What are the best ways to reduce Covid-19 symptoms?

Best Ways to Reduce COVID-19 Symptoms

For COVID-19 symptom management, use paracetamol for fever, honey for cough, controlled breathing techniques for breathlessness, and ensure adequate hydration with up to 2 liters of fluids daily. 1

Managing Fever

• Fever typically peaks around day 5 after exposure to COVID-19 1
• First-line treatment:
  • Paracetamol is preferred over NSAIDs for symptom relief 1
  • Take only while symptoms persist
  • Do not use antipyretics solely to reduce body temperature 1
• Maintain adequate hydration with up to 2 liters of fluid daily 1

Managing Cough

• Position is important:
  • Avoid lying on your back as this makes coughing ineffective 1
  • Upright sitting improves ventilation and reduces airway obstruction 1
• Simple measures to try first:
  • Honey (for patients over 1 year old) 1
  • For distressing cough, consider short-term use of:
    • Codeine linctus
    • Codeine phosphate tablets
    • Morphine sulfate oral solution 1

Managing Breathlessness

• Controlled breathing techniques are highly effective: 1
  • Pursed-lip breathing: Inhale through nose for several seconds, then exhale slowly through pursed lips for 4-6 seconds 1
  • Positioning strategies:
    • High side lying 1
    • Forward lean sitting with arms bracing a chair 1
    • Relaxing and dropping shoulders to reduce hunched posture 1
  • Square box breathing 1
• Regulate walking pace appropriately to prevent oxygen desaturation during activity 1
• Resume daily activities at a conservative pace that is safe and manageable 1

Hydration Strategy

• Maintain adequate hydration with up to 2 liters of fluid daily 1
• Proper hydration may be particularly important as dehydration of upper airways increases risk of respiratory diseases 2
• Targeted hydration of the nose, larynx and trachea (using calcium-rich hypertonic salts) has shown promise in reducing respiratory droplet generation and improving oxygen saturation in COVID-19 patients 2

Additional Supportive Measures

• For chest pain without evidence of ischemia:
  • Consider a 1-2 week trial of NSAIDs if pain is pleuritic or has inflammatory component 1
  • Low-dose colchicine may be added if needed 1
• For sleep disturbances:
  • Cognitive and behavioral therapy approaches are most effective 3
  • Sleep hygiene education
  • Stimulus control
  • Sleep restriction

Important Cautions

• Put treatment escalation plans in place as patients may deteriorate rapidly 1
• Avoid using nirmatrelvir-ritonavir for long COVID symptoms, as it is only indicated for acute COVID-19 within 5 days of symptom onset 3
• Limit administration of crystalloid solutions in critically ill patients 4
• Recognize when to seek medical help:
  • Worsening breathlessness
  • Oxygen saturation below 94% on room air
  • Confusion or altered mental status
  • Persistent chest pain

Special Considerations for Severe Cases

• All severe COVID-19 patients should be screened for rehabilitation needs before hospital discharge 1
• Patients with severe disease may benefit from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches in combination with standard care 1, 3
• For patients with persistent symptoms after acute infection, consider screening for rehabilitation needs including physical, cognitive, and mental disorders 1

By following these evidence-based approaches, most COVID-19 symptoms can be effectively managed while reducing distress and improving quality of life during the illness.