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Understanding COVID-19
Aug 14, 2020
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A basic understanding of COVID-19, a virus causing the current global pandemic and putting everyone, especially older and immunocompromised adults, at greatest risk.
You’ve heard the name many times by now— Coronavirus (or COVID-19) is a disease that’s become so deadly it’s spiraled us into a global pandemic. For those unfamiliar with how it got its name, in COVID-19, 'CO' stands for 'corona,' 'VI' for 'virus,' and 'D' for disease. According to the CDC, “coronavirus” is actually an umbrella term for a family of viruses that can cause illness in animals or humans. In humans however, there are several known coronaviruses that cause respiratory infections. These coronaviruses range from the common cold to more severe diseases such as SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. There’s a lot of information on the disease, and at times it can be overwhelming. This article should act as a basic understanding of COVID-19, with research coming from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, whose main goal is to prevent its spread.
What is COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, which is a virus more lethal than ever seen before. Early cases of COVID-19 were thought to be linked to the large live animal market that China has access to, however more recent studies have proven it’s strictly exchanged via person-to-person contact. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
The team at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City — one of
In an article by CNN’s Maggie Fox published July 10, 2020, these same doctors spoke about coronavirus
being dangerous because of its attack on the respiratory system, as well as virtually every major system in the human body— damaging organs, causing blood clots, creating heart arrhythmia, loss of kidney proteins, and even skin rashes. Much of the damage brought on by the virus is said to be worsened by it’s likeness for a receptor. Most major organs in our bodies are lined with cells that are covered with this receptor, called AEC2— the virus can use this as a means to infect healthy cells.
How it’s Spread
The CDC’s latest on the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 (as of August 4,2020), is that it’s thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even talks. These droplets can easily be transferred by landing on the shared surface with a the hospitals flooded with patients in the spring — went through their own experiences and collected reports from other medical teams around the world.
"This virus is unusual and it's hard not to take a step back and not be impressed by how many
manifestations it has on the human body,"
Dr. Mahesh Madhavan, another cardiology
fellow who worked on the review, said in a statement.
healthy individual, or by landing on another person's mouth. Researchers are also finding that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
Information continues to gather surrounding the spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and suggests that this virus is spreading more efficiently than influenza, but not as efficiently as measles—which is highly contagious. In general, the more closely a person interacts with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.
Who is at Risk
The two groups most at risk for contracting a severe illness from COVID-19 are older adults, and those with preexisting medical conditions. A severe illness means the person could require intensive hospitalization treatment eventually requiring a ventilator to help them breathe— this could lead to death. The CDC provides an example of the following: people in their 50s are at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 40s. Similarly, people in their 60s or 70s are, in general, at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 50s. The greatest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 is among those aged 85 or older.
According to the CDC (July 30, 2020) in general, your risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19 increases as you get older. In fact, 8 out of 10 COVID-19-related deaths reported in the United States have been among adults aged 65 years and older. The older we get, the greater chance we have at developing medical conditions that complicate our health. Being that COVID-19 is a new disease, the CDC is still gathering information on the impact of underlying medical conditions and its relationship to COVID-19. Based on research conducted up until now, people with the following conditions might be at most risk for severe illness from COVID-19:
● Cancer
● Chronic kidney disease
● COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
● Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
● Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
● Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
● Sickle cell disease
● Type 2 diabetes mellitus
● Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
● Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
● Cystic fibrosis
● Hypertension or high blood pressure
● Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
● Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
● Liver disease
Symptoms of COVID-19
People diagnosed with COVID-19 have reported on having a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2-14 days after exposure, Symptoms to look out for that could suggest a person has contracted COVID-19 are (but not limited to):
● Fever or chills
● Cough
● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
● Fatigue
● Muscle or body aches
● Headache
● New loss of taste or smell
● Sore throat
● Congestion or runny nose
● Nausea or vomiting
● Diarrhea
As symptoms progress, you should know when to seek the advice of a medical professional for testing or treatment, especially if you’re taking care of an elderly loved one. The CDC says one should seek immediate medical attention if you or someone you care for is experiencing:
● Trouble breathing
● Persistant pain or pressure in the chest
● New confusion
● Inability to wake or stay awake
● Bluish lips or face
Prevention of Spread
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 is crucial to protecting our lives, and the ones around us who are most at risk. Avoid contact with those who are sick, or those who you think might be sick. You may have heard the term “ social distancing” or “physical distancing” by now, which according to the CDC (July 15, 2020) means keeping a safe space between yourself and other people who are not from your household. You can practice social distancing by keeping 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from people who don’t live in your household, especially in indoor spaces.
Social distancing should be combined with several other everyday preventative measures. On August 6, 2020, the CDC includes mask-wearing to be key in helping prevent the spread of COVID-19, while it may not completely protect the wearer, it may keep the wearer from spreading it to others who are more at risk. As previously mentioned, COVID-19 is spread from person-to-person via droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These dangerous secretions can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Recent studies show that a significant portion of individuals with COVID-19 lack symptoms (are “asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (are “pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. The CDC recommends people wear a mask in public, especially when social distancing practices are difficult to maintain.
Make sure to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze as well, in efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. One should immediately wash their hands, and continuously wash hands, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If for some reason a sink is not around, use hand sanitizer to clean your hands— make sure the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol in order to properly kill germs.
Another major way that the CDC suggests preventing the spread of COVID-19, is by frequently sanitizing surfaces. No matter if it’s only touched once, and briefly, germs can continue to live on surfaces and could be a major contributing factor in getting people sick. If you notice a surface is dirty, clean it first with soap and water, and then disinfect it.
If you’re in a position of caring for an elder or loved one, make sure you’re monitoring your health daily. Keep a thermometer handy and take your temperature if you’re not feeling well, or notice any shortness of breath that could be symptomatic of COVID-19. If you are concerned you came into contact with someone who was diagnosed, contact
your medical provider and request to be tested. Try to remain calm, and socially distanced until you have figured out if you're positive for COVID-19, and check back on the CDC website for the latest information on how to keep you and your loved ones safe, and ways you can help prevent its spread.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Learn about the common symptoms of COVID-19, reasons why older people have a wide variety of symptoms & how to spot early signs of COVID-19 in the elderly.
Learn about the symptoms of COVID-19 & how it spreads. Know the difference between asymptomatic & symptomatic.
Learn why the elderly have a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 & why the risks are higher when they have underlying health conditions.
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