These COVID Symptoms Are Red Flags That You Need Medical Attention

When you have a COVID-19 infection, you’re told to isolate and stay away from others until you’re better. But while many folks do improve at home thanks to a combination of medication, rest, hydration and time, others require additional medical intervention.

While we know the hallmark symptoms of COVID ― like coughing, fatigue, for example ― there are some COVID-19 symptoms that aren’t normal and shouldn’t be treated as such.

“What’s really important is making sure people look out for certain telltale signs and symptoms that may warrant hospital-level care or [care from] a health care provider, so that way they don’t face severe illness, even hospitalization and death,” said Dr. Syra Madad, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

Below, experts share what COVID-related issues should be instant red flags, plus some advice on what to do:

Breathing issues, high fever, dizziness and confusion are all reasons to get immediate medical care.

According to Dr. Natasha Bhuyan, the national medical director at One Medical, red flag symptoms include shortness of breath and trouble breathing.

“What we always say is if someone is actually having trouble breathing, so they’re actually gasping for breath, that would be an ER visit,” Bhuyan said.

When you have COVID, there’s a phase when the virus is quickly replicating, followed by an inflammatory response phase when your body fights off the virus, explained Dr. Mahdee Sobhanie, an infectious diseases physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “And… sometimes that inflammation can affect other places, and the one we always worry about is the lungs.” If you have COVID and notice you’re struggling to catch