Why COVID Pneumonia Symptoms Matter & How to Identify Them?

livewell
December 10, 2024
Noah Bennett

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic left multiple symptoms in patients, and some of these may continue to disturb them for a longer duration. According to estimates, nearly 15% of COVID patients have developed serious complications that are causing COVID pneumonia symptoms and other major health issues. These problems may aggravate with time in the absence of suitable treatment, resulting in serious complications and even fatalities.

The first step to control and treat these chronic conditions is by identifying them through their symptoms. Many of COVID pneumonia symptoms are general, but others are more specific and play a role in their identification.

COVID Pneumonia Causes

When the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects your lungs, your body’s immune system attacks the virus, which in turn causes inflammation that may damage the lungs. As a result, COVID pneumonia appears. Specifically, it leads to swelling of small sacs (alveoli) in your lungs and fluid leakage into these air sacs.

Pneumonia After COVID-19

The virus that causes COVID-19 affects various parts of the body. However, its most severe impact is on the lungs, which may cause serious implications in some patients. Like many other chronic diseases, COVID-19 may weaken a patient’s immune system. This may allow pneumonia-causing bacteria to invade and infect the patient. This is called superinfection and may aggravate the already complex health condition. COVID-19 also enhances the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients who need artificial means to breathe.

COVID Pneumonia and COVID-19 Differences

COVID-19 pneumonia is not different from COVID-19 infection but is a complication of the disease caused by a specific virus. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19 and it may result in COVID-19 pneumonia due to several complexities in the lungs of the patient.

COVID Pneumonia vs Regular Pneumonia

The inflammation and the fluid inside the lungs are common symptoms of all types of pneumonia. However, COVID-19 pneumonia is different from regular pneumonia. The virus that causes COVID moves differently in the lungs compared to other viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia. In contrast, in regular pneumonia, all the symptoms come together and cause severe illness in the patient, but they may not last long.

COVID-19 pneumonia, on the other hand, spreads slowly across the lungs and uses the immune system for this purpose. This method causes damage to more parts of the lung and the disease may also last longer than other pneumonias. A major contrast in COVID pneumonia vs regular pneumonia is that regular pneumonias produce acute conditions whereas the latter is a chronic disease.

COVID Pneumonia Risk Factors

Most people with COVID-19 do not suffer from COVID pneumonia and it only affects a small part of the affected population. Several COVID pneumonia risk factors can trigger or become the reason for this ailment. These include:

The elderly (aged 65 or above)
Smoking
People addicted to alcohol, cocaine, or opioid
Cancer patients
Patients with a weakened immune system (those suffering from AIDS, measles, etc.)
Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
Heart diseases (hypertension, heart failure, etc.)
Neurological, congenital, or mental health conditions (dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, down syndrome, depression, etc.)
Obesity

COVID Pneumonia Symptoms

Many pneumonia symptoms after COVID are similar to those present in the initial stages of COVID-19 infection. However, suffering from pneumonia increases the intensity of these symptoms. The following are the most widely recognized COVID pneumonia symptoms:

Shortness of breath
Cough
Chest tightness or pain
Bluish nails, lips, or skin
Fever
Extreme fatigue

Many of these pneumonia symptoms after COVID are also present in patients suffering from COVID-19 problems or other issues related to the lungs. However, one of the most obvious symptoms is dyspnea (shortness of breath or trouble breathing). Patients may also feel this problem when doing simple daily tasks or even during rest. If COVID pneumonia symptoms persist or worsen, it becomes necessary to consult a physician and take recommended steps to counter the disease.

Significance of COVID Pneumonia Symptoms

Knowing the COVID pneumonia symptoms is important in managing complications of COVID-19. The signs of pneumonia from COVID can alert the patient, allowing him to seek timely medical treatment. Delaying the treatment after these symptoms can result in ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), resulting in insufficient oxygen in the blood. This needs mechanical ventilation and can prove fatal in extreme cases.

COVID Pneumonia Precautionary Measures

Understanding the signs of pneumonia from COVID is important, but a better option is to prevent it by taking some precautionary measures beforehand. These include:

Vaccination

The best option to prevent COVID-19 and its related severe illness is prior vaccination against the virus. In particular, vaccines are crucial in reducing the chances of problems that arise due to the severity of the COVID-19 pneumonia virus.

Underlying Health Conditions

Prior health conditions can increase the risk of COVID pneumonia. People suffering from heart disease, asthma, diabetes, or other chronic conditions are more likely to develop pneumonia after contracting COVID-19. However, properly managing these chronic health conditions properly can reduce further risks.

Substance Use Disorder

Excessive use of substances can intensify COVID-19 complications. These include dependence on harmful substances, such as smoking, alcohol, and cocaine. Therefore, avoiding these bad habits can reduce the chances of suffering from COVID-19 pneumonia.

Good Hygiene

The best option against COVID-19 pneumonia is to seek protection and precaution. Good hygiene enables a person in this matter. Things like wearing a mask in crowded places, washing hands frequently with soap, and keeping a distance from others can prove to be effective preventive measures against the viral disease.

Conclusion

Covid-19 pneumonia is a serious condition that affects some patients suffering from the viral infection. In fact, it can deteriorate quickly and may prove fatal in extreme conditions. Moreover, Covid pneumonia symptoms serve as valuable information about the progression of the disease and assist in its early diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, timely identification of these symptoms assists in early treatment of the disease, ultimately resulting in preventing severe complications.

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What are the main symptoms of COVID pneumonia?

The key symptom of COVID-19 pneumonia is shortness of breath. In addition, many other symptoms are similar to common COVID symptoms (fever, tiredness, cough, etc.). However, they become severe with the progress of the disease.

What are the risk factors for COVID-19 pneumonia?

Several factors increase the dangers of COVID pneumonia. Notably, this painful condition usually affects older adults, people suffering from chronic diseases (heart issues, diabetes, etc.), and those addicted to harmful substances (smoking, alcohol, etc.).

How can COVID-19 patients prevent pneumonia?

Patients already suffering from COVID-19 can reduce the severity of the disease to prevent COVID-19 pneumonia. This can be achieved by adopting good hygiene, vaccination, and managing underlying health conditions.