- \n
- Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine<\/li>\n
- Wearing a well-fitted N95, KN95, or KN94 mask in public indoor spaces<\/li>\n
- Improving indoor air quality through adequate ventilation and filtration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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What Is COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease)?<\/h3>\n
COVID-19 is a disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 affects many different parts of the body, including the lungs, stomach, heart, blood vessels, and brain. COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory system (breathing) disease, but experts believe it can also affect the vascular (blood vessel) and neurologic (nervous system) systems.<\/p>\n
The virus spreads easily and quickly<\/a> through the air. A person with the virus can spread it to other people by talking, coughing, sneezing, singing, or breathing. The virus is carried by large or small droplets that are expelled from (breathed out) the mouth or nose out into the air. Very small droplets can spread in the air. The virus can spread even if a person doesn\u2019t have symptoms. The virus spreads most easily in indoor spaces with poor air ventilation. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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What Are the Symptoms of COVID-19?<\/h3>\n
COVID-19 symptoms can feel like a cold, the flu<\/a>, or pneumonia<\/a>. Some people may have mild symptoms, while some may have complications \u2013 serious health issues like severe pneumonia \u2013 which can lead to death.<\/p>\n
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), common COVID-19 symptoms<\/a> can include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Fever<\/li>\n
- Chills<\/li>\n
- Cough<\/li>\n
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing<\/li>\n
- Feeling tired and weak \u2013 more than usual<\/li>\n
- Muscle or body aches<\/li>\n
- Headache<\/li>\n
- New loss of taste or smell<\/li>\n
- Sore throat<\/li>\n
- Stuffy or runny nose<\/li>\n
- Diarrhea<\/li>\n
- Nausea or vomiting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you have these emergency warning signs, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath<\/li>\n
- Pain or pressure in the chest that doesn\u2019t go away<\/li>\n
- New and sudden confusion<\/li>\n
- Can\u2019t wake up or stay awake<\/li>\n
- Cyanosis – tissue color changes on mucus membranes (like tongue, lips, and around the eyes) and fingertips or nail beds \u2013 the color appears grayish or whitish on darker skin tones and bluish on lighter skin tones<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This list may not include all symptoms. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after coming in contact with the virus. If you have any symptoms that are severe or concerning, call your doctor.<\/p>\n
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\u200bWhat Should I Do If I Think I Have COVID-19?<\/h3>\n
Continue to take your asthma and allergy medicines at the first sign of symptoms as listed on your Asthma Action Plan<\/a>. Keep taking these medicines as prescribed:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Quick-relief medicine (such as albuterol)<\/li>\n
- Inhaled corticosteroids (controller medicines)<\/li>\n
- Oral corticosteroids (such as prednisone)<\/li>\n
- Biologics<\/li>\n
- Antihistamines (allergy medicine)<\/li>\n
- Proton pump inhibitors for acid reflux<\/li>\n
- Nasal allergy sprays<\/li>\n
- Allergy immunotherapy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you have any questions about asthma medicines and COVID-19, talk with your health care provider.<\/p>\n
If you have symptoms and think you may have COVID-19, you may want to take a COVID-19 test. There are many ways to get tested.<\/p>\n
- \n
- You can order free at home tests. At the end of Sept. 2024, each U.S. household can order 4 free COVID-19 tests through COVIDTests.gov<\/a> and they will be mailed to your home. You can sign up for yours today. You can also buy an at home test at any pharmacy and many retail stores.<\/li>\n
- Check with your local health department, pharmacy, or community health center as they may also offer free testing. If you feel you need to be seen in clinic, call your doctor to schedule an appointment or go to your nearest urgent care center for a test.<\/li>\n
- If you need help getting information or finding testing locations, the disability information and access line<\/a> can help with any questions you may have.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
After you take a test and get your results, take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n
- \n
- If your test was positive, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and stay home if you are sick. Pay attention to your symptoms, and if they get worse, call your doctor and get emergency care right away. Get plenty of rest and continue to take your asthma medicines as prescribed by your health care provider.<\/li>\n
- If you tested negative for COVID-19 and have symptoms, you may have tested before the virus could be detected by the test. In this case, follow the FDA recommendations for testing again. If you continue to test negative for COVID-19, you may have another viral infection or illness. Continue to take actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses by staying home if you are sick and wearing a mask. Contact your doctor if your symptoms get worse or do not go away.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
There are treatments available that may be used to treat people who are at risk of severe COVID-19 or complications from COVID-19 and have tested positive for COVID-19. These treatments include antihistamines, acetaminophen, and antiviral medicines such as Paxlovid, Veklury, and Lagevrio. If you are at risk of complications or are more likely to get very sick, contact your doctor and ask about COVID-19 treatments.<\/p>\n
- \n
- It is important that you contact your doctor right away if you test positive for COVID-19. If prescribed by your doctor, start antiviral medicines as soon as possible, within 5 to 7 days when the symptoms start.<\/li>\n
- If you have a weakened immune system, it is important to remember to get plenty of rest. It may take longer for your body to recover from symptoms, and you may even have COVID-19 symptoms longer and more severely than other people. If this happens, call your doctor. There may be additional treatments you can take to feel better and recover.<\/li>\n
- Continue to take your medicines as prescribed by your health care provider, drink plenty of fluids, and allow your body to get plenty of rest, even after you start to feel better.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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What Happens If I Get COVID-19 and I Have Moderate to Severe Asthma or I Am Immunocompromised?<\/h3>\n
If you have moderate to severe asthma or a chronic lung disease, you may be more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 or be sicker for a longer period of time. It is important to keep your asthma well-controlled. If your asthma is not controlled, you might be at a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.<\/p>\n
If you get COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, contact your doctor right away. There are antiviral treatments that may reduce the severity of your illness if you take it within 5 days of having symptoms.<\/p>\n
You can be immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) due to a medical condition, such as another chronic lung disease or from taking immunosuppressive medicines like high-dose oral corticosteroids (20 mg or more of prednisone or equivalent per day for 2 weeks or longer). \u00a0<\/p>\n
If you get very sick from COVID-19, you are more likely to:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Need to be in the hospital for special care<\/li>\n
- Require a ventilator (breathing machine) to help you breathe<\/li>\n
- Need intensive care<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you have moderate to severe asthma or are immunocompromised, get the COVID-19 vaccine and follow the multi-steps of protection listed in the section above titled, \u201cHow Can I Protect Myself and Other People From COVID-19?\u201d<\/p>\n
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How Can I Tell the Difference Between Asthma, Seasonal Allergies, a Cold, COVID-19, the Flu, a Cold, or RSV?\u200b<\/h3>\n
Some diseases or illnesses have similar symptoms to COVID-19. The charts below can help you figure out if you may be feeling symptoms of asthma, allergies, or a respiratory illness like COVID-19, the flu, a cold, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)<\/a>. If you have a fever and a cough, call your doctor right away. If you have seasonal allergies<\/a>, there are things you can do to treat them at home.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
- You can order free at home tests. At the end of Sept. 2024, each U.S. household can order 4 free COVID-19 tests through COVIDTests.gov<\/a> and they will be mailed to your home. You can sign up for yours today. You can also buy an at home test at any pharmacy and many retail stores.<\/li>\n
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