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You Probably Don’t Have COVID, But Here Are the Signs to Watch For

If you have even a little hypochondria (and who doesn’t), you are probably terrified of catching the coronavirus every time you leave the house. You watched for all of the COVID signs. It is natural and smart. Think about it: No one ever got the coronavirus who seriously thought they would. If they knew they were going to get it, they wouldn’t have gone to church, or the party, or out to dinner. They would have stayed home and ordered out that evening.

Once diagnosed, they probably didn’t believe it. They thought it was a mistake or hoax. To this day, many won’t believe COVID is real until just before they are hooked up to a ventilator. It is a shocking reality that boggles the mind. Not so long ago, prominent politicians were suggesting that the massive numbers reported for coronavirus deaths were fake news. Those family members left devastated by sudden loss know the truth.

You have very good reason to be a little paranoid about your health. It is smart to want to protect yourself and your family. To avoid the mess we faced at the beginning of COVID, it makes sense to keep certain COVID supplies long after the pandemic has passed. You also want to be extra careful now. You don’t want to be the last one to get COVID before everyone is vaccinated. So while you probably don’t have the COVID virus right now, here are the signs to monitor:

Difficulty Breathing

COVID attacks the lungs. If the virus has hospitalized you, you might need to seek out a healthy lungs program that can help with the following:

  • Respiratory issues: airway clearance, breathing mechanics, and restoring full lung capacity
  • Post-hospitalization issues from prolonged immobility
  • Generalized weakness and impaired mobility
  • Exacerbation of other medical co-morbidities
  • New problems related to pain, joint stiffness, and other musculoskeletal issues

Obviously, COVID is not the only thing that can attack the lungs. Pneumonia can also be quite deadly if left untreated. Even with treatment, there is no guarantee of recovery. Smoking is a direct assault on the lungs. If you smoke and also get COVID-19, you will have a more difficult path to recovery. Finding yourself short of breath does not mean you have the coronavirus. But if you find that breathing is a lot harder than it used to be without any good reason for the change, talk to your doctor right away.

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It Stinks

COVID really stinks. But that isn’t what I mean. According to Dr. Fauci, loss of smell and taste are the first signs of COVID. It is really just one sign since smell and taste are so closely related. If something smells off, it probably also tastes off. Since odor is particulate, smell is like taste with your nose as opposed to the tongue. It gives us the first indication of whether or not something is safe to eat.

When you get ready to tuck into one of your favorite foods but find, to your chagrin, that it is not the treat you expected, it could be the sign of a serious problem. When it comes to detecting COVID, losing our sense of smell is one of the early warning signs. Don’t take that warning lightly.

A Flu That Isn’t the Flu

Have you had your flu shot yet? COVID is a great excuse to get one. You want your flu shot to eliminate the flu as the cause if you start having flu symptoms. Once you get your flu shot, you can be pretty confident that the flu is not causing flu symptoms. It is another warning that something is wrong. If you get the flu that is not the flu, you will need to be checked for COVID signs.

You probably don’t have COVID. The vast majority of people never will. Even those with co-morbidities have a better chance of not getting it than getting it. That said, It is a real threat from which far too many people get sick and die. Be doubly sure that you and the ones you love are not among them by being aware of lung capacity, your sense of smell, and flu symptoms after you have already been vaccinated for the flu. If you don’t feel well, stay home. Don’t make yourself worse or infect someone else.

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