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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – ROCHESTER, Minn. — People with conditions such as spinal cord injury, Lou Gehrig’s disease and multiple sclerosis are at risk of developing severe respiratory problems related to COVID-19 because the muscles that help them breathe already may not function normally.
“When you have a condition that causes paralysis, or weakens muscles in the chest, abdomen or diaphragm, you may not be able to remove lung secretions by coughing,” says Kristin Garlanger, D.O., a Mayo Clinic physiatrist. “You may have difficulty inhaling and filling the lungs with oxygen that is carried to the rest of the body.
“If you have a physical disability, now is the time to take extra precautions to protect yourself from this dangerous virus.”
Be proactive to prevent illness, Dr. Garlanger says:
- Stay hydrated to keep lung secretions thin.
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet to boost the immune system.
- Perform deep breathing and “coughing exercises,” which are controlled coughing maneuvers that help clear lungs.
- Change position frequently, using gravity to help clear lungs.
To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, everyone needs to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines:
- Wash your hands.
- Practice social distancing.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Stay home when sick.
But people with physical disabilities are encouraged to take extra safety measures, says Lisa Beck, a Mayo Clinic advanced-practice provider in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
“When CDC guidelines talk about keeping at least 6 feet from another person, that’s especially important if you use a wheelchair,” Beck says. “Your head is lower than people who are standing, so you may be more vulnerable to respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Droplets drop.”
Dr. Garlanger and Beck offer tips regarding wheelchair use, caregiver plans and respiratory devices:
Wheelchair users
Wheelchair users should consider these tips:
- Keep at least 6 feet from others, when possible.
- Wash your face, in addition to your hands, after being in public and after having in-person conversations.
- Use an antibacterial solution to clean high-touch surfaces, such as wheels, brakes and push rims of a manual wheelchair chair, throughout the day. For a power wheelchair, use an antibacterial solution to clean the joystick, and any other controls, armrests, tray or any parts your hands touch.
“If you use other assistive devices, like walkers or canes, be sure to regularly wipe those with antibacterial products too,” Beck says