Here are some useful tips and guidelines for cardiac patients if test proves positive
(Disclaimer : these are personal observations and are based on personal observations, these are guidelines only and your doctors advice is the best for you. Do not hesitate to contact your doctor in case of doubt or emergency)
- Do not panic
- Do not believe in hear say and whats app or other media messages. Confirm it with experts yourself before taking it seriously ( this applies to treatments, news, views, diets etc.)
- If in doubt get yourself tested.
- If you have doubt of symptoms isolate yourself till your RT PCR test results come.
- If oxygen levels are below 95% you will need a CT scan to see the extent of lung involvement
- If fever is high and associated with shortness of breath – get the following blood tests done – CBP, CRP, Serum Ferritin, Serum LDH, Serum D – Dimer, ESR
- Antibody tests only show how much response your body can give, they are not an index that you will not get infection
- Virus is modifying itself constantly so we may need regular booster doses. Keep yourself abreast with latest recommendations
- 6 min walking test – if in doubt of the oxygen levels, walk for 6 minutes and check oxygen levels before and after the walk, if there is a drop of 2-3 points then you may need a CT chest
- Monitor the following at regular basis – SpO2, respiratory rate, temperature
- Steam inhalation 3 to 4 times a day
- Supportive treatment with following vitamin supplements to boost immunity – Vitamin C 500mg; Zincovit (Zinc containing B complex tablets); Vitamin D3 60k once a week for 4 weeks
- Tab Dolo (Paracetamol) 650 mg three times a day for fever is safe (avoid strong pain killers like Diclofenac, ibuprofen etc)
- Diabetic patients – no special instructions are needed – Keep your diabetes under control – remember a good diabetes control helps in prevention of all infections
- Diet – eat light; do not over eat, skip meals if not hungry, avoid milk and milk products (milk, curd, buttermilk, paneer, sweets etc.), eat Kichdi (made with moong dal and ginger and turmeric) and rasam with soft rice. Add ginger and turmeric to these ingredients. Avoid heavy meals (including pizzas, burgrs, chips, meaty foods, oily foods)
- Isolation – confine yourself to one room, avoid mixing with people, wear mask all the time, wash your utensils yourselves. Avoid exchange of fomites (objects or articles that can carry viruses) – example remote controls, phones, spoons, pendrives, handkerchiefs, masks etc. use a separate bathroom if possible, clean all objects touched by patient with alcohol sprays, use hand rub with each contact.
- All heart patients need to follow the same instructions. If you have a poor heart pumping or on lots of heart mediations, do consult your doctor for further advice.
- Where possible get yourself vaccinated at the earliest.