Lung Health & COVID-19 FAQ

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a type of coronavirus that is new to humans. Spread person-to-person, it carries the potential for severe illness, pneumonia and lung damage in some people.

People with serious underlying health conditions, including lung disease (e.g., asthma, COPD, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis) are not more likely to contract an infection, but they are more likely to have worse outcomes if they become sick with COVID-19.

High-risk extends to people over aged 65, people with other serious underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as serious heart conditions, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, people with severe obesity with a body mass index (BMI) over 40, and those who have weakened immune systems.  Many conditions can cause a person to have a weakened immune system, such as cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplant, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDs or prolonged use of oral corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications.

The CDC recently changed guidelines to recommend that individuals wear a cloth face covering when out in public, such as a grocery store, to further reduce the transmission of the virus. Commercial masks, such as N95 masks, are not recommended as they are urgently needed by healthcare providers caring for sick individuals. Check out our steps to help yourself get used to wearing a cloth face covering in public.

As the surgeon general stated, the recommendation of wearing cloth face coverings is to protect others from your respiratory droplets when cough, sneeze or talk because we know that people with little to no symptoms can unknowingly spread the disease.  The cloth covering is not being recommended as a way for you to decrease getting infected—the main way you protect yourself is avoiding others who are sick, maintaining social distancing, washing your hands frequently and not touching your face (nose, mouth, eyes) and cleaning regularly used surfaces and objects with disinfecting products.

Individuals living with chronic lung diseases are at higher risk for worse outcomes if they become sick with COVID-19. As much as possible, it’s best to remain home and distanced from others to reduce your risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19.   

First, Check out our steps to help yourself get used to wearing a cloth face covering in public. If you must go into crowded areas where masks are generally required and you are uncomfortable breathing with the masks, I suggest you express your concerns with your healthcare provider. As not to burden physicians’ offices, we do not encourage getting doctors’ notes unless there are extenuating circumstances.

It’s generally advised to continue taking your current medications to maintain optimal health. Having a poorly controlled chronic condition may put you at increased risk of severe illness. If you have any concerns about the medications you are currently taking they should be directed to your healthcare provider.

Many individuals use a nebulizer to take inhaled medications at home and it is safe to continue doing so.

However, if you have suspected or diagnosed COVID-19, you should speak with your healthcare provider about additional precautions to take when using your nebulizer.  

Anyone with a compromised immune system, which includes people with autoimmune disease, on chemotherapy or living with an organ transplant, should be more stringent on staying home and other preventive measures such as hand washing, social distancing and disinfecting. Additionally, you should contact your healthcare provider to determine an individual action plan based on your specific situation.

The majority of routine or non-urgent appointments may still be cancelled. If you have need for a new medical appointment or one that is previously scheduled, contact your healthcare provider to discuss options for virtual appointments or other guidance.

If you are experiencing any symptoms that could be COVID-19 (shortness of breath, chest tightness, dry cough) be sure to communicate that by phone with the healthcare provider, do not take public transportation to the appointment, wear a cloth face covering and follow any other advice your doctor provides.

This is a good question. There is a lot of talk in the news about antibody testing, a blood test that checks for proteins (antibodies) specific to this disease that helped fight off the illness. This tells us if you have previously been infected with the novel coronavirus. We do not know if these antibodies provide protection, and for how long, from getting infected again.  We will have to wait and see if the antibodies make individuals immune to the virus moving forward.

There are two kinds of tests available for COVID-19. The one you are asking about tests for current infection – a viral test that is usually obtained by way of a nasal swab. The two main reasons to get tested are if you’re having symptoms that could be COVID-19 or have been exposed to a person confirmed to have COVID-19. These results may help your doctor determine how you should be treated and also become important in tracking contacts so as to decrease the spread of COVID-19.   In most instances you will need a prescription or order from your physician. Contact your healthcare provider if you feel you should be tested to discuss your concerns.

Pulse oximeters are not recommended for otherwise healthy individuals.  They are indicated for individuals with lung or heart disease who receive supplemental oxygen as a way to monitor and adjust their prescribed oxygen therapy.

A tough question indeed. COPD, for example, is a high-risk disease for readmission to the hospital. So, the best things to do is stay home and on your maintenance medications, socially distance yourself if you absolutely must be out of your home, avoid sick people, watch the air quality and keep your hands clean. Stay in contact with your healthcare provider about any change in symptoms. There’s no good answer other than following your treatment plan as prescribed.

The lungs are a major target of COVID-19. When the virus is inhaled into the lungs, it invades the tissues, causing inflammation and breathing problems. If the infection gets worse it can develop into pneumonia. In a small number of severe cases, patients can develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that will require them to be placed on a ventilator for oxygen. If too much of the lung is damaged and not enough oxygen is supplied to the rest of the body, respiratory failure could lead to organ failure and death. The recovery rate and consequences from a severe COVID-19 will vary person to person but there may be some long term damage to the lungs.

Cigarette smoking and vaping are linked to lung inflammation, as well as reduced lung and immune function, all which can increase the likelihood of complications if exposed to COVID-19. Therefore, long-terms smokers and e-cigarette users have a higher risk of developing chronic lung conditions and serious infections associated with severe cases.

Air pollution can make the COVID-19 pandemic worse. Since it is a disease affecting the lungs, people who live in places with more pollution could be more vulnerable.

People who have been exposed to the new coronavirus and who are at risk for coming down with COVID-19 should practice self-quarantine. Health experts recommend that self-quarantine lasts 14 days. Two weeks should provide enough time to know if they will become ill and be contagious to other people. Self-quarantine involves using standard hygiene and washing hands frequently, not sharing things like towels or utensils, staying home, not having visitors and staying at least six feet away from other people in your household, preferably in a separate room with a separate bathroom. Once your quarantine period has ended, if you do not have symptoms, follow your doctor’s instructions on how to return to your normal routine.

It’s a good idea to wipe down surfaces and objects that enter your home using an alcohol (at least 60%) or bleach-based solution to remove germs. If the newspaper arrives in a plastic bag, carefully remove the bag and throw it away. Then, after you touch the paper, thoroughly wash your hands. The CDC has guidance on clean and disinfect your home should you have a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus in your home.

Most children with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. There is a new body of evidence looking at a small sub-set of children who are experiencing symptoms of an inflammatory disease that may be attributed to COVID-19. This is a troubling new development that the medical community is researching. COVID-19 is a disease that has never been seen in humans before and we are constantly learning and adapting recommendations based on new information. For now, the best advice I can give you is to continue staying home, maintaining social distancing, washing hands and distancing yourself from individuals who are ill and be in contact with your healthcare provider regarding any new symptoms you or your children may develop.

Do not use disinfectants on or in your body. The use of disinfectants should be applied as directed for cleaning surfaces, not people.  

The Environmental Protection Agency has a list of over 400 cleaning products that have been tested to disinfect surfaces against the virus that causes COVID-19.

The recommendation to stay home and limit the spread of the virus hasn’t changed in spite of recent openings. Re-opening doesn’t mean the virus is gone from your community.   I encourage you to utilize takeout or delivery options to support local diners and restaurants. Many stores are offering no-contact curbside pickup or delivery options. Consult your local and state agencies for the latest public health guidance for your area, especially if you are considered among those at high risk for complications if you get infected.

If you decide to venture out, it is important to maintain social distancing of at least six feet from others, wear a cloth face covering for the protection of others, and wash your hands often. Do NOT go out if you are experiencing symptoms that might be COVID-19 (short-of-breath, chest tightness, cough).

The benefit is that you don’t have to go out in the public. If possible, pay by credit card so you don’t have to interact with the delivery person. They can just leave it at the door. There are benefits to this method if you can afford it. Don’t forget – after bringing in your groceries or deliveries – wash your hands. 

We know that Better Breathers Clubs have been suspended as have other non-urgent support and maintenance programs. All of this is the right thing to do. If we don’t take immediate action, the virus will continue to spread. Churches. gyms and other community gatherings places are closing across the country to enforce social distancing. If we don’t take it seriously, it’s not going to work.

Traveling in a car with members of your household is okay. You’ll want to avoid crowded rest stops or restaurants. Now is not the time to visit others aside from those who live in your household to help prevent spread and limit exposure to people at high-risk for complications. Many hospitals and skilled nursing centers are limiting visitors for this reason. So, if you want to visit family in person, wait until the mitigation period is over. 

Anybody who is sick should be kept away from others, especially a high-risk individual. In fact, the high-risk individual should additionally contact his/her healthcare provider for advice. The high-risk individual should talk to their doctor about what is happening, monitor themselves for symptoms and share any concerns that might warrant getting tested. It is important to distinguish between the flu and COVID-19 because if it’s the flu, there is treatment for that. If it’s COVID-19, the sooner you get diagnosed, the quicker the necessary medical support can begin.