When Truck Drivers Should Visit a Doctor for COVID-19 Symptoms

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every industry in some way, which extends to the truck accident lawyer and the trucking industry. More than 6 million people have been affected by the COVID-19 virus in the U.S. alone. Because of how serious the complications from this virus can be, it’s very important that you visit a doctor if you believe that you’re suffering from COVID-19.

What Is COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a specific group of viruses that can cause individuals to develop an illness. In many cases, coronaviruses will develop as upper respiratory conditions with minor symptoms like a runny nose or cough. However, it’s possible for the virus to be more severe and cause numerous complications. The current coronavirus that is adversely affecting millions of people is COVID-19, which can lead to a wide array of symptoms.

Primary Symptoms of COVID-19

COVID-19 is somewhat unique in that it affects everyone differently. While some individuals will only experience mild symptoms that aren’t a cause for concern, other people will go through severe symptoms that can lead to life-threatening complications. It’s also important to understand that it’s possible to be asymptomatic when you have COVID-19, which means that you are affected by the virus but don’t show any symptoms.

Keep in mind that COVID-19 is usually most severe for people who suffer from underlying medical conditions. These conditions include everything from diabetes to heart and lung disease. If you have an underlying medical condition, it’s particularly important that you get tested for COVID-19 in the event that you notice any symptoms. Early treatment may be the difference between a mild case of COVID-19 and a more severe one that causes complications to your health.

The symptoms related to COVID-19 can occur anywhere from two to 14 days following exposure to the virus. The primary symptoms that you can experience after developing COVID-19 include:

• Cough
• Fatigue
• A fever, which can be accompanied by chills
• Nausea or vomiting
• A sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• A runny nose or congestion in the nose
• A loss of smell or taste
• Aches in the muscles or body
• Difficulty breathing or a shortness of breath

The complications that result from COVID-19 can differ significantly, depending on many factors. While COVID-19 is considered to be an upper respiratory condition, the complications that can result from this virus aren’t always associated with upper respiratory conditions. Keep in mind that around 17% of individuals who are affected by COVID-19 will experience some kind of complication.

The majority of these complications occur because of a cytokine release syndrome, which is a condition that results from an infection causing the immune system to flood your body with inflammatory proteins known as cytokines. These proteins can cause damage to such organs as the kidney, heart, and liver. Your tissue may also be damaged. Some of the many complications that can occur when suffering from COVID-19 include:

• Acute respiratory failure
• A secondary infection
• An acute injury to the liver
• Pneumonia
• An acute cardiac injury
• An acute kidney injury
• Blood clots
• Septic shock
• A chronic bout of fatigue

If any of these complications occur before you’ve seen a doctor, immediate medical attention is likely necessary. Even when the complications aren’t life-threatening, they can significantly alter your way of life.

How to Keep COVID-19 at Bay and Avoid Needing a Truck Accident Lawyer

There are numerous steps that you can take to reduce your chances of developing COVID-19. To mitigate the possibility that this disease affects you, it’s important that you:

• Don’t come into close contact with individuals who are currently sick
• Try not to touch your mouth, eyes, or nose with hands that haven’t been washed
• Maintain social distancing, which means that you should put 6 feet between yourself and everyone else
• Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds each time with soap and water
• Don’t reuse a tissue after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• Make sure that you wear a face mask that covers your mouth and nose whenever you’re in public
• Keep any surfaces in your home cleaned and disinfected

COVID-19 is primarily spread through the air via sneezing or coughing. However, it’s also possible for this virus to be spread through contact or by touching your eyes, nose, or mouth before you wash your hands. When you wash your hands thoroughly for more than 20 seconds, you should be able to get rid of 99% of the germs that were on your hands that include any components of the virus. You might also want to keep a hand sanitizer in your truck to use periodically along your route. While washing your hands with soap and water is still preferable, using a hand sanitizer should get rid of most germs.

When You Should See a Doctor, When to Call a Truck Accident Lawyer

While many people are staying home while the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, you might not have this opportunity as a truck driver, which can heighten your risk of developing COVID-19. The prevention tips mentioned previously should make it much less likely that you contract this particular virus. However, there’s always a possibility that infection will occur, which is why it’s important that you know when to see your doctor.

If you begin to notice some of the underlying symptoms or suspect that you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, you should visit a doctor immediately so that you can be tested for the virus. While many of the symptoms attributed to COVID-19 are similar to those of a cold or the flu, it’s recommended that you seek treatment early on regardless of what you believe the condition to be.

The main symptoms that indicate you should see a doctor for COVID-19 include shortness of breath, a cough or a fever, the latter of which is anything higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the additional symptoms that can occur before a fever takes place include:

• A loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea
• A sore throat
• Headaches

Once you contact your doctor and describe your symptoms, they should be able to determine if you should come into the office. If ever symptoms become severe, you should call 911 right away. The more troubling symptoms include difficulties with breathing, bluish lips, and chest pain. Before you enter a doctor’s office or hospital, it’s imperative that you put on a mask to protect yourself, other patients, and health care providers.

While COVID-19 can be a serious condition that causes a variety of different health complications, seeking early treatment may allow you to keep the more severe symptoms at bay. Knowing that you have COVID-19 will also allow you to prevent spreading the virus to others. Additionally, fatigue from COVID-19 could cause you to get into an accident. If this occurs, you’ll likely want to speak to a New Brunswick or Somerville, NJ, truck accident lawyer to determine what your best legal options are. If you require representation for a recent accident that you’re involved in, contact our trucking accident attorney team today at (732) 394-1549 to talk about your case and identify the ideal course of action.