Let Alert1 Help You Respond to Cold, Flu, and Coronavirus Symptoms

Most everybody including seniors are evaluating every cough, sniffle, and scratch at the back of the throat and asking themselves: Is this a symptom of coronavirus? You don’t need to report every single cough, but even mild symptoms of cold, flu, or coronavirus should be closely monitored. Especially if you do not qualify for a COVID-19 test, early symptoms may be easy to dismiss as allergies or overlook altogether. Thus, more severe COVID-19 symptoms may appear with little or no warning. When this happens, it’s critical that medical attention is summoned immediately.

While COVID-19 cases are widely varied, some symptoms are more common than others. The most common symptoms include dry cough, fever, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Less common symptoms include diarrhea, headaches, body aches, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, and confusion or other neurological symptoms. Many people are already distancing themselves, but if you’re showing potential symptoms of coronavirus, it’s critical that you quarantine yourself and limit contact other people have with you and your living space. At the same time, seniors may need more care and assistance with these general symptoms of coronavirus, so it’s good to have a plan in place.

You should also have a plan in case you start experiencing more severe symptoms—especially if you don’t already have a medical alert device. According to the CDC, here are the life-threatening coronavirus symptoms for which you should seek immediate medical attention.

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

It’s helpful to know what exactly is wrong, but often the symptom is more important than the cause when it comes to activating your medical alert system and seeking medical attention.

• Fever: It’s unclear how long COVID-19 will remain a constant and present danger, but flu season happens every year. A high fever above 103 degrees can be a medical emergency, regardless of the cause. Especially if accompanied by headache, chest pain, or disorientation, it’s time to call in a medical emergency response team. 
• Chest Pain: The underlying problem may not be an infection at all. Chest pain can be a severe symptom of coronavirus or flu, but it can also be the first sign of a heart attack or cardiovascular disease. Any sharp, unfamiliar, or unexplained chest pain is a good reason to activate your medical alert device.
• Respiratory Distress: is its own spectrum of life-threatening diseases and relatively minor conditions. It can also be caused by medications you’re taking. In fact, we have a separate resource page dedicated just to the various causes and interventions associated with shortness of breath.
• Fatigue, Weakness, Confusion: Everybody gets tired, but don’t ignore fatigue or weakness that is severe or otherwise unusual. For seniors with a sedentary lifestyle, it may take a while to recognize respiratory distress. Neurological symptoms can also cause fatigue, weakness, and confusion that signals your life is in danger. Don’t dismiss these symptoms. Being able to activate a medical alert system within arm’s reach could save your life.

Don’t wait for these symptoms or the next cold and flu season to get the extra protection of Alert1. Our medical device and alert costsare more affordable than the competition, while providing an easy and reliable way to summon the help that can save your life.