Is Wheezing a Sign of Covid?
If you’re one of the people who think we’re out of the woods with the Covid pandemic, you had best think again. People are still being infected by the virus, and in some locations it continues to happen on a large scale. It is good that most people around the world are double or triple vaccinated now, and some people will have even had their 4th shot. But let’s be clear, the vaccine doesn’t stop you from getting Covid, it just suppresses the severity of the symptoms in a big way. It is helpful to be aware of Covid symptoms even if you’re vaccinated, because you don’t want to risk infecting others. Is wheezing a sign of Covid?
Shortness of breath is well known as a Covid symptom, and so is coughing a lot but not bringing up any phlegm. Being short of breath is also one of the unpleasant realities that people with long Covid are having to put up with, and there really is a need to make sure that these people who were more affected by Covid get the care they need. In fairness to the medical community this is very much uncharted territory in the same way it was for Governments all around the world that didn’t have any playbook for a pandemic.
But back to the question and is wheezing a sign of Covid. It’s not, and if you look at a list of Covid-19 symptoms you’ll see shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, but not wheezing while you breathe. A person who is asthmatic may experience this wheezing when they have Covid, but it will be because of a co-occurring asthma attack and not because of the viral infection. So is wheezing a symptom of Covid? No, it’s not but if you’re not an asthma sufferer and you’re wheezing when dealing with a bout of Covid then you may want to talk to a medical professional about that.
Respiratory Rescue
Wheezing is caused when the airway into your lungs is constricted and narrower, and by inhaling and exhaling through this smaller space a person’s breathing becomes more audible and with a higher pitch to it. Tightness in the chest when breathing in or out is another possible symptom of a Covid infection, but is wheezing a symptom of Covid? It’s not, although one thing we do know is that breathing difficulties from Covid usually come on within 5 days of initial symptoms being seen. But doctors and nurses who have been seeing and helping patients with Covid won’t say they’ve seen anyone wheezing because of an infection.
The next consideration around is wheezing a sign of Covid we should have here is that Fall is just around the corner and winter will be here before we know it. That means cold and flu season, and just like last year there will be people who aren’t sure whether they’ve got the flu or Covid. Wheezing isn’t a symptom of either of them though, and people who do wheeze when they breathe are likely going to be asthma or COPD sufferers who will have been dealing with their condition for years if not most of their lives. They may be wheezing while they are getting over a Covid infection but this aspect of breathing difficulties and the narrowed airway isn’t going to be caused by Covid.
There is one possibility around is wheezing a sign of Covid, and it has to do with the vagus nerve in your neck. This parasympathetic nerve has a lot of very beneficial effects for the body, and it can be activated with slower, more deliberate breathing. Some people will employ this way of breathing to stimulate the vagus nerve so that they have less anxiety or other types of mental distress. People with Covid may stimulate their vagus nerve without knowing it with labored breathing, and for some people a stimulated vagus nerve can result in a constricted airway. This may be the cause of wheezing.
Fix for It
Asthma or COPD inhalers are only available with a prescription. This has nothing to do with is wheezing a sign of Covid, but if you are wheezing to the point that you are concerned about your breathing then it may be time for you to be proactive in finding a fix for it. These inhalers work well to counter the inflammatory response that is constricting the airway, so if you are wheezing while dealing with Covid you may want to have your doctor see if your airway is narrower than it was before. There is no guarantee that they’ll write you a prescription, but they might.
Again, not related to is wheezing a sign of Covid but if you want to stay ahead of any potential problems with your breathing you may want to strengthen your diagram by trying belly breathing.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
