If you’ve contracted COVID this month, you’re not alone: The United States reported over 1.5 million new cases on Monday. You’re probably wondering what you can—or should—do to feel better and recover more quickly.

Are Gatorade and chicken soup going to be enough to get you through? Are some over-the-counter medications better than others for COVID? Are monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs important, and do you have to have or get them? When it comes to getting the right answer, like the virus, things change.

Here we reveal:

“Patients say it can feel like swallowing razor blades,” said Robert G. Lahita, MD, Ph.D. (“Dr. Bob”), head of New Jersey’s Institute for Autoimmune and Rheumatic Disease at Saint Joseph Health.

“But make sure you’re hydrated. We tend not to eat or drink when our throats are raw.”

He recommends drinking plenty of water, tea, or other throat-friendly liquids. For a while, citrus juices, caffeine, and spicy or extremely hot liquids will be too painful.

Also, if you’re diabetic, avoid sports drinks with added sugar; raising your blood sugar can make your COVID symptoms worse.

For fever and headache, Lahita suggests acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol). Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen might irritate the stomach, making COVID-related nausea and vomiting worse. One caveat: Don’t consume alcohol while taking acetaminophen because it can harm your liver.

“Taking a baby aspirin every day is a must,” Lahita advised, even if you don’t have COVID. This could shield you against the impacts of the Delta form, which is still circulating. Delta, unlike Omicron, can cause micro clotting in the lungs, which is one of the most common reasons for death from that variety, according to him. This can be avoided by taking baby aspirin, which works as a blood thinner.

Further, he adds “If you haven’t started, everybody should be on vitamin C at the present time,” said Lahita. “And  vitamin D is a good vitamin to take, because it strengthens the immune system.”

“Protein, vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc and iron are all main players when it comes to immune health.”

Your best bets: Lean meats, seafood, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Monoclonal antibodies boost the immune system’s ability to combat the coronavirus. According to Lahita, the medication is given via IV in hospitals and emergency rooms. (It’s not something your primary care physician can provide you with in his or her office.) Unfortunately, the majority of currently available monoclonal antibody treatments appear to be ineffective against the Omicron type. Fortunately, Omicron appears to induce less severe disease, reducing the need for treatment.

However, if and when you have COVID, you will most likely have no idea which variety you have. Lahita’s advice: Go to the ER if you have risk factors for severe COVID (such as age or underlying medical issues), where you can be assessed and monoclonal antibodies administered if a doctor decides you would benefit.

According to Lahita, doctors will be able to administer the antiviral medications Paxlovid and molnupiravir in a few weeks. Tests show that if they are taken in the first three days of symptoms, they can cut down on COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths by a lot. The drugs are currently being manufactured and are in extremely restricted supply.

“If your symptoms get really bad, and you have a comorbidity like diabetes or a chronic pulmonary condition, and you think you’re beginning to deteriorate, go to the emergency room,” added Lahita. “If you’re short of breath and gasping for air, get to the hospital.”

To reduce inflammation and enhance breathing, doctors can use drugs like remdesivir and dexamethasone.

No matter where you live, follow the basics to help end the pandemic: get vaccinated as soon as possible; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, avoid large crowds, don’t go indoors with people you aren’t sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and protect your life and the lives of others.

Image Credit: Getty

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