What will happen in the next few months? We already know that in the coming months: We are we will not be able to have the same habits we had before; We will have to adopt individual protection measures that we were not used to, for example wearing masks in closed public spaces; There will continue to be new cases of COVID-19 infections and there is still no vaccine against the disease or a specific treatment. We also know that most cases of COVID-19 infection are mild. Many people treat themselves and recover at home, after a positive diagnosis of COVID-19, with remote monitoring by health professionals, either by telephone contact or videoconsultation. In addition to mild cases of COVID-19 infection that do not require hospital treatment, treatment and isolation at home allows: Decrease contacts and, therefore, the possibility of contagion; Protect at-risk groups, who are the most vulnerable people; Do not overload hospitals, leaving it free for those who need hospital care; Maintain greater comfort, at home, during recovery. Although the percentage of new infections is gradually being reduced, we must remain prepared if we become ill or someone in our home becomes ill. How should we prepare for the coming months? We must prepare the coming months in two ways: Adopting healthy behavior and lifestyle habits; Being prevented for disease situations; Behavioral practices and healthy lifestyle habits Behavioral practices and healthy living habits aim to keep us healthy and with our immune system ready to respond to any threat. So we must: Continue to maintain social distance; Adopt respiratory etiquette measures and hand washing as a good practice in our daily routine; Having healthy lifestyle habits that contribute to stay healthy and to strength our immunity. Food - have a balanced diet and give preference, whenever possible, to fresh food; maintain hydration, preferring water, tea or unsweetened natural juices to do it; Eliminate or reduce as much as possible alcohol and tobacco consumption; Sleep - sleep enough hours and with a regular schedule; Exercise - combat sedentary lifestyle and inactivity, try to do some exercise, even if it is walking a little; Regularly monitor your weight, consider having a weighing scale at home, which can be purchased, for example, at a supermarket. Maintain regular health surveillance and follow the advice of the attending physician. Be prevented for illness situations Being prevented for a situation of infection by COVID-19, with the consequent need for isolation, includes having at home the essentials for this situation, without exaggerating. We know that it is not necessary to have excess basic products. As we have seen, the supply of these products remains guaranteed. What we should have at home: Food for a few days; Household cleaning and disinfection materials and products; Personal hygiene materials and products; Social masks, disposable or reusable, or some form of protection (for example, handkerchiefs), especially if you are not living alone. Health self-surveillance: If you are on surveillance for a COVID-19 infection, you may be asked to record your body temperature. For that you need a thermometer. If you have high blood pressure, it may be useful to have a device to measure it at home, if you cannot go out to do so. If you are a respiratory patient, it may be useful to have a pulse oximeter at home to measure the oxygen saturation in your blood, if you cannot go out to do so. Your usual medicines: if you take usual medication for some reason, you should be prevented so that your medication is not missing. Discuss this with your doctor. Thermometers, blood pressure devices and pulse oximeters for personal use can be purchased at pharmacies, drugstores, supermarkets or even online. Click here for more information and advice of Hospital da Luz about the novel coronavírus COVID-19 epidemic . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
