Improving lung health after Covid-19 infection

The lungs is the organ most impacted by Covid-19 infection. Though the virus can affect other organs, the effects on the lungs are the most concerning, such as pneumonia and in more severe cases may lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), or “wet lung”.

Dr. Ashari Yunus who is the Consultant Pulmonologist, at Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), and part of IJN’s multi-disciplinary team dedicated to post-Covid-19 care, brings his medical insights on how to improve lung health after Covid-19 infection.

He says that it is vital to continue to monitor patients who suffered severe symptoms during infection as the long-term effects of the virus is still unclear.

During the conversation, Dr. Ashari explains how Covid-19 infection affects the lungs and the respiratory system in general, and talks about:

The severity of lung damage after Covid infection and whether the damage is reversible
The short-term issues patients may face after recovery and the longer-term complications
Some of the common symptoms of post recovery problems and the risk factors of developing post-Covid lung damage
Patients most at risk of developing serious long-term complications
Precautions to be taken to minimise lung damage for positive tested Covid patients
The steps to take to improve lung capacity and overall respiratory health after recovery from the infection
The treatments or lung rehabilitation therapy patients may need if post recovery complications arise
When a patient should consult a doctor if experiencing lung complications and the type of screening process needed