How common is shortness of breath in COVID-19?

COVID-19 can affect the respiratory tract and lungs. You may notice that breathing takes more effort, that you become winded during simple movement, or that chest discomfort makes deep breaths unpleasant. Fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, altered taste or smell, and body aches can occur as well. Symptoms can evolve, so compare how you feel with your usual ability to move, speak and rest comfortably.

Rest, drink fluids if you can swallow comfortably, and follow local infection-control advice if you think you may have COVID-19. Keep essential medicines available and avoid strenuous exercise while you are unwell. If you have a pulse oximeter, discuss with a clinician what readings and trends mean for you rather than relying on one reading alone. Arrange medical advice if breathlessness is new, increasing or interfering with normal tasks.

Get urgent medical help if breathing becomes severe, quickly worsens, or prevents you from speaking normally. Chest pain or pressure, blue or grey lips or face, new confusion, fainting, inability to stay awake, or coughing up blood also need emergency assessment. Children, older adults, pregnant people and people with long-term heart, lung or immune conditions may need earlier clinical advice when respiratory symptoms change.

Ask whether your current symptoms need an examination or testing, what changes should prompt urgent help, and how to manage fever or cough alongside your usual medicines. If you have another health condition, ask whether your monitoring plan needs to be adjusted while you recover.