As the coronavirus reaches its peak, one of the most frightening places to go might be your doctor’s office.
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As states relax stay-at-home orders, are you eager or fearful of stepping off your property? One of the most frightening places to go can be anywhere suspected COVID-19 patients congregate.
Are you pregnant? Is a root canal required? Do you have gastrointestinal disturbance, unexplained headaches, eye disorders, or other medical conditions?
To accommodate this increase in volume, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, along with many state agencies, has issued directives that nonessential care be discontinued for a time, in the hopes that those resources and personnel can be redeployed to fight the spreading coronavirus. Does delaying treatment worsen a life-threatening or debilitating prognosis? If yes, the treatment is probably essential.
You may hesitate to visit the person who should make you feel well when it seems this carries the risk of contracting something worse. So what are other sick people doing? They are reading about their symptoms online. Some are ordering the same anatomy posters that hang within doctors’ offices. The wise ones are reaching out to professionals for treatment recommendations, then making educated decisions regarding proper care.
Telemedicine is available in some areas. Health plans may include email access to doctors. Generally, a nurse follows up with a respouse within a few days.
Who Is At Risk?
When scheduling a doctor’s appointment, share your age and any preexisting conditions that may put you at risk for coronavirus. Chances of COVID-19 infection exponentially increase between 60 and 80+ years of age.
Other factors can put younger people at risk. Have you been in contact with someone who has COVID-19? Are you manifesting flulike symptoms? You can download COVID-19 symptom checker from the Apple App Store or visit a web page.
Do you have moderate to severe asthma, COPD, liver disease, diabetes, or hypertension? Are you taking immunosuppressive drugs as a result of lupus, cancer treatment, or organ transplant?
Individuals who smoke tobacco or marijuana, and potentially those who vape electronic smoking devices, reduce their lung function by introducing particulate matter, toxins, and carcinogens into their lungs, which then increases susceptibility for respiratory illnesses. People of any age with severe obesity (body mass index >40) are also at risk.
Let’s be clear. If you are very sick, you should schedule an appointment with a physician or contact emergency services if necessary. Protocol in most medical facilities during the pandemic is to isolate potential and confirmed COVID-19 patients either at home or in the hospital. Hand sanitizer and disposable face masks might be available during your doctor visit. But it may be best to wear a mask when you leave the house.
Scheduling visits allows doctors to treat high-risk patients, like elderly, in specific areas at special times. Some medical facilities offer drive-thru or walk-up testing and vaccinations to minimize exposure during the pandemic. Stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary to leave so you can be healthy.
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To support the writing of useful articles about this topic, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about this topic. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.
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To support the writing of useful articles about this topic, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about this topic. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may remit a small donation.
You can support the writing of useful articles about this topic by sponsoring specific articles or remitting a small donation. Visible content is optimized for device size.
References
- A Better Way to Prioritize 'Essential' vs 'Elective' Care During COVID-19. medscape.com/viewarticle/928537 Retrieved 19 Apr 2020
- Many operating rooms are empty as patients wait in pain after surgeries cancelled. ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/many-operating-rooms-are-empty-as-patients-wait-in-pain-after-surgeries-cancelled-1.4910699 Retrieved 19 Apr 2020
- Symptoms of Coronavirus. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html Retrieved 19 Apr 2020
- Apple launches COVID–19 screening app and website. theverge.com/2020/3/27/21197056/apple-coronavirus-covid-19-website-app-online-screening-tool-cdc Retrieved 19 Apr 2020
- People who are at higher risk for severe illness. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html Retrieved 19 Apr 2020
- COVID-19 and Diabetes. webmd.com/lung/diabetes-and-coronavirus#1 Retrieved 19 Apr 2020
- Respiratory Risk Factors and COVID–19. no-smoke.org/respiratory-risk-factors-covid-19/ Retrieved 19 Apr 2020
