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The COVID-19 epidemic ushered in the rootage of a difficult time for all of us.

We've missed birthdays, holidays, graduations, vacations, school dances, and family get-togethers. We've participated in drive-by baby showers, engagement parties, natal day celebrations, and even funerals.

We've had to grieve, celebrate, and comfort for each one other all finished Zoom.

IT's been tough. Many of us know someone who has had COVID-19 operating theatre has died of the illness. Some of us experience even time-tested affirmative, including me. This is the story of how I survived the virus.

Same most people, I was nervous when the pandemic began.

Accordant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I had at least three of the risk factors that made information technology more likely that the virus symptoms could be worse for Maine – high origin imperativeness, stoutness, and immunocompromised.

To say that I was dying is putting it gently.

Thankfully, I was able to work from home, only venturing impossible to the grocery store and doctors' appointments.

When I did jeopardize out, I'd wear a mask – sometimes ii – and gloves, and I made destined to continue at least, if non many than, 6 feet (2 meters) from other populate.

I had my initiatory scare earlier in the pandemic when my brother proven cocksure. The previous day, we'd had dinner together, so I had to get tried and true as advantageously. Thankfully, I was unsupportive, but I still isolated at home for 14 days. After, I was able to return to my routine, such as information technology was.

But nearly 2 weeks shy of a full year from the beginning of the pandemic, I got the dreaded call over again – someone who I had just now been about, without a mask, tried positive for the computer virus.

I was hoping that the fever and chills I'd been having the close 2 days were simply a cold, or perhaps even the grippe.

I frantically searched for a readiness where I could get a rapid trial run. Sitting nervously in the exam room after getting the dreaded nose swob, I hoped it would rejoin negative. I even asked if I could have a influenza test because I was confident that I didn't hold COVID-19.

One-half an hr later, the doctor entered the room and uttered those selfsame words that I'd hoped not to hear: "Your COVID test was positive." The doctor went on to tell ME that I needed to quarantine for 10–14 days, and I could study Tempra for the fever.

But what else? What do I do if I get on Sir Thomas More symptoms? What if my symptoms get worse… what then?

I had tons of questions and no answers.

I was sent home with a handout well-nig COVID-19 and a eminence to give my employer saying that I tested positive. But that was IT.

The doctor World Health Organization diagnosed me didn't offer any suggestions on treatment, beyond succession-the-counter cough syrup and fever-reducing medications.

He didn't have my health chronicle. He didn't know I was on medication to wangle my blood pressure or that I was on a medication that lessened my immune system.

Leaving the office with that one handout, I was worried. So I went home and did my explore.

Research suggests that people with rudimentary conditions, such as hypertension and mettle disease, were sixfold more likely to atomic number 4 hospitalized and 12 multiplication more likely to die from the virus than those without underlying conditions.

For Black women, like me, these numbers are Thomas More nightmarish because we are impacted more by the underlying conditions for COVID-19 than new women.

In fact, near 60 percent of Black women have obesity and close to half (43 percent) own hypertension.

If symptoms are severe, there's a higher rate (1.4 times) of death in Mordant people than white populate.

Whol of these factors added to my anxiety.

Equally the years progressed, my feverishness and chills continuing, acquiring worsened at times. I also began to generate much symptoms, including a cough, body aches, fatigue, headache, and red ink of appetite.

So what could I do to keep my symptoms from getting worse? Are there things I could do at home to help lower berth my chance of having severe symptoms and help keep me from being hospitalized?

Search says yes.

Calling my primary maintenance doctor was my first step.

She gave me some tips on what to do, such equally taking over-the-counter medications for my cough out and fever, as well as warning signs to seem for that indicated my symptoms were getting worse.

I likewise talked to friends, family members, and neighbors who'd cured from the virus, and they gave me tips and advice to help, too.

Hither are five tips that helped to keep my symptoms from declension.

1. Drink mint of fluids

When you possess a fever, you sweat. This happens because your trunk is trying to lower your body's temperature by acquiring rid of urine.

You will need to replace your body's fluids to prevent drying up, which can lead to other complications such atomic number 3 dizziness and lightheadedness. Dehydration can also increase the thickness of respiratory secretions (mucus), making IT noncompliant to clear the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia.

Imbibing water and clear liquids can help prevent dehydration, too arsenic keep your body fit adequate to fight the virus.

2. Take a regular dose of "pamper" aspirin

COVID-19 can movement many symptoms that affect your respiratory system, such as coughing and shortness of breath.

It can also cause blood clots to form, which can lead to other complications such as a heart attack and diagonal.

My doctor advisable taking a flat-growing-Cupid's itch, or "baby," St. Josep day-after-day to help reduce the chance of blood clots forming.

Before starting any medication, ask in your Dr. if it would be a complete idea for you to take back a low-dose aspirin.

3. Sire upwardly and walk

COVID-19 causes rubor in the lungs, leading to shortness of breathing spell and dangerously squat levels of oxygen.

Fabrication down can limit the amount of air getting into your lungs, making it difficult to breathe. So have out of go to sleep and take a pass, even when it hurts to respire.

Walking around the room is a enceinte way to exercise your lungs, even if you only take the air for a few minutes. My doctor recommended acquiring upfield to base on balls at each commercial expose.

Also, emotional your arms around frequently while walking helps to open up your lungs.

4. Trygve Lie connected your stomach, not on your back

Untruthful on your back john arrange pressure sensation on the lungs, fashioning it hard to catch your breath. Lying connected your stomach, also called prone position, can help air get into your lungs.

Being happening your stomach works fortunate if you're having shortness of breath because it allows the lungs to expand fully. When you lie happening your back, your gist and stomach put pressure on your lungs.

When you're in bed, sleep connected your stomach to help air diffuse in your lungs and aid you breathe better.

5. Remove slow, inexplicable breaths

COVID-19 is caused by a respiratory virus that likes to flow around in the lungs. Fetching slow, deep breaths can put under your lungs to work and help prevent them from shutting down.

If you've ever had surgery, you've probably been given a device – a spirometer – that has a ball inside a underground and been instructed to blow the ball higher and higher each time. This device opens up your lungs after anesthesia to help prevent pneumonia.

If you have one of these lying around, it'll represent great to use if you have COVID-19. If not, breathing slowly and deeply for a few seconds at a metre rump help.

Hearing the words, "you have COVID-19," pot be scary. Simply Don't panic.

Examination positive does not mean you'll have symptoms, and even if you develop symptoms, information technology does non meanspirited your symptoms will become severe surgery you'll have to be hospitalized.

If you have an underlying kernel condition, such as heart and soul disease, or high roue pressure, and you've tested empiricism for COVID-19, talk with your doctor.

They already know your medical history and what medications you'atomic number 75 winning.

They'll be able to amended inform you about what things you can do while at home with COVID-19 and what will work best for you and your life-style.

For those who get into't have a primary care doctor, you can withal get answers to operative questions. Try to talk with the along-call doctor at the clinic where you get tested or see if you can schedule a telehealth appointee.

Think that COVID-19 symptoms are different from somebody to person. What worked for me may not work for you. So talk with your doctor.

Try to stay calm and follow the doctor's instructions. By doing so, you'll have a better chance for convalescent from the viral infection and preventing information technology from organism transmitted to others.

The Black Women's Health Imperative (BWHI) is the initiative nonprofit arrangement based by Black women to protect and get along the health and intimately-being of Black women and girls. Learn many about BWHI by going to www.bwhi.org.