Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. Always try to speak to, or see a health care provider as needed. People with more serious, or acute symptoms, and/or complex health care conditions, should seek emergency medical attention as needed.
Symptoms:
The Top 5 COVID-19 Symptoms:
- High fever/temperature: Adults – 37°C +/- 0.6°C; 98.6°F; +/-1°F; Fever: 37.6°C (99.7°F)
- Cough – Dry cough, or could have a “productive” cough, with phlegm.
- Respiratory symptoms: Shortness of breath; difficulty breathing, decreased airways function.
- Pneumonia in lungs
- Fatigue/malaise (feel very tired and unwell)
COVID-19 Symptom Tracker: http://www.bccdc.ca/resource-gallery/Documents/Guidelines%20and%20Forms/Guidelines%20and%20Manuals/Epid/CD%20Manual/Chapter%201%20-%20CDC/ADM_Form_Case.pdf
Vital Signs:
Measurements of the body's most basic functions.
- Body temperature
- Pulse rate
- Respiration rate (rate of breathing and oxygen in the body)
- Blood pressure
- Blood sugar: Not considered one of the vitals, per se, but lows and highs of blood sugar can affect how we're feeling.
- Thermometer: Track your temperature to determine if you have a fever, and how high it gets.
- Blood pressure & heart rate machine: Track BP and heart rate.
- Measure respiration and oxygen: Most of us don't have anything to do this at home, but this is connected to symptoms of pneumonia as we experience a more difficult time breathing.
- Blood sugar monitor: We often don't properly eat while sick, so this can impact our b.s. levels, leaving us feeling poorly. If you have diabetes, or are concerned about your b.s. levels, you can use this to monitor your levels.
We want to do this as this helps us determine if our functioning is getting worse, or better over time. This can help us determine if we need to seek urgent, or emergency medical attention.
Vital Signs Tracker Charts: Find one that suits your needs here.
Download a tracker here: https://www.bestmedicalforms.com/vital-signs-flow-sheet.html
Vital Signs Chart For All Ages
Link: https://prohealthsys.com/central/assessment/physical-assessment/vital-signs/vital_signs_table/
Vital Signs Apps: There may be some apps available to monitor and track vitals. Ensure you are aware of what the privacy and security issues are prior to use.
Dr. John Campbell: Clinical features of Infection: Taking and monitoring vital signs
COVID-19 Coronavirus: Home Care for Patients with Mild Symptoms (WHO Guidance) by Dr. Alton. Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy.
Emergency and Survival Medicine:
Emergency First Aid Education, Information, and Resources: Articles; Books; Podcast; Newsletter
First Aid Kit for COVID-19/Other Health Issues
It’s a good idea to be proactive and here are a number of items you can have in your COVID-19 first aid kit that could come in handy if you get sick.
Thermometer: You want to monitor temperature to see if you/your loved ones have developed a fever. Disinfect this when used, especially if you are sharing this amongst family members. Probably best to have one for each person.
Over-the-counter (OTC) remedies: Managing fever, cold/flu symptoms, such as cold and sinus medications.
Cough syrup and logenzes: This might help to decrease inflammation in your respiratory system if you develop a cough that disrupts your sleep, or other activities, or just to soothe your throat. If your cough becomes severe, or if you have shortness of breath/labored breathing, get assessed by a medical professional ASAP. COVID-19 can progress to pneumonia, which is a serious disease.
Liquids: Ensure you drink a lot of water, herbal teas, and consider things that help replace lost electrolytes, depending on your symptoms. Suggestions: drink green, or other herbal teas, drink lemon, ginger, honey and other things that increase antioxidants, and soothe the body.
Palatable foods: When most of us are sick we don’t have much appetite, but we do need to ensure we/our loved get some food into us. Soups; bland and less spicy foods; Vitamin-C rich foods; increased antioxidant-rich and probiotic foods, and other products keep the “machine” going, and improve your immune system to help you bounce back quicker. You also want to ensure you keep your blood sugar levels reasonably managed.
Heating pad/heat bags: Chills and muscle aches can occur with COVID-19, and other health issues.
Menthol rubs and liquids: These often help our respiratory system and muscles when we’re feeling congestion and aches. The liquid form can be used in a humidifier.
Purify the air of your home environment: You may want to get an air purifier, humidifiers or certain plants that improve air quality.
Cleanse your respiratory system: Using a humidifier, a hot shower, steam, or even boiling water and using things like Vicks menthol, or cleansing and anti-septic essential oils in the water can help cleanse.
Latex gloves: When/if you have to do self-care, such as cleansing infected areas (wounds, eye infections) you may want to use gloves, and/or disinfectant wipes. Re-infection is a risk.
Sauna/Steam: If you are lucky enough to have a sauna in your home (community saunas, steam rooms, or hot tubs aren’t recommended right now), consider increasing your sauna use. This leads to many different types of benefits, including cleansing your respiratory system. See here for more information about the health benefits of sauna: https://mentalhealthbc.blogspot.com/2020/01/therapeutic-benefits-sauna-and-steam.html.
Special consideration for those with respiratory ailments, such as asthma: Receive medical advice as to whether you should use a corticosteroid puffer/medication. The research on patients with COVID-49 seems to indicate this may not be medically advisable.
Baking soda & turmeric: Rash can be a symptom some may experience. Simple compresses of baking soda and water, or turmeric and water can decrease discomfort and pain. Seeking medical attention is advised if you're experiencing serious pain.
Essential oils: Certain oils and scents have anti-septic, cleansing qualities. These include birch, eucalyptus, tea tree, citrus, oregano, peppermint. These should be used with caution, as there really isn’t enough research to say they are evidence-based, but many cultures have used herbal remedies for centuries so they are worth considering.
It’s a good idea to be proactive and here are a number of items you can have in your COVID-19 first aid kit that could come in handy if you get sick.
Thermometer: You want to monitor temperature to see if you/your loved ones have developed a fever. Disinfect this when used, especially if you are sharing this amongst family members. Probably best to have one for each person.
Over-the-counter (OTC) remedies: Managing fever, cold/flu symptoms, such as cold and sinus medications.
Cough syrup and logenzes: This might help to decrease inflammation in your respiratory system if you develop a cough that disrupts your sleep, or other activities, or just to soothe your throat. If your cough becomes severe, or if you have shortness of breath/labored breathing, get assessed by a medical professional ASAP. COVID-19 can progress to pneumonia, which is a serious disease.
Liquids: Ensure you drink a lot of water, herbal teas, and consider things that help replace lost electrolytes, depending on your symptoms. Suggestions: drink green, or other herbal teas, drink lemon, ginger, honey and other things that increase antioxidants, and soothe the body.
Palatable foods: When most of us are sick we don’t have much appetite, but we do need to ensure we/our loved get some food into us. Soups; bland and less spicy foods; Vitamin-C rich foods; increased antioxidant-rich and probiotic foods, and other products keep the “machine” going, and improve your immune system to help you bounce back quicker. You also want to ensure you keep your blood sugar levels reasonably managed.
Heating pad/heat bags: Chills and muscle aches can occur with COVID-19, and other health issues.
Menthol rubs and liquids: These often help our respiratory system and muscles when we’re feeling congestion and aches. The liquid form can be used in a humidifier.
Purify the air of your home environment: You may want to get an air purifier, humidifiers or certain plants that improve air quality.
Cleanse your respiratory system: Using a humidifier, a hot shower, steam, or even boiling water and using things like Vicks menthol, or cleansing and anti-septic essential oils in the water can help cleanse.
Latex gloves: When/if you have to do self-care, such as cleansing infected areas (wounds, eye infections) you may want to use gloves, and/or disinfectant wipes. Re-infection is a risk.
Sauna/Steam: If you are lucky enough to have a sauna in your home (community saunas, steam rooms, or hot tubs aren’t recommended right now), consider increasing your sauna use. This leads to many different types of benefits, including cleansing your respiratory system. See here for more information about the health benefits of sauna: https://mentalhealthbc.blogspot.com/2020/01/therapeutic-benefits-sauna-and-steam.html.
Special consideration for those with respiratory ailments, such as asthma: Receive medical advice as to whether you should use a corticosteroid puffer/medication. The research on patients with COVID-49 seems to indicate this may not be medically advisable.
Baking soda & turmeric: Rash can be a symptom some may experience. Simple compresses of baking soda and water, or turmeric and water can decrease discomfort and pain. Seeking medical attention is advised if you're experiencing serious pain.
Essential oils: Certain oils and scents have anti-septic, cleansing qualities. These include birch, eucalyptus, tea tree, citrus, oregano, peppermint. These should be used with caution, as there really isn’t enough research to say they are evidence-based, but many cultures have used herbal remedies for centuries so they are worth considering.
Disinfectants: As noted above, you want to make sure you disinfect surfaces with bleach. Bleach wipes are handing to have in your kit.
Masks: Surgical, or N95 masks for those who have COVID-19/other cold/flu symptoms can help decrease respiratory spread. Those who are providing care to loved ones with the virus should consider wearing a mask while providing personal care.
Traditional medicine and treatments: Many cultures have their own ways of approaching disease and symptom management. Considering consulting with a traditional health care person, such as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), or Ayurvedic health practitioner if this is something you have found helpful, or is part of your culture.
Preventative Suggestions for Improving Your Immune Function:
Note: None of these things are going to prevent you from contracting COVID-19. There is also no specific research that reports these will "cure" you from this virus. However, improving immune system functioning is helpful for preventative, and restorative measures if we become sick.
- Sleep: Ensure you receive as much sleep as possible. For adults the recommendation is between 7-9 hours.
- Vitamin D: Daily, or even weekly use increases immunity.
- Vitamin C: Increasing vitamin C in our diet, through fruits and drinks can be helpful for our immune system functioning.
- Zinc: Lozenges help with coughs, and zinc supplments may help with improving immune system function.
- Teas: Green tea, or others (I like 'Immune' from Tetley), can boost our anti-oxidant intake and soothe symptoms, such as sore throat. I like to add some honey, which may have additional anti-bacterial qualities.
- Selenium: See article here for benefits, risks/toxicity, and dietary sources.
Note #2: Before starting the use of additional supplements, consider speaking to a medical professional in case there are any contra-indications for you, based on existing health conditions, or drug interactions.
Nathan Crane: Enhance Your Immune System to Fight Viruses and Disease with Prebiotics and Probiotic: Provides a simple overview of the immune system, pre- and probiotics and foods that help improve immune system function.
Find out more about Prevention and How to Manage if you have COVID-19
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