids before can also get their vaccine to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Should Asthma Patients Reduce Interacting With Other People In This Pandemic?

People with asthma should be well aware that coronavirus affects respiratory organs which even asthma does so it is better not to interact with people too often to lessen the chances of getting affected by the virus. Supplemental care and measures should be followed to lessen the risks. Asthma patients should avoid meeting people who are sick showing symptoms like cough, cold, or fever. Proper physical distance should be maintained with people in public and social meetings.

Wearing A Face Mask Increases The Risk Of Asthma Patients?

Wearing face masks is the most needed precaution to protect ourselves from covid. Many doubts were raised about wearing masks for asthma patients. But as stated by the health experts the masks prove favorable for people suffering from asthma. Proper quality and comfortable masks would not affect your oxygen saturation. It will not decrease the SpO2 levels, instead would keep you protected from many asthma triggers like pollens, weather change, and allergens.

Important Steps To Follow To Reduce The Risk Of Covid-19 In Asthma Patients

People suffering from asthma should safeguard themselves to avoid the severity of respiratory diseases. The precautions are;

• Wear proper masks
• Proper cleaning and disinfecting of the surfaces
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Avoid crowded places
• Continue with proper asthma medications
• Reduce stress and anxiety that could trigger asthma
• Proper use of maintenance medicines and inhalers

Being more vigilant and avoiding prevalent asthma triggers we can very well handle asthma and covid-19 without damaging our framework.