HYDERABAD: Worried at the increasing number of coronavirus recovered patients complaining of serious complications after restarting their routine exercises, pandemic experts and doctors on Tuesday say patients should stick to basic breathing exercises and nothing more for at least three months.
With Covid-19 taking a serious toll on the health of patients and weakening organs, those recovering from the virus must take it easy with physical training, they say.
“Intense physical activity of any kind is not recommended immediately after the patient recovers from Covid-19.
The lungs that are recovering from the infection cannot keep pace if you immediately start intense physical activity.
If the patient was suffering from severe Covid-19, there are chances that they might go into lung fibrosis and suffer complications,” said Dr Vinay Shekar, head of general medicine at Gandhi Hospital, who has handled hundreds of Covid-19 patients since the outbreak in March 2020.
“People who are recovering from the infection must go back to physical training in a phased manner and must always do it under supervision of an expert.
Initially it is important that they stick to breathing exercises to improve lung function,” Dr Shekar told TOI.
While much is still being learned about the various ways the new coronavirus is affecting people’s health, doctors said that recovering from Covid-19 can be a gradual and long process and for some, the duration of recovery can even extend up to two-three months.
Speaking about how difficulty in breathing, body fatigue and chest discomfort are some of the post Covid-19 symptoms affecting patients who recovered from Covid-19, Dr Praneeth, consultant cardiologist, Care Hospitals, explained how two important organs which contribute to symptoms like breathlessness and chest discomfort are heart and lungs.
“While low intensity activity like walking is reasonably okay for patients suffering from these symptoms, those who are planning to do a moderate to high intensity activity must consult a cardiologist or a pulmonologist and get investigated before they move forward,” he said, adding, “Since a lot is still being learned about Covid-19, it is not recommended to straight away go and do strenuous physical activity to avoid complications.”