Once infected with the COVID-19, your body forms antibodies that could prevent you from being reinfected. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll never contract the virus again. There are a lot of factors where a person can get infected with the virus.
We’ll never be completely safe until there’s a dedicated “medicine” to treat COVID-19. So, for now, here are the universal ways to stay safe from, recover from, and prevent reinfection with COVID-19.
Stay Home and Recuperate
A person’s immune system takes several days to clear the COVID-19 virus from the body. Its symptoms may go away more or less in a week, but you could still be contagious for days after.
Stay home first to limit exposing others. Gone are those days when you’ll be reprimanded for not coming to school or company. Instead, notify them that you got positive and have to recover first for some time. They’ll surely be glad if you do so.
Don’t get too lenient at home still. You know the drill. Religiously wash your hands with soap and water. Disinfect high-touch surfaces too. You can still talk to others but wear a mask and keep a distance between you and them. It’s hard, but it will be harder if you infect them.
It’s best if you isolate yourself and get more sleep instead. Having enough rest boosts your immune system, which can help you recover faster and avoid getting sick in the first place. A regular 8-hour sleep every night has always been recommended for optimal health.
Lastly, be medically alert if you’re a person or around people with comorbidities. For example, people with cerebrovascular diseases like stroke will likely get very sick from COVID-19. They’re usually hypertensive, so when they’re unwell, their blood pressure spikes too, leading to another stroke. Always stay in contact with your primary care provider.
Get Vaccinated
You have the right to say no to vaccines. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis. We are all in this together, so we have to be responsible for keeping everyone safe. During this pandemic, herd immunity is in everyone’s best interest.
In addition to that, it’s a preventive measure against reinfection. In fact, a recent study showed that the unvaccinated are more likely to get reinfected with COVID-19 than those who got their jabs after recovering.
How each immune system responds to COVID-19 is still not yet clear-cut. We still know very little about it. What’s evident nowadays is a strong protection that vaccine-induced immunity gives.
Be Insured
A study reported that 1 out of 10 US citizens under age 65 don’t have health insurance, an unexpected situation from a very advanced industrialized America. Although survey findings showed a decrease in the uninsured rate, the difference was insignificant.
The COVID-19 pandemic had taught America, at its worst situation, that this enormous health coverage gap will not only endanger the people’s health and economic security. It also puts the entire state at risk, affecting its people even more.
Health insurance isn’t only seen as security. It can also affect your health outcomes. When you’re insured, you’ll likely engage in regular medical care. As a result, unforeseen conditions can be diagnosed, treated, and prevented. One study even indicated that insured people would be 17% likely to avoid a cardiac arrest. It could be a matter of life and death.
If you’re still among those millions of uninsured people, start including insurance IQ health insurance within your budget. Healthcare is expensive, but it becomes far more reasonable with insurance.
Keep Fit and Healthy
Staying fit doesn’t have to be outdoors or with equipment. Yoga, in particular, can easily be done anytime, anywhere. It promotes physical and emotional health, so it’s a must-try during your post-recovery. Also, it’s totally safe for sick people since it only involves gentle motions.
You don’t have to get a yoga mat or expensive subscriptions just to be able to pull it off. Just staying in bed and doing simple poses like legs up the wall or a seated forward bend can already encourage mindfulness and relieve muscle soreness from staying in bed all day.
Lastly, proper nutrition and hydration are important for your recovery. Due to the increased stress from COVID-19, consume more calories than your normal intake. But make sure to opt for nutrient-dense whole foods. Also, for every 15 minutes, drink 2-4 ounces of fluids, especially those drinks with calories and protein, sports drinks, or oral rehydration solutions.
Takeaway
Getting back to your old self or even being better is no easy task. It takes some time. Once you’re on the mend, stay patient with your body. Always pay attention to the way your body feels. The last thing you want to do is overexert yourself and get sick again. With a healthy mindset and routine, you’ll be back to your healthy self in no time.
Interesting Related Article: “COVID Is Raising Healthcare Costs, Are You Prepared?“