Top 6 Causes of Post-COVID-19 Breathlessness and Treatment

2. When to Seek Post-COVID-19 Examination?

Experts recommend that not every patient experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing after recovering from COVID-19 needs immediate medical attention. In fact, many patients only face these symptoms within 2 to 3 weeks. After this period, most fully recover and can resume normal activities.

However, individuals should promptly seek medical attention in the following cases for timely advice and intervention:

• Patients who have attempted various measures to alleviate shortness of breath, such as prescribed medications, breathing exercises, and respiratory function recovery, but still experience persistent symptoms.
• Prolonged shortness of breath lasting over 3 to 4 weeks, with no signs of improvement, negatively impacting work capacity and significantly disrupting daily life.
• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing worsening over time, substantially affecting overall health, necessitating prompt reassessment and intervention.
• For elderly patients with underlying conditions who have undergone oxygen therapy, ventilator support, etc., during treatment, reassessment is essential. According to experts, patients should undergo reassessment at least once within 1 to 3 months after recovering from COVID-19.

According to experts, not every patient experiences shortness of breath or difficulty breathing after recovering from Covid-19 needs to seek medical attention. In fact, many patients only encounter these symptoms within 2 to 3 weeks. After that, they fully recover and can resume normal activities.

However, for the following cases, patients should seek early medical attention for timely consultation and intervention:

• Patients who have tried measures to improve shortness of breath, such as taking prescribed medications, breathing exercises, respiratory function rehabilitation, etc., but the shortness of breath symptoms persist.
• Prolonged shortness of breath lasting more than 3 to 4 weeks, with no decreasing trend, reducing the patient's ability to work and significantly affecting daily life activities.
• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing worsening over time, significantly impacting the patient's health, necessitating early re-examination and intervention.
• For elderly patients with underlying conditions who have had prolonged oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, etc., during the course of the disease, re-examination is essential. According to experts, patients should be re-examined at least once within 1 to 3 months after recovering from Covid-19.

Symptoms of Shortness of Breath after Covid-19

The symptoms of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing after Covid-19 are evident in various situations. Patients may struggle to complete sentences due to shortness of breath, experience difficulty exerting effort or walking briskly, and even get breathless after climbing just a few stairs. Other manifestations include an accelerated heartbeat, intermittent breathing, shortness of breath accompanied by chest tightness, and an inability to sing with the same high pitch as before contracting Covid-19.

Reverse Breathing

• Manifestation: Slouched shoulders, expanded chest, and a feeling of extreme fatigue. Similar to sports exhaustion, you may experience rapid breathing. The cause is breathing from the chest, leading to shortness of breath. As the chest has bones, internal organs, and muscles attached to a sturdy frame, these muscles cannot expand widely. Trying to take more breaths and compressing at the chest leads to breathlessness. The remedy involves engaging the abdominal diaphragm to breathe deeply and sustain breath here. Place your hand on the abdomen, inhale deeply, ensuring shoulders and chest remain in place, and exhale slowly and gently. Practice regularly to make this breathing technique a habit when speaking or singing, resulting in a powerful and controlled voice.
• Low Larynx
• Manifestation: Hoarseness, shortness of breath, loud and noisy sounds, a sense of increased breath and fatigue.
• Remedy: Keep the larynx comfortably relaxed, avoiding attempts to produce distinct sounds. Your natural voice is the best, so relax the larynx and consider singing as if having a conversation.

Firstly, get vaccinated to prevent infection. This is the first and most crucial step.

Secondly, if unfortunate enough to contract the disease, patients must adhere to local health declarations for proper management, categorized by symptom severity ranging from asymptomatic to mild, moderate, and severe.

Monitor health for any unusual signs such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or in children, signs like:

• Labored breathing, chest retractions, flaring nostrils, wheezing, or grunting
• Respiratory rate in adults ≥ 20 breaths/minute
• SpO2 ≤ 96%; rapid pulse > 120 beats/minute or < 50 beats/minute
• Low blood pressure: maximum blood pressure < 90 mmHg, minimum blood pressure < 60 mmHg (if measurable)
• Frequent chest pain, tightness, increased pain with deep breaths; altered consciousness: confusion, lethargy, hallucination, extreme fatigue...

When encountering the above abnormal signs, inform the Covid-19 management facility, local health station, or mobile health station, emergency transport center, etc., for prompt emergency handling and hospital transfer.

Thirdly, in case of any post-Covid-19 health issues, patients should visit healthcare facilities for examination or contact healthcare professionals for assistance. Early detection of complications, sequelae, or incurred diseases will enhance the timeliness and effectiveness of the treatment process.

If experiencing shortness of breath, you can supplement your body with nutrient-rich foods, including:

• Ginseng porridge
• Ginseng and apple porridge
• Ginseng and jujube porridge
• Chinese yam and goat meat soup
• Stir-fried chives with eggs
• Mushroom and herbal tea dessert
• Mushroom and herbal tea with red dates and goji berries
• Pork liver and sticky rice soup

• Massage, warmth therapy: Self-massage gently around the neck daily to help alleviate tension and anxiety, soothing the nerves. Family members can use their hands to gently massage or apply warmth using a heating pad to the upper back, between the shoulder blades.
• Deep breathing, exercise: Perform deep breathing at least once daily, 10-15 minutes each time. Inhale deeply, expanding the chest; exhale, allowing the abdomen to fully deflate. Combine whole-body exercise starting from light intensity and gradually increasing, listen to your body, and avoid overexertion.
• Medication: Supplement with some ready-made Chinese herbal medicines such as pills, syrups, lung-nourishing tonics, prioritizing liquid forms; supplements for replenishing vital energy, supporting lung function...
• Listen to music: Listening to melodious and majestic tunes can create a sense of upliftment in a peaceful setting, reducing fatigue.