Top 10 Tips: Bronchitis During the Coronavirus Emergency Care
Coronavirus is not the only respiratory illness that is a threat out there, as bronchitis is yet another such illness to worry about. As per discussions on the same over at frontlineer.com, while in most cases people with bronchitis can recover at home from the illness, there are times when they need to make a visit to the ER as soon as possible to be attended to, with the situation made more serious with the threat posed by COVID-19. This article, with the help of the folks over at frontlineer.com, will look to highlight the top 10 tips on how to proceed when dealing with bronchitis during the coronavirus crisis.
Know when to go to the ER
While, as mentioned above and discussed in detail over at frontlineer.com, most cases of bronchitis, particularly acute bronchitis, can be handled at home, it is important to note the situations that require emergency care. As per discussions on the same over at frontlineer.com, these include high fever or extreme changes in body temperature, a rapid heart rate, dizziness or confusion as well as difficulty breathing. All these symptoms should ensure that you seek emergency services as soon as possible.
Call 911, don’t take yourself to the ER
So as to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and therefore flatten the curve, experts, including those over at frontlineer.com, recommend that one calls 911 in advance rather than taking themselves to the hospital or the ER when experiencing a medical emergency. This will allow the medical personnel to make arrangements for your visit, and ensure that you are not exposed to the virus, as is covered in detail over at frontlineer.com.
The ER or hospital is safe
As is revealed in discussions also over at frontlineer.com, many people are skipping visits to the ER or the hospital for fear of being exposed to COVID-19. You need not worry however, as hospitals and ERs have put in place measures and protocols that are aimed at ensuring patients coming in for non-coronavirus conditions are not exposed to the virus. Therefore, if you are experiencing severe symptoms due to your bronchitis, you should not be afraid to seek medical services.
It could be COVID-19
Given that bronchitis and the coronavirus have overlapping symptoms, what you may think is a bout of bronchitis could actually be the coronavirus. This is particularly the case for those who have a recent history of travel to a country or area that has been hit badly by the pandemic or if you have recently come into contact with someone who late tested positive for COVID-19. As per the folks over at frontlineer.com, in such a situation, you should call your primary doctor to be given directions on the way forward.
When in doubt, call your doctor
If you are unsure if you should seek medical services or even call 911 for your symptoms as far as bronchitis is concerned, then the subject matter experts over at frontlineer.com recommend that you call your doctor for direction. By calling your primary physician, you will ensure that you get the appropriate advice on how to proceed, which will ensure that you avoid any bad outcomes as you will be able to get the medical attention which you require.
If possible, get treated through telemedicine
With hospitals and ERs overwhelmed due to the coronavirus pandemic as discussed over at frontlineer.com, if your bronchitis is serious enough to warrant treatment but not to serious to require emergency care, then you should see if you can seek treatment virtually through telemedicine. Many doctors are now offering their services through telemedicine platforms, and you can take advantage of this to get treated for your bronchitis, while keeping ERs and hospitals free for those who really need those facilities.
Don’t take bronchitis lightly
It should not, however, mean that you take your bronchitis lightly just because you don’t have the coronavirus. As discussed over at frontlineer.com, serious cases of bronchitis can be potentially life-threatening and therefore, if you are showing any of the serious symptoms mentioned earlier on, you should not take it lightly but you should make sure you seek emergency care by calling 911, or at the very least calling your doctor to be given direction on how to proceed.
Disclose your COVID-19 status
If you develop symptoms you suspect are indicative of bronchitis, and you feel like you need emergency care, and at the same time you have reason to suspect that you may have the coronavirus or have tested positive for the same, then you should make sure that you disclose this information when calling 911. As per the gurus over at frontlineer.com, this will allow the responders to make the appropriate arrangements ensuring that they protect themselves from the virus.
Be aware of your level of risk
Of course, as is covered in detail over at frontlineer.com, there are those that are more at risk of suffering serious complications due to bronchitis than others. These include smokers as well as those with a compromised immune system such as people with HIV/AIDS, cancer among others. If you fall into any of these categories and you begin to show signs of bronchitis, you should call 911 or call your primary care doctor for medical advice and attention.
Those with chronic bronchitis are at an increased risk of suffering severe complications due to COVID-19
As is discussed over at frontlineer.com, it is important to note that there are certain people who are at an increased risk of suffering serious complications if they have the coronavirus. These includes those with pre-existing lung conditions such as chronic bronchitis. If you therefore begin to develop signs showing you may have contracted the coronavirus, or you suspect you may have contracted as a result of your recent travel history or having coming into contact with someone who tested positive, you should take particular care and seek medical attention to prevent any bad outcome.
It is our hope that this article will be of great help, with there being more on this and other related topics to be found by visiting the ever reliable frontlineer.com.
