COVID Lung Specialist
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Pulmonary Care Clinics
Pulmonology & Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Specialist located in Cooper City, FL
The relatively new disease COVID-19 can result in long-term scarring of the lungs in people with a severe infection. If you've recovered from this disease but you're left with symptoms of COVID lung, Zael Vazquez, MD, and his team at Pulmonary Care Clinics in Cooper City, Florida, can help. Dr. Vazquez is a fellowship-trained expert in lung diseases who offers the most up-to-date treatments for patients with lung disorders. Recovery from COVID lung damage involves a partnership between you and the team at Pulmonary Care Clinics. To get started, call today or book an appointment online.
COVID Lung Q & A
What is COVID lung?
COVID lung is a name for the damage COVID-19 infection can cause to your lungs. The serious conditions you might develop with COVID-19 include:
Pneumonia
When you have pneumonia, your lungs fill with fluid and become inflamed, which causes breathing difficulties. COVID-19 pneumonia tends to affect both lungs, limiting your ability to take in enough oxygen and leading to shortness of breath and a cough.
COVID-19 pneumonia can be severe. And even after you've recovered from the acute illness, injuries to your lungs can lead to breathing difficulties that persist for months.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
COVID-19 pneumonia may progress to a point where so many of the air sacs in your lungs fill with fluid that it leads to ARDS, a type of lung failure. If you have ARDS, you may not be able to breathe on your own and might need a ventilator to help oxygen circulate around your body.
ARDS is sometimes fatal, and those who survive may suffer long-lasting scarring in their lungs.
How likely am I to get COVID lung?
Several factors influence your risk of developing COVID lung:
COVID-19 severity
Mild cases of COVID-19 are less likely to result in long-term scarring of the lung tissue. The more severe your condition, the more likely you are to develop COVID lung.
Underlying health problems
If you have a condition like heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it increases your risk of COVID lung.
Age
Older people are more at risk of severe COVID-19, and their lung tissues are often less elastic. They may also have weakened immune systems.
Treatment
Your recovery from COVID-19 and the long-term health of your lungs depend on how quickly you start your therapy and the quality of care you get. Prompt hospital treatment of severely ill patients reduces the extent of any lung damage.
What does recovery from COVID lung involve?
The injury to your lungs caused by COVID-19 results in scarring. The tissues heal gradually, but it could take at least three months and possibly a year or more to regain the function you had before getting COVID lung.
During this time, the Pulmonary Care Clinics team offers ongoing support and advice on caring for your lungs.
It's important to eat a nutritious diet to promote healing and stay well hydrated, so your blood volume is at optimal levels. This ensures you have healthy mucous membranes in your respiratory system, which encourages tissue repair and reduces the risk of further infection.
The team also provides treatments to help you breathe and encourage your lungs to heal, including respiratory therapy to strengthen your lung muscles.
If you need help with COVID lung, call Pulmonary Care Clinics today or book an appointment online.
