The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has been nothing short of devastating. The US is now the global leader in number of cases with over 450 thousand (and counting) and has the second-highest death toll with over 16 thousand [1].

It goes without saying that this is an incredibly anxious and terrifying time for millions of Americans. While there has been a devastating number of deaths as a result of the virus, there have also been a significant number of recoveries, and many of those people have opened up about their experiences, answering questions about what it’s like to have the virus.

Some have even spoken out about their experiences while still fighting COVID-19, one of the most notable of these people is Chris Cuomo, CNN host, and brother of Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, the US epicenter of the pandemic.

Chris Cuomo’s Experience

Chris Cuomo, who hosts “Cuomo Prime Time” on Monday nights on CNN, revealed on March 31 that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Despite his illness, he has continued to do his show from his basement where he has been quarantined [2].

Since then, he has continued to update viewers on his condition, essentially giving them a play-by-play of what it is like living with the virus. At one point, he had lost thirteen pounds in just three days and even chipped a tooth because he was shivering so much from his symptoms [3].

Recently, Cuomo underwent a chest x-ray after becoming concerned that he might have pneumonia. He shared the images, which give a frightening inside-look at what the novel coronavirus does to your body.

In the images, Cuomo’s lungs appeared to be filled with a sort of wispy smoke- an alarming sight for the CNN host.

“I have to tell you it is scary to have your lungs go up there and see that stuff and be like, ‘What is that? What is that smoke in there?’ And they tell you that’s the virus,” he said [3].

Read: Opinion: Why Telling People They Don’t Need Masks Backfired

How Does COVID-19 Affect Your Lungs?

Once the virus is inside your body, it could take up to fourteen days before you begin to notice an immune response. This response could result in a sore throat, a fever, or a dry cough.

The virus will then continue down your respiratory tract until it reaches your lungs. Once this occurs, your lungs might become inflamed, which makes it difficult to breathe. This could lead to pneumonia.

Pneumonia is an infection of the tiny air sacs in your lungs, called the alveoli. This is where your blood exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide. Fluid begins to collect in your lungs, leaving less room for oxygen, making it increasingly difficult for your lungs to supply your vital organs with enough oxygen to survive.

Thankfully, not every case of COVID-19 leads to pneumonia, and eighty percent of cases are mild and do not require hospitalization. As Cuomo’s experience illustrates, however, even a mild case of the virus can be incredibly unpleasant [4].

Cuomo’s Advice

Fortunately, Cuomo was told he does not have pneumonia, but he recognizes that there are things he must do in order to keep it that way. On his show, he has stressed to viewers how important it is that he forces himself to get up and move to keep the virus from getting into his lungs.

“When the fever spikes, you just want to curl up in a ball and stay there for the next 6-7 hours, and you can’t,” he said. “You’ve got to bundle up your clothes, you’ve got to start drowning yourself in fluids, you’ve got to take the Tylenol, and you’ve got to get after it.” [3]

He explained to viewers that the only way to prevent the virus from moving into your lungs is by forcing yourself to breathe, and the only way to do that is to move.

“You’ve got to get up off your ass, you got to walk around,” he stressed. “It hurts, you don’t want to do it, everything in your body is telling you not to do it. It’s lying to you, and I know that now, and the more I do, the more I push myself to do, the better I’m getting, so I’m gonna take faith in that for now.” [3]

Read: How To Protect Yourself From COVID-19 According To A Lung Doctor

What to do if you are Sick

If you think you may have COVID-19, the CDC recommends the following steps:

First, you must stay at home. Most people have mild cases and are able to recover in the comfort of their own homes. You should, however, get in touch with your doctor right away and keep him or her updated on your symptoms.

If you are having trouble breathing, have consistent chest pain, experience confusion, or your face or lips begin to turn blue, you should seek medical attention immediately.

As soon as you begin to feel symptoms, you should separate yourself from the other members of your household. As you continue to update your doctor on your symptoms, he or she will decide when it is appropriate to have you come in to be tested, and will give instructions on how to do so safely.

If you are sick but you are unable to completely separate yourself from other members of your household, you should wear a cloth covering over your nose and mouth to help prevent transmitting the virus to others. Always be careful to cover your coughs or sneezes properly, wash your hands frequently, and avoid sharing personal household items like dishes, utensils, towels, or bedding.

It is also important that you routinely clean and disinfect surfaces in your home that are touched frequently, to avoid spreading it throughout your household [5].

As the outbreak continues to head toward its peak in the US, more and more of our friends, family members, and neighbors are going to get sick. It is important during this uncertain time that everyone remains as calm as possible, and continues to do their part by staying home to help slow the spread of the virus.

Keep Reading: Don’t Just Avoid the Virus — Help Defeat It by Strengthening Your Immunity

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