In today's global environment, one of the biggest concerns around the world is COVID-19 (commonly referred to as the coronavirus). COVID-19 is a new, novel virus that has infected millions of people and has become a global pandemic. Many people are frightened about contracting this coronavirus, and many wonder what (if any) treatments are available to deal with the condition. Get to know more about COVID-19 treatments. That way, if you do contract the virus, you know what to expect from the diagnosis. 

Rest and Isolation

Luckily, the reality of COVID-19 is that the majority of cases are mild. Some people do not even experience symptoms at all. For people with no symptoms or with mild symptoms, the best thing to do is to stay home and rest and isolate yourself from other people. 

This not only means staying in your home but also separating yourself from other people in your home. For some, this may mean being confined to their bedroom or a certain part of the house. The idea is to prevent you from infecting others with the virus because doctors have yet to determine what causes some people to have severe cases while others only experience mild symptoms. 

Oxygen Therapy

For cases that are a little more moderate to severe, oxygen therapy may be necessary. This means being on a nasal cannula or a face mask (covering the nose and mouth) that delivers oxygen to the body. This concentrated oxygen will help to keep the lungs functioning and the body oxygenated so that none of the other body symptoms are adversely affected by the severe shortness of breath that can occur with COVID-19. 

Patients are typically put on the lowest level of oxygen possible that will still sustain proper blood oxygen levels. The oxygen delivered will be increased as needed. 

Ventilator Use

In the most severe cases of COVID-19, a person may need to be put on a ventilator. Ventilator use for COVID-19 patients depends on the blood oxygen levels when the oxygen therapy is maxed out. If those levels are still not satisfactory or are dangerously low, the patient is put on a ventilator. 

Ventilators help people breathe when they cannot breathe well enough on their own to sustain life. It is considered a life support device. Patients with COVID-19 that are put on ventilators are sedated, and the breathing tube is put down their throat. Because of the seriousness of being on life support, all other treatment protocols are exhausted before ventilators are used. 

To learn more about ventilator use for COVID-19 patients, contact a doctor.

Experimental Drugs

There is no known successful drug treatment for COVID-19 yet because the virus is so new. However, there are drugs being tested to determine if they can be safely and successfully used to treat the condition. Doctors can use their discretion when using these potential treatments if they are available or if the doctor is participating in a clinical trial for the medication's effectiveness. 

Now that you know more about COVID-19 treatments, you can better understand how the situation can or will play out if you or someone you love receives a positive COVID-19 test result.