Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - symptoms and treatment

Coronavirus without symptoms

Asymptomatic patients are considered patients whose smears show SARS-CoV-2, but there are no other signs of the disease.

• Even in the first wave in the UK, according to statistics, 78% of virus carriers had no symptoms or a mild form of infection.
• According to statistics from doctors in Italy, 50-70% of people with coronavirus infection are without symptoms. Research was also conducted in the spring of 2020.
• According to Australian scientists, the disease occurs without symptoms in more than 80% of cases.
• In Russia, at the beginning of the epidemic, it was believed that asymptomatic patients could make up up to a quarter of those infected, in July 2020 they began to talk about 40-50%, and at the beginning of the second wave, doctors say: 25% of those infected have symptoms of the virus, that is, they are asymptomatic 75% of people. Thus, the new Russian data are already close to the results that were obtained in the UK in the first wave.

The difference in data arises because different countries (and at different times) test different numbers of people for coronavirus. The more people are tested, the more asymptomatic carriers and vectors are identified.

Also, the “discrepancy” in the numbers is due to the fact that in some countries asymptomatic carriers of the virus are included in the statistics of COVID cases, in others they are not. And sometimes the approach to the state of things changes, and accordingly, the graph of COVID cases may begin to go in one direction or another.

Also, in some countries, for example, in Kazakhstan, double statistics existed for a long time: those who were directly ill and those who were carriers but had no signs of the disease were counted separately. Control over the first group was stricter; for the second group, sanitary and epidemiological measures were weaker. But then a number of such countries nevertheless came to the conclusion that both people with symptoms and those without them should be counted equally.

Another question is that the former require serious treatment, the latter only require fixation (approach as for persons in contact with carriers of the virus) and take appropriate measures (self-isolation). And it is impossible to say unequivocally whether carriers with and without symptoms pose the same or different danger to others. After all, transmission of coronavirus infection is possible not only through coughing and sneezing, but also through small droplets released from the mouth and nose when talking and breathing. Moreover, if a person who is a carrier of the virus but has no symptoms is in a close, poorly ventilated room with another, the chance of becoming infected is always higher. Transmission of the virus by objects cannot be ruled out. Although scientists have a lot of controversy about this.

What percentage of asymptomatic coronavirus carriers in Belarus is currently unknown. And it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain this data, because if at the beginning of the epidemic PCR testing was carried out not only on people with symptoms, but also on all identified first-level contacts, then from mid-November 20, 1st-level contacts were subject to PCR testing sent only if respiratory signs are present. These signs are determined on the basis of an independent assessment of one’s condition, a survey of a doctor, and, if necessary, a measurement of the level of oxygen in the blood with a pulse meter (saturation), and an examination of the throat.

In Russia, by the way, the situation is similar. From the decree of the head of Rospotrebnadzor dated November 16, 2020, it follows that citizens who have been in contact with patients with coronavirus can now leave self-isolation after 14 days without undergoing a test for COVID-19.

True, data can also be obtained based on a study of a sample of individuals who have developed antibodies. But even here, not everything is clear. There is no exact data yet on how long they remain in the body.

Moderate and severe form

In 20% of all patients, the condition worsens. The situation is especially serious if there are concomitant diseases (pathologies of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, oncology, diabetes mellitus).

15% of patients require oxygen support.

5% of patients require mechanical ventilation.

When the infection progresses

- The cough intensifies, and there is a feeling of tightness in the chest when breathing. These may be signs of developing pneumonia.

In this case, you need to call an ambulance (103 from your mobile phone). Remember - not a therapist from a clinic, but an ambulance. If you have voluntary medical insurance, immediately call your insurance company so that they can arrange emergency care for you.

How COVID-19 disease is transmitted at different ages: mortality statistics for 2021

Even at the beginning of the spread of the epidemic, it was known that children tolerate coronavirus infection much more easily than everyone else. Let's look at the current mortality statistics as a percentage.

What is the incubation period for coronavirus infection?

The incubation period for coronavirus infection in most cases is up to 10 days. The first wave was considered to be up to 14 days . In some isolated cases, the incubation period lasts about 20 days.

The highest chance of becoming infected is from a person who is a carrier of coronavirus, but until the disease is recognized - 1-2 days, as well as from a person who has been sick with COVID-19 for 1-4 days. 95% of patients thus fall within the range of two to six days. During the incubation period, SARS-CoV-2 does not manifest itself in any way.

Another difficulty is that if coronavirus is without symptoms, it is difficult to give an objective assessment of which day of illness is the first.

By the way, if we compare the incubation period of coronavirus infection and influenza, then the latter has a shorter incubation period. In the latter case, in most cases it lasts a day or two.

More and less common symptoms

The most common symptoms with which the disease begins are respiratory (fever, cough, sore throat). At first, the disease is easy to confuse with the flu, sore throat, or acute respiratory infection.

Among the common symptoms is the loss of the ability to recognize smells (but it is important to understand that this is not an indicator, there are patients who have this symptom, but do not get sick with coronavirus, and there are people who have a moderate and severe form of the disease, but they have no taste differentiate).

If the disease progresses quickly, shortness of breath (feeling of lack of air, difficulty taking a deep breath), and chest pain are immediately added.

More rare are symptoms of a dermatological nature (rashes on the body, mucous membranes), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hemoptysis, unbearable headache.

Also not the most common symptoms in patients with coronavirus, but related to its symptoms, are swollen veins, cyanosis of the skin, and surges in blood pressure.

Let us consider which of these symptoms appear first, how symptoms change from day to day, whether there are differences in the manifestation of symptoms in adults and children, what you need to remember if your sense of smell has disappeared.

Consequences of VSD

Despite the fact that vegetative-vascular dystonia manifests itself quite severely, it has a positive prognosis. Of course, the risk of developing negative consequences is directly influenced by strict adherence to medical recommendations, especially regarding adherence to a daily routine, giving up bad habits and taking prescribed medications.

With a careful approach to the treatment of VSD, the risk of developing undesirable consequences is minimal. But if the problem is ignored, patients have a high chance of later encountering:

• tachycardia;
• hypertension that cannot be treated with traditional drugs to lower blood pressure;
• cardiomyopathy;
• diabetes mellitus type 2;
• urolithiasis and cholelithiasis;
• stroke, myocardial infarction.

VSD negatively affects the immune system. Therefore, patients with this diagnosis are much more likely than others to suffer from respiratory infections. In this case, a vicious circle is formed, since in acute respiratory infections attacks are observed more often.

What is the first symptom of coronavirus?

Various symptoms can be the first to make themselves felt. But, as a rule, these are respiratory manifestations.

• Fever. In some patients the temperature is immediately above 38 °C, in some patients it is low-grade: 37.1 – 37.3 °C.
• A sore throat. Moreover, as a rule, the back wall of the throat hurts more. At the same time, there is an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
• Dry cough. A person cannot “clear his throat.” His sputum does not come out.
• Fatigue. Malaise even after minimal physical exertion.
• A slight runny nose (at first it was believed that if you have a runny nose, then it’s not Covid), but later it turned out that everything was very ambiguous. A runny nose during COVID makes itself known less often than a dry cough, but its presence or, on the contrary, absence, cannot be a signal for an accurate diagnosis.

Among the first symptoms of coronavirus is anosmia – loss of smell. At the same time, like respiratory symptoms, loss of smell or taste cannot be called a direct “indicator” of COVID-19. The same symptoms are characteristic of neurological patients (for example, this symptom is common in those suffering from Alzheimer's disease). And in some cases, this is not a sign of pathology at all, but a sign of aging (more often in men). True, if before 2020 they did not pay much attention to it, then with the mass circulation of information that this is a symptom of coronavirus, many began to focus on it. Also, people who have suffered head injuries or nasal polyps often experience loss of smell.

However, some patients are only concerned about loss of smell and fatigue. This audience is classified as patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus.

Itchy skin

Like the above, this phenomenon is also a symptom of disorders in the digestive system. As a rule, skin itching occurs due to pathologies of the kidneys, liver, pancreas, damage by worms or disturbances in the metabolic processes of the body. An itchy lesion can occur in one place or spread to several points.

Therefore, as soon as you notice such a “need” in yourself, you need to be examined in order to identify the disease at the initial stage. Although, if skin itching continues for a long time, this may indicate chronic ailments of the gastrointestinal tract.

Coronavirus symptoms without fever

Without fever, coronavirus is more common in children than in adults. In this case, against the background of the absence of temperature, the patient can experience the entire symptomatic spectrum, as in a patient with fever. Starting from a sore throat, and up to coughing, severe muscle pain, severe weakness (weakness).

Moreover, if adults have symptoms of coronavirus without fever, two radically opposite “scenarios” are possible.

1. The disease occurs in a mild form.
2. The functioning of the immune system is disrupted. After all, it is important to understand that behind the rise in temperature lies the body’s mechanism for fighting the disease, working to prevent complications (for example, in the form of pneumonia).

Often, frail elderly people have no fever during COVID. Their hypothermia is often caused by regular use of drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases.

Among people who suffer from viral infections without fever, there are also many who suffer from thyroid pathologies. And the reason for this is either the improper functioning of the thyroid gland itself, or the use of drugs aimed at correcting its function.

Hypothermia is also often observed in allergy sufferers who regularly have to take antihistamines, and in people who have recently suffered any bacterial infections and have been treated with antibiotics for a long time. Moreover, these could be both infections of the respiratory tract and, for example, the genitourinary system.

Despite the fact that in weakened elderly people the disease can occur without high fever, they often have difficulty breathing, many have movement and speech disorders (in this case, the symptoms of COVID-19 are close in symptoms to a stroke, and in some carriers of SARS-CoV-2 This strain is a stroke provocateur).

Chemical Dependency Treatment

Treatment for chemical dependency always begins with detoxification and withdrawal symptoms.

• For alcohol addiction, a narcologist administers IV drips that cleanse the body, relieve painful withdrawal symptoms, and provide supportive treatment. When the binge is over, the body is cleansed, and physical dependence is eliminated, the recovering person can go to psychological rehabilitation and completely cure the disease.
• For drug addiction, the treatment process follows the same principle. To relieve drug withdrawal from opiates of natural and synthetic origin, there is a special detox procedure, it is called UBOD. Ultra-fast opioid detoxification specifically cleanses the opioid receptors in the brain. The patient undergoes the process under anesthesia and does not feel anything.
• Medicinal methods that help eliminate nicotine withdrawal and temporarily stop addiction are available today for literally every taste. These are tablets, sprays, mouthwashes, anti-nicotine patches. They allow you to eliminate withdrawal symptoms and calmly carry out a course of getting rid of psychological addiction. Properly selected medications and psychotherapy lead to successful smoking cessation.

Elimination of withdrawal symptoms and physical cravings is an essential part of any treatment for chemical dependency. It is this stage of treatment that prepares the patient for successful rehabilitation. The elimination of withdrawal symptoms in itself is not a cure - this should be understood. The results of detoxification must be secured either temporarily with the help of coding, or long-term with the help of a full course of getting rid of addiction.

At our center you can undergo treatment for chemical dependency. Specialists will competently select a detox for you and help you go through the abstinence period painlessly. We offer ample opportunities for rehabilitation after the first stage of treatment - recovery from illness in Russian and foreign rehabilitation centers. All questions regarding the selection of a treatment course can be asked to a consultant at our center by calling the hotline at any time. You will see the phone number on the website page, there is also a request form for a call back - fill it out and we will call you back.

Symptoms of coronavirus in children

About 20% of children who are carriers of SARS-CoV-2 do not notice this disease in themselves.

In most children, Covid occurs in a mild form, like a cold: the temperature rises, but is not critical, or the disease goes away without it at all, there is fatigue, a slight cough, and there are no pathological changes in the lungs.

But there are children who have a hard time with COVID-19. Most of them are among babies under one year old (more than 10%). Risk group and age 1-5 years (over 7% of children at this age require serious treatment). But among children and adolescents aged 6 - 16 years, severe disease is typical for 3 - 5%.

With moderate severity, there is lung damage (pneumonia), but there is no shortness of breath. In severe cases of the disease, in almost all cases the temperature is above 35%, problems with the lungs are serious (difficulty breathing, coughing is painful), the skin begins to turn blue. Many people have problems with the stomach and intestines. They make themselves known by diarrhea and vomiting.

Symptoms of coronavirus in infants

The most difficult thing is with symptoms in infants. After all, they cannot say what bothers them, what hurts. Some of the symptoms can easily be attributed to teething, intestinal colic: increased tearfulness, anxiety, problems falling asleep.

At the same time, for example, the same intensity of intestinal colic is a characteristic sign of coronavirus in infancy.

Respiratory manifestations most often boil down to redness of the throat, nasal congestion, coughing, while most infants do not have breathing problems.

In a number of infants, especially if the disease has severe colic, severe fever and repeated vomiting.

Symptoms of coronavirus in preschoolers and schoolchildren

In children of preschool and school age, symptoms are often vague. Many symptoms, at first glance, look like a “typical cold.” But the coronavirus may be hiding behind it. Therefore, children who have even the first signs of a “cold” – a sore throat, runny nose – are advised not to go to school or kindergarten.

Observations also show two trends:

1. Among schoolchildren, the highest transmission of the virus is from asymptomatic carriers.
2. The spread of the pathogen among children in middle and high school is higher than among children in kindergarten and primary school.

Covid on the skin

In addition to the characteristic symptoms, a number of SARS-CoV-2 carriers who have recovered from COVID also have dermatological symptoms. Most often these are red and purple bumps and redness on the skin.

• Visually, problem areas resemble areas after frostbite. As a rule, these are shapeless asymmetrical spots on the arms and legs. The formations may hurt and sometimes itch.
• Small blisters on the torso, arms and legs.
• Livedo is a red-blue network of vascular nature.

Dermatological problems can make themselves felt both at the first stage of the disease and when the disease has already developed. If we are talking only about redness and rashes, then they disappear within 2 weeks; if bumps have formed, then they can remain on the skin for several months.

In some COVID patients, the skin begins to peel off at the site of the bumps.

Spots are more typical for children, adolescents, young people, blisters - for middle-aged people, and livedo - for the elderly.

Dermatological manifestations of coronavirus infection are most often associated with overexpression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (peptide molecules), which are responsible for transmitting signals between cells. In fact, there is an “imbalance” in the body’s inflammatory response. But some rashes occur due to constant sweating at high temperatures. Infectious and allergic skin lesions are also possible.

Dental problems

Among the symptoms that were not paid attention to at first, but then noticed in a fairly wide number of patients with coronavirus, is exanthema, that is, a rash on the mucous membranes. Typically in the oral cavity.

Just by the presence of a rash in the mouth, one cannot judge that a patient has coronavirus. At the same time, if this sign is present, but there are no other symptoms, it cannot be ruled out that it is not Covid.

Although in many cases, classic enteroviral vesicular stomatitis may be behind the rash in the mouth. This is also an infectious disease, but it requires its own treatment.

A number of coronavirus patients develop ulcers and red bumps in their mouths, which can begin to bleed in spots.

Language changes

This sign of gastrointestinal pathologies is the most common and, as a rule, occurs with gastritis, ulcers and other digestive ailments. It is simply impossible not to notice changes in the oral cavity. Indeed, with such disorders, plaque, hyperemia, swelling, or even peculiar wounds appear on the tongue. The color of this organ also changes - in the presence of diseases of the stomach and intestines, it can acquire a grayish tint or very white with a characteristic yellowness. So, in the presence of an ulcer, the patient’s tongue develops a strong coating and swelling, and with gastritis, this is also accompanied by hypertrophy of the fungiform papillae - small dots on its surface.

It is believed that changes on the lingual surface in the mouth are the earliest symptom that indicates the development of bad gastrointestinal pathologies in the body.

Thromboembolism

Another common phenomenon that is important to consider when talking about symptoms is thromboembolism. It encounters many patients with moderate and severe forms of coronavirus.

Many people know about the serious consequences of thromboembolism. Not everything is about how she manifests herself.

Among the characteristic signs of thromboembolism:

• swelling of veins, often cervical
• blueness (cyanosis) of the face,
• drop in blood pressure.

However, again, these symptoms cannot be considered a direct signal of COVID-19. In addition to coronavirus, thromboembolism can be caused by injuries, varicose veins of the legs, the presence of a catheter, diseases associated with heart rhythm disturbances, malignant tumors, prolonged bed rest, and surgery with large blood loss. Also among the risk factors are old age, taking contraceptives and pregnancy.

In some patients, thromboembolism is not a symptom, but a complication. Most often, this again happens in older people and pregnant women. In addition, people with respiratory and heart failure are vulnerable, as well as those whose coronavirus has damaged the endothelium of blood vessels (a monolayer of vascular epithelial cells).

Tunnel consciousness, panic attacks

Among the signs of coronavirus in people with severe forms of the disease is tunnel consciousness. A person cannot concentrate on anything. He focuses only on the disease and the fears around it. He does not focus on recovery, “here and now,” but obsessively searches for the reason why he got sick, suicidal thoughts are possible.

Among the mental manifestations of coronavirus are panic attacks . Women suffer from panic attacks twice as often as men.

A panic attack is not just a feeling of anxiety, but pronounced fear, which is accompanied by a number of physically unpleasant sensations. Among them are increased sweating, trembling of fingers (tremor), nausea, upset stool, and chest pain.

The most informative evidence that this is a symptom of Covid or a classic panic attack is obtained by a test (smear), but there are also a number of other signs. The role is played by whether such signs are observed for the first time and how long the panic attack lasts. If this is a true panic attack, and not a symptom of COVID, then 15 minutes after the onset of the attack the person begins to “let go,” especially if you take deep breaths.

With COVID, this exercise most often does not help. After all, the reason is a lack of air, depression of respiratory function, and in this case only saturation of the lungs with oxygen helps to cope with the attack.

Vomit

A very unpleasant phenomenon that is an involuntary release through the throat and mouth of everything that was in the stomach. As a rule, it is accompanied by rapid breathing, sharp abdominal pain, and increased salivation. True, after the release of vomit, the patient feels relief. Vomiting is usually a sign of many diseases and poisonings. It happens that it is not possible to stop it without the intervention of medical workers.

Therefore, it is important to understand that prolonged vomiting is a very serious symptom, so self-medication in this case is strictly prohibited. Especially if what comes out has impurities of mucus, blood or bile.

By the way, vomiting can occur even with strong excitement or a surge of emotions. For many pregnant women in the early stages, this is generally normal.

Headache

8% of COVID-19 patients have headaches. Their intensity is quite strong even if there is no high temperature at the same time.

As a rule, ordinary antispasmodics, painkillers such as nemisulide, analgin for pain arising from COVID do not help much.

With such pain there are no other typical signs for other pathologies (for example, dizziness, as with hypertension, vegetative-vascular dystonia). However, the nature of headaches with Covid is also of a vascular nature. The virus negatively affects vascular endothelial cells. There are problems with blood flow. The lumen of blood vessels narrows significantly. A headache in this case is a signal of a lack of oxygen. And if this deficiency is replenished, then the headache problem is solved.

By the way, when pathologists autopsy the bodies of those who died from coronavirus and micrograph the brain, sharply narrowed blood vessels and signs of inflammation are visible. The vessel becomes unable to properly supply the brain with blood.

And also, as practice shows, about 1% of headaches during a pandemic are completely false. Suspicious people experience headaches when reading news about coronavirus, hearing news that one of their friends has contracted coronavirus (even if there was no contact with him).

Symptoms in the late stage of the disease

The consequences of brain atrophy are irreversible and look depressing. The patient becomes alienated, strives for complete solitude, does not leave his room for several days and does not respond to calls. His speech becomes incoherent, often meaningless - just a collection of words of different topics and content. Severe dementia is characterized by complete collapse of personality and rejection of oneself as a member of the family and society.

If the first symptoms of Alzheimer's physiology are quite harmless, then the final phase of the disease implies complete helplessness: the patient does not control the processes of urination and bowel movements, and loses the ability to walk. Body weight decreases significantly, often approaching the level of dystrophy, the skin dries out and cracks.

Conjunctivitis with COVID

Some patients with COVID have pronounced conjunctivitis, while others do not have any traces of it.

Most often, signs of conjunctivitis are present in those individuals in whom the virus entered the body through the eyes. This is why not only masks are so useful, but also safety glasses and shields.

All types of conjunctivitis are visually similar. It is especially difficult to distinguish between different types of viral conjunctivitis (viral conjunctivitis - not necessarily caused by a strain of coronavirus). But viral conjunctivitis can be distinguished from bacterial conjunctivitis even without tests.

In the field of attention is what is separated from the eyes. If it is bacterial, it is dense, white, yellow, and if it is viral, it is watery.

It is also worth paying attention to the parotid lymph nodes. With viral conjunctivitis, the lymph nodes in most cases are painful when palpated.

What is the difference between withdrawal and hangover?

First of all, withdrawal syndrome does not only apply to alcohol addiction. Withdrawal syndrome refers to both drug withdrawal and the unpleasant symptoms that occur when quitting tobacco. And the concept of hangover syndrome refers only to alcohol addiction.

It is alcohol withdrawal syndrome that is called a true hangover. And it is a sign of the development of alcoholism. This concept means that when an addict stops drinking alcohol, their well-being sharply worsens. Taking the next dose of alcohol temporarily relieves painful symptoms.

Speech and movement disorders

Speech and movement disorders due to coronavirus can be observed in severe forms of the disease and direct entry of the virus into the brain.

The diagnosis in this case is COVID-19-associated necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalopathy.

Her symptoms are similar to hemorrhagic encephalopathy caused by strains of the Coxsackie A virus and H1N1 influenza.

The frequency of words in speech changes, perseverations arise - repetitions of individual words and even phrases, some phrases begin to be “swallowed”, errors in cases and word order in a sentence begin, problems arise with muscle articulation (it becomes difficult for a person to repeat a simple tongue twister even at a slow pace. Coordination of movements is also impaired.

Where to call to find out everything about coronavirus and self-isolation

Coronavirus hotline: 8 800 2000 112

Moscow hotline for consultation: +7 (495) 870−45−09

(Here you will learn about the details of observing the self-isolation regime, get advice on where you can get tested for covid-19, and you can also find the numbers of food delivery services, and get answers to many other questions. Hotline opening hours: 08:00-21: 00 daily.)

24-hour information line on diagnostics and prevention of coronavirus: +7 (499) 251−83−00

Coronavirus symptoms by day

If the disease has symptoms, then it proceeds through certain phases. And each phase is characterized by its own symptoms.

Days 1-4 – phase 1 . In this phase, the following signs most often manifest themselves: fever, muscle pain, sore throat, dry cough. If the body is amenable to treatment, then improvement may begin after the 1st phase. Either the person recovers, or for another week or a week and a half there is a sluggish cold - often without a high fever, but with a “stuffed” throat, a slight cough, and fatigue.

5-10 days – 2nd phase . If the body cannot cope with the disease, then on the 5-6th day a new phase begins, which is characterized by a lack of air and the development of pneumonia. If timely measures are taken, including providing the patient with oxygen support, respiratory failure can be overcome by the 10th day of illness. As a rule, oxygen support is prescribed when saturation changes and oxygen levels are below 94-90%. In hospitals in Belarus, oxygen is supplied into the nose through a cannula, as a rule, when the oxygen level is less than 93%.

The unpleasant thing is that on the 4th day, some patients begin to believe that they are getting better (the criterion is that the cough has become wet, not dry). But a wet cough does not always mean a healthy cough. In some cases, the appearance of sputum is the result of fluid accumulation in the alveoli, and this is precisely followed by a violation of oxygen metabolism. That is why temporary relief on the 5th day may be followed by deterioration, and the 2nd phase is then inevitable.

If the patient's water-electrolyte balance is disturbed, then on days 5-10 convulsions, spasms in the gastrointestinal tract, and insomnia may also appear.

Day 10-12 – phase 3 . On the 10-12th day, in most patients the temperature returns to normal, but muscle pain and a feeling of lack of air may remain. In this case, the respiratory function is restored in some patients, while in others shortness of breath remains the main companion.

Days 13-20 – phase 4 . In this phase, symptoms remain, as a rule, in patients with severe disease. At this moment, there is a high risk that complications from the heart, kidneys, or heart may occur.

On the part of the kidneys, this is, for example, a drop in diuresis (urine volume), inhibition of consciousness; on the part of the heart, inflammation of the heart muscle. If a patient has a weak liver or has chronic diseases of this organ, then the risks of their exacerbation are high.

It is important to understand that different patients may have different “scenarios” for the development of the disease. There are cases when a coronavirus infection is asymptomatic, but then, after a person has formed antibodies, pneumonia develops. This is not a typical option, but it also occurs.

The course of the disease can be relatively mild, moderate or severe.

• Light form . Symptoms last 4-14 days. Limited to phase 1 (see above). For a number of patients, a mild form of coronavirus ends with a complete recovery, while a number have difficulties with the respiratory system (there is still a cough), liver (ALT levels increase), and kidneys. But there is no exact data on whether the coronavirus or intensive care is to blame for most problems. After all, the same level of ALT can be increased by paracetamol, antibiotics, aspirin - drugs that are important for treating COVID-19 itself, relieving symptoms, stopping the development of the disease, and they cannot be canceled, this is a greater risk for the body. But after a person has had COVID-19, it is important to monitor these indicators and support the liver and kidneys. If there are no serious chronic diseases of these organs, the body recovers over time. For example, the liver is supported with drugs based on essential phospholipids.
• The disease is of moderate severity . The patient “goes through” 2 phases of disease development. It all starts close to the flu, then pneumonia develops, which usually develops in the alveoral space (directly in the alveoli there is an exchange between air and blood). Hypoxia with moderate severity of COVID-19 is not uncommon, especially if a large area of ​​the lungs is affected, but patients usually do not require mechanical ventilation. It is possible to increase the oxygen level by supplying oxygen into the nose using a cannula, through breathing exercises, and prone position (lying on the stomach).
• Severe form of COVID-19 . Affects all phases of disease development. At the first stage there is a pronounced fever. Possible loss of consciousness. Acute respiratory distress syndrome and extensive pneumonia develop rapidly. Moreover, not only in the alveoral space, but also in the interstitial space, i.e. between partitions. In this case, pulmonary edema increases very quickly. CT scan shows a ground glass pattern. Blood clots may form in the arteries. Also, it is with pneumonia in the interstitial space that a person is more often oxygen-dependent: the natural oxygen level is low, oxygen deficiency occurs. Such patients often require mechanical ventilation, very high doses of drugs that reduce blood clotting activity.

What is VSD

The autonomic nervous system, also called the autonomic nervous system, is part of the nervous system of the human body. It is responsible for controlling the activity of internal organs, metabolic processes occurring in the body, the functioning of blood and lymphatic vessels, as well as the activity of the endocrine glands. Thus, the autonomic nervous system plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis (constancy of the internal environment) and adaptation to changing environmental conditions.

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for the innervation of the entire body, organs and tissues. Moreover, its work is in no way subordinate to the will of a person, but is controlled independently of desires by the cerebral cortex. That is, a person cannot voluntarily stop the heart or influence the speed of intestinal peristalsis.

Autonomic nerve centers are also located in the brain stem, hypothalamus and spinal cord. Therefore, any disturbances in these organs are directly reflected in the quality of functioning of the autonomic nervous system, and can lead to the development of autonomic disorders.

Thus, all vital processes of the body are under the control of the autonomic nervous system, namely:

• heart rate;
• blood pressure level;
• thermoregulation;
• activity of salivary, sweat, endocrine glands;
• frequency and depth of breathing;
• digestion of food and intestinal motility;
• the condition of the smooth muscles of internal organs and the walls of blood vessels;
• processes of growth and reproduction;
• metabolic processes;
• urination, etc.

Anatomically and functionally, the autonomic nervous system is divided into 3 sections:

• Sympathetic - responsible for metabolism, energy consumption and mobilization of forces for active activity. Its sphere of influence includes heart function and blood pressure levels. Therefore, the sympathetic department allows the human body to prepare as much as possible for fight or active work.
• Parasympathetic - regulates the functioning of organs mainly during sleep and passive rest, and is responsible for restoring spent energy reserves. It is responsible for reducing heart rate, blood pressure and increasing peristalsis, which makes it possible to replenish energy reserves from food received.
• Metasympathetic - ensures communication between internal organs and the preservation of local autonomic reflexes.

All parts of the autonomic nervous system are in a certain relationship with each other, which ensures proper regulation of the body’s functioning. At the same time, the most important organs from the point of view of life support have double innervation with the opposite effect. But when the slightest deviation from the norm occurs, under the influence of stress, the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic departments is disrupted, which leads to the predominance of one of them over the other. The result of this is the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia is a syndrome that combines various disorders of autonomic functions that are the result of impaired neurogenic regulation. This occurs when the balance between the activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of the autonomic nervous system is disturbed, which can be due to the action of a huge variety of the most disparate causes.

Thus, VSD is a multifactorial disorder that can be regarded as one of the symptoms of an existing neurological or somatic disease and consists of changes in the functioning of internal organs. Sometimes the root cause of the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia cannot be established.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia is often also called cardioneurosis, dysvegetosis, neurasthenia and some other terms.

In what cases should you consult a doctor?

• If you have symptoms such as fever and dry cough, you should consult a doctor immediately.
• If the symptoms are atypical (for example, dermatological + loss of taste), but there is a suspicion that there has been contact with a carrier of the coronavirus, you should not delay visiting a doctor either.
• If you have difficulty breathing (severe shortness of breath), there is a feeling that there is no oxygen, you should immediately call an ambulance.
• The situation when a loss of smell occurred was not previously considered a reason to immediately go to the doctor, but in the current epidemic situation, with loss of smell (and especially at the same time with loss of taste), it is important to undergo laboratory diagnostics and exclude infection with coronavirus.
• If there are any manifestations of colds, a sore throat, or a runny nose, then in a pandemic, this is also a signal to see a doctor.

In a special risk group:

• Elderly people, the risk of complications is especially high in patients over 70 years of age.
• Persons with somatic diseases of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems: especially arterial hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation.
• Taking hormonal medications.
• Persons with chronic respiratory diseases (COPD, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis).
• Cancer patients.
• Persons with excess body weight and metabolic disorders.

Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia

Treatment of VSD is always selected strictly individually. In this case, the neurologist must take into account a lot of factors and formulate the optimal tactics. Not only the type of vegetative-vascular dystonia, the severity and frequency of attacks, the patient’s age, but also the presence of concomitant diseases and their characteristics are taken into account.

When prescribing treatment for patients with VSD, neurologists pursue two goals: eliminating the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia and influencing the cause of the development of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The second task is of particular importance, since sometimes it is not possible to find the true cause of VSD. But the patient’s quality of life in the future primarily depends on this, since by eliminating the cause of VSD, the cause itself will also be eliminated. Therefore, treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia is often carried out not only by a neurologist, but also by other specialized specialists, in particular, a cardiologist.

Also, treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia involves influencing the psycho-emotional state of patients, since stress and prolonged nervous tension definitely do not improve their condition.

Thus, the treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia is always complex. It includes:

• drug therapy;
• lifestyle correction;
• psychotherapy;
• Spa treatment.

To combat the causes of VSD, manual therapy is often used. This is due to the fact that a competent effect on the spine can improve the performance of almost every organ of the human body. After all, it is in the spinal cord that the autonomic centers are located, which suffer greatly in the presence of spinal pathologies.

Therefore, the elimination of scoliosis, protrusions, herniated intervertebral discs, spondylosis and other disorders necessarily leads to a significant improvement in the condition of patients, and when treated in the early stages, a complete elimination of the causes of the development of VSD.

One of the most effective methods of manual therapy is the original Gritsenko method. With its help, you can restore the normal position of each vertebra and thereby completely normalize the functioning of the spinal cord. As a result, blood circulation also improves, back and chest pain, breathing problems, and a host of other disorders go away. An additional “bonus” is an increase in the body’s adaptive capabilities and a slowdown in the natural aging process.

When manual therapy is performed correctly, improvements are observed after the first sessions. But to consolidate the results and eliminate the causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia, you need to undergo a course of manual therapy. Moreover, sessions can be combined with work, study, business trips and other activities.

Drug therapy

Treatment of VSD involves the use of a whole range of medications, the list of which, as well as the dosage, is determined by the neurologist on an individual basis. Thus, drug therapy for vegetative-vascular dystonia may include:

• Antidepressants help eliminate excessive anxiety, increased irritability and help overcome depression, psycho-emotional stress, and apathy. Often, while taking antidepressants, there is a decrease in heart pain and muscle pain, even in cases where they previously could not be relieved by other means.
• Tranquilizers - used to reduce the risk of panic attacks, eliminate causeless fears and relieve increased anxiety.
• Sedatives - initially preference is given to herbal remedies, but if they do not have the desired effect, they are replaced with “heavy artillery”. Herbal remedies act gently; in the absence of allergies, they do not have a negative effect on the body, but have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
• Nootropics are designed to activate blood circulation in the vessels of the brain, remove the negative effects of hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) and increase the body’s ability to resist stress.
• Adrenergic blockers are prescribed when problems with the heart are detected.
• Diuretics - used in the presence of headaches, attacks of dizziness that occur against the background of increased intracranial pressure or arterial hypertension. They help remove excess fluid from the body, but lead to a decrease in sodium levels, and some potassium levels. This can negatively affect the functioning of the heart, so diuretics are often combined with drugs that replenish the deficiency of these ions.
• Vitamin preparations containing B vitamins improve the conductivity of nerve impulses and generally have a positive effect on the state of the nervous system as a whole.
• Metabolic drugs - designed to increase control over glucose levels, have microcircular, antihypoxic properties.

Lifestyle correction

In order to improve the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, patients with VSD are recommended to reconsider their lifestyle and habits. Thus, neurologists recommend to all patients:

1. Organize the correct work and rest schedule. During the workday, it is important to take breaks, leave your chair and go for a walk to improve blood flow in the body and give your head a chance to rest.
2. Get enough sleep. It is recommended to sleep at least 8 hours every day.
3. Walk outdoors every day. It's worth walking for about an hour. This is enough to improve the functioning of the entire body.
4. Make moderate physical activity an integral part of your life. Fanatical exercise with VSD will be detrimental, but half an hour of jogging, aerobics, and swimming will be very helpful.
5. Eat properly. Patients are advised to avoid foods with a high content of trans fats, which contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and also increase nervous excitability. But a strict diet for VSD is not indicated, since strict restrictions can negatively affect the psycho-emotional state of the patient, which will aggravate the course of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Since the topic of nutrition in VSD raises many questions, it requires a more detailed consideration. With such a diagnosis, the diet should be built in accordance with the following principles:

• enriching the diet with foods that are sources of potassium and magnesium and have a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system, in particular blood pressure levels;
• normalization of water-salt balance by drinking 1.5 liters of water per day, in addition to tea, juices and other drinks;
• enjoying food;
• bringing the diet as close as possible to the requirements of a healthy diet.

The nature of the diet may vary depending on the type of vegetative-vascular dystonia. So, in case of hypertensive form, it is important to exclude foods containing large amounts of “hidden” salt. For this purpose, it is recommended to refrain from eating fast food, canned food, marinades, semi-finished products, etc. Instead, patients are asked to include soups with vegetable or weak meat or fish broth in their daily menu. It is also recommended to replace traditional wheat or rye bread with products made from whole grain flour or with bran.

With hypotonic VSD, when creating a menu, you should pay special attention to vegetables and fruits that contain increased amounts of well-absorbed vitamin C and β-carotene, as well as foods that increase blood pressure. Thus, with this form of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, it is worth introducing into the daily diet:

• citrus fruits, bananas, bell peppers, pineapples, pomegranate;
• any nuts, buckwheat, liver, brains;
• cheeses;
• herring;
• dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee.

With hypotonic VSD, it is not prohibited to eat white bread, potatoes and even sweets.

If a patient is diagnosed with a cardiac form of the disease, he is recommended to bring foods that are a source of magnesium and potassium to his table. This will have a positive effect on the functioning of the heart muscle and reduce the risk of developing dangerous complications. Therefore, they should pay attention to:

• oatmeal, buckwheat;
• legumes;
• onions, eggplants;
• apricots, peaches, grapes, including in the form of dried fruits;
• natural juices, compotes, jelly;
• dairy products;
• chicken eggs;
• lean varieties of fish and meat.

Psychotherapy

With vegetative-vascular dystonia, it is important not to close yourself off from the problem, but to solve it. Therefore, competent psychotherapy plays a significant role in the treatment of VSD. Psychotherapy helps you understand yourself better, become calmer and more confident.

Spa treatment

An annual holiday in a sanatorium outside the period of exacerbation of vegetative-vascular dystonia has a positive effect on the physical and psycho-emotional state of people, which helps to prolong remission. But with VSD, long trips abroad will not be the best idea. It would be more correct to choose a balneological resort in the climatic zone in which he permanently lives, since a sharp change in climate can negatively affect a person’s condition and provoke a new exacerbation of VSD.

How to influence COVID symptoms with breathing exercises?

Exercises that are aimed at optimizing air exchange in the alveoli of the lungs also help to reduce a number of symptoms (if the disease is not severe) or increase the speed of treatment in severe forms of the disease.

Exercises based on quick short breaths of air through the nose and passive exhalation give good results.

In addition to the fact that exercise saturates the body with oxygen, blood circulation improves and lymphatic drainage is put in order. Breathing exercises are also useful for combating inflammatory processes. The optimal option is about 30-40 breaths, 3-6 seconds of rest and cyclic repetition of the exercises 3-4 times. It is best to do exercises in a well-ventilated area on an empty stomach, or if you feel very weak, 1.5-2 hours after eating.

Hypertension is a contraindication for performing breathing exercises. Exercise can further raise your blood pressure.

Chronic constipation - treatment

Treatment for chronic constipation depends on its severity and the underlying cause.

Possible treatments

Diet and lifestyle changes

The first line of treatment for chronic constipation is to make changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Increasing fiber intake

Dietary fiber adds bulk to stool, allowing it to pass through the intestines more quickly. Your doctor may recommend gradually increasing your fiber intake by introducing more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Switching from refined grains to whole grains can increase your fiber intake.

Drink more water

Water softens the stool, allowing it to pass smoothly through the intestines and rectum.

Increasing physical activity

Regular movement increases muscle activity in the intestines, helping stool pass through the digestive system. Therefore, increasing physical activity promotes more regular bowel movements.

Go to the toilet when the urge arises

If a person regularly ignores their body's signals, they may not feel the urge to have a bowel movement, which can make constipation worse.

Medicines

If diet and lifestyle changes are not effective, medications can be tried to soften the stool or increase bowel movements. Some methods include:

• Fiber supplements such as psyllium, which adds bulk to stool
• Stool softeners such as Surfak, which draw water from the intestines to moisten stool
• Oils such as olive help to have bowel movements smoothly
• Stimulants such as Senokot cause bowel movements
• Enemas and suppositories to facilitate bowel movements
• If over-the-counter laxatives and natural remedies do not relieve constipation, your doctor may recommend prescription medications. The drugs lubiprostone (Amitiza) and linaclotide (Linzes) are usually effective in treating chronic constipation.

Biofeedback training

Biofeedback training is a type of behavioral therapy aimed at treating constipation and other types of bowel dysfunction. This type of therapy involves learning how to relax and tighten the pelvic muscles that support the bladder and bowels. Relaxing these muscles at the right time can increase the likelihood of a successful bowel movement.

During biofeedback training, the therapist will walk you through a series of exercises to help you relax and tighten your muscles. A 2006 study compared the effectiveness of biofeedback training and laxative medications in people with pelvic floor problems. The researchers found that the training was more effective.

Surgery

Surgery for chronic constipation is rare. However, a person may need surgery to remove a blockage in the intestine or part of the diseased colon.

Coronavirus prevention measures

• Wear masks, medical respirators, disposable gloves, and eye shields.
• Wash your hands regularly and treat them with antiseptics that contain 70% alcohol. Also treat handles, window sills, and tables with disinfectant solutions.
• Ventilate the room often.
• Maintain a sufficient level of humidity in the room (40-60%), use humidifiers if necessary.
• Rinse mucous membranes with saline solutions. They can be purchased at the pharmacy or prepared from table sea salt.
• Take vitamins, including vitamin D and B vitamins.
• Do breathing exercises and strengthen your lungs. They will not help avoid infection, but will help the body avoid severe disease.

conclusions

• The most common symptoms of coronavirus are fever, weakness (weakness), dry cough, loss of smell; in complicated and severe forms of COVID there are serious difficulties with breathing.
• Both adults and children can get sick, with or without severe symptoms. But there are more asymptomatic patients among children than among adults.
• Much depends on how the virus entered the body. If through the eyes, inflammation of the eyeball is pronounced. If the virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, the first symptoms include a sore throat and cough.
• A number of patients have dermatological signs in addition to the characteristic respiratory signs.
• Loss of smell is a common, but not essential, symptom of coronavirus. At the same time, it is also not worth considering the loss of charm as the presence of coronavirus. Often this is a signal of other pathologies.
• To reduce symptoms, it is important to start timely treatment, monitor nutrition, and do breathing exercises.
• At increased risk are the elderly, people with impaired metabolism, blood clotting problems, and a weakened immune system. The course of the disease in them is more difficult, and the symptoms are more pronounced.
• If coromavirus is in a mild form, then there is no difficulty breathing, but if it is severe, this is one of the common difficulties in treating the disease.
• The most complex symptoms are in patients with respiratory distress syndrome. With it, the attack begins on healthy tissues of the body.

Follow sanitary and hygienic rules; if symptoms appear, consult a doctor immediately, do not panic.