It’s never fun to be sick, but havingCOVID-19can be downright distressing.

Fortunately, most cases of COVID are mild.

If you’ve had severe symptoms or areimmunocompromised,you might have to isolate longer.

An adult white woman sick in bed with a glass of juice, tissues, hand sanitizer, her tablet and other comforts. She is pressing a cool wash cloth to her forehead.

Justin Paget / Getty Images

What If You Live With Others In a Small Space?

If you live in a small apartment with others, these steps can prove difficult if not impossible.

Tips for Caring for Yourself

The symptoms and severity of COVID illness can vary widely.

Some people have a cough and a headache while others get severely ill and require hospital care.

Sometimes, people do not have any symptoms at all.

If you do get sick and have symptoms, they will likely be mild.

You might feel similar to how you’d feel if you had a case of the flu.

Common COVID-19 symptoms include:

You might have just a few of these symptoms or a combination of them.

While you will likely feel unwell, you probably will not feel sick enough to go to the hospital.

Some people with COVID-19 develop trouble breathing.

If you’re congested, you’ll feel the effect even more.

A foam wedge support can also prop you up.

Change Positions

COVID-19 can cause trouble breathing, which can be serious.

Do Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises have many benefits, even when you’re not sick.

One technique to try ispursed lips breathing.

Schrank says that this exercise helps to keep your airway open for a longer period of time."

Symptoms like fever, sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea cause your body to lose water.

Nourish Your Body

When you’re sick, you might not feel hungry.

If you have gastrointestinal symptoms, food might be the last thing on your mind.

To feel better, though, your body needs proper nourishment.

One of the things we worried about with COVID is feeling light-headed and passing out, Bhuiyan says.

Thats why we encourage people to eat something small, even if theyre not hungry.

Clear soups are good because, besides the liquids, you have the fats, proteins, and salts.

If you have a cough, OTC remediescan help your symptoms.

Time your dose for about half an hour before bedtime.

Rest is one of the best things you could do for your body.

If you arehaving a hard time falling asleep, Bhuiyan suggests asking your provider if amelatonin supplementmight help.

verify to talk to your doctor before taking them.

“Lying in bed all day is not a means for a quick recovery, Schrank says.

In addition to your breathing exercises, make it a goal to walk around a little each day.

If you live alone, you might move around your house.

but even just staying active by walking around in your room can help.

Rest, hydration, and breathing exercises can help.

Here are a few best practices to keep in mind.

Not everyone with COVID needs to use one, but your provider might suggest it.

The small rig clips onto the end of your finger.

You press a button and it takes a measurement.

Keep in mind that moving too much or wearing nail polish can affect the reading.

There is also evidence that the devices sometimes do not work well on darker skin tones.

Most healthy individuals with no lung or heart disease will have numbers well above 92%, Bhuiyan says.

If your reading drops below that level, it’s time to call your doctor.

If you’re not feeling better, it’s time to seek medical care.

In some cases, not feeling better or feeling much worse warrants a trip to the hospital.

For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of coronavirus.