7 tips on tackling COVID-19 at home.

Wondering how to fight against the contagious SARS CoV-2 at home ? You are looking in the right place for the answer.

Through this blog let’s get to know about treating & taking care of a COVID-19 Positive patient at home.

Basically when a person receives the laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 Positive, he/she falls into one of the following 5 categories depending on the severity of the disease.

1. Have the right Mindset.

It is very common to feel sad, depressed, confused or even agitated & angry about having this disease. But with the right mindset, it can be tackled seamlessly. The Doctors & medicines are just going to intervene between you & the disease & provide the necessary support , but it is you who is going to heal your body.

So stay mentally strong & have a positive mindset.

2. Isolate yourself.

SARS CoV type 2 is a dangerous pathogen not just because it can cause a severe life threatening illness, but also because it’s highly contagious.

Making sure that your loved ones & other people around you don’t catch the infection is important & also a responsibility. Wear a mask & Isolate yourself. If there’s a separate room with toilet facility available, well & good. If not, maintain a minimum of 4-6 meters of distance from each other. Do not come out of the room/house except for medical emergencies.

3. Choose 1 person to take care & interact with you.

Select only 1 person who is healthy & has a good immunity, to take care & interact with you.

It is also important to make sure that this person uses a face mask & a pair of hand gloves while in contact with the infected. Safe & proper disposal of the used mask & gloves after every interaction should be followed. 

Washing hands with Soap & rubbing hands with a alcohol based sanitizer is the first line of defense against this Contagion. Do it often. 

4. Eat right & stay active.

Have a well balanced diet (Vegetarian is recommended). Eating the right food gives your body the much needed support to combat against this deadly virus.

The food should be Simple, bland & freshly prepared. If you feel that your appetite is lost, eat small amounts of  food multiple times in a day. It’ll also help if the food is soft, mashed or semi-solid.

Keep yourself hydrated. Use luke warm water. Including plenty of fluids like fresh fruit juices (Orange is recommended), Tender coconut, butter milk & Milk, can only make the diet better. 

Adding a plate of fresh raw fruits & veggies with some spices & herbs in your diet will give your immune system a boost.

Avoid food with excess sugar, fat & salts.

Staying active is equally important as eating the right food.

Workout, do stretches, Yoga or any type of exercise for that matter, to a certain level. (Note that if you feel exhausted , you are doing it too much). If you feel & are unable to workout, doing simple activities, like cleaning your surroundings, small walk inside your room etc will just do fine.

Mental activities also play a vital role in your well-being just like the physical activities. Read that book you’ve always wanted to read , watch that movie you’ve always wanted to watch , Start writing if that’s your thing, sing a silly song, build a hobby. 

Remember staying active is the goal here & not building body or gaining strength. Such activities will also help in having the right , positive mindset.

Bonus tip:- Since the SARS CoV-2 is bound to infect the lungs, a simple breathing exercise like “Pranayama” could do wonders.

5. Taking proper Medications.

When you’re diagnosed with COVID positive & is advised for home care , some/most of the health care facilities will provide a home care kit which contain the necessary tools to self monitor & the Medicines. I have elaborated  about self -monitoring in the later part of this article. For now let’s just stick to Medications.

What are the Medications prescribed for a Mild case of Covid-19 ?

Since you are suffering with the Mild severity of the disease, it is unlikely to prescribe an anti-viral. That is because your body is capable of fighting off the disease. However, your healthcare professional might advice it if there’s a need. 

Here’s a list of commonly prescribed drugs for the mild cases.

(a) Immunity boosters

1. Tab. Zinc
2. Tab. Vitamin C
3. Capsule/syrup of Vitamin D

(b) Drugs to relieve the Symptoms.

1. Tab. Paracetamol
2. Tab. Citrizine
3. Tab.Pantaprazole

(c) Anti-microbial drugs ( Empirical therapy) 

Since the immune system is already fighting against the Corona virus, you will also be prone to catch other infections, maybe bacterial or parasitic infestation. Hence, the anti-microbial drugs prescribed are:

 1. Doxycycline / Azithromycin  (anti-bacterial)

2. Ivermectin( anti-parasitic)

(d) Your healthcare professional might also prescribe Aspirin based on your health condition.

(Note that the Medications mentioned above are purely for information purpose only & should not be taken without a prescription from a registered Healthcare professional)

In case you have any comorbidities like Diabetes, Hypertension etc. continue taking regular medications for the same & have good control over them as they have the potential to worsen the health condition.

6. Self Monitoring.

As mentioned earlier , you will receive certain tools from your healthcare service. If not, here’s a list of the instruments you need to have.

1. Digital thermometer.
2. Pulse-oxi meter.
3. Spirometer.
4. Oxygen canister.
5. BP apparatus.

Monitoring your health status will help you know wher you are in the journey to heal & also to keep check on the danger signs. It is ideal to monitor yourself 4 times in a day.

Vital parameters to be monitored are:

1. Temperature: Normally ranges from 97°F to 99°F.
2. Heart-rate: 60 to 100 beats per minute is normal while resting.
3. Oxygen saturation(spo2): Normally More than 95% at room air
4. Respiratory rate: 12 to 16 cycles per minute is normal.
5. Blood Pressure: 120/80 mm of Hg is normal. 

If the above parameters are in the normal range, there’s nothing to worry. If not , Immediate Medical assistance should be seeked.

When to seek help & what are those Danger signs ?

• High grade persistant fever more than 101°F for 3 days.
• Resting Heart rate more than 110 beats per minute.
• SpO2 less than 95% at room air.
• Systolic BP less than 90 mm of Hg.
• Dehydration.
• Severe Abdominal pain & confusion.
• Dark coloured urine.

7. Sanitizing household & safe disposal of waste.

The Novel Corona viruses can survive on objects & surfaces for a varied period of time. Hence, it is of utmost importance to get the surroundings clean & sanitized often.

Clean the Utensils, Surfaces etc with a cleanser having 5% sodium Hypochlorite solution. Wash your clothes, Bed linens, pillow covers, hand towels etc with hot water separated from others. 

Dispose the used Masks & Gloves etc safely tied in a separate cover & make sure the concerned authority takes care of that waste.  

With these 7 guidelines one must be able to tackle the Novel Corona virus at home.

Wish you all a Speedy recovery & Good Health.