Most of us know the common COVID-19 symptoms like coughing, sore throat, and fever. But according to Parade, infectious disease experts warn that many people are missing another major symptom: an upset stomach.
Dr. Syra Madad from Harvard explains that about one in five COVID-19 patients report gastrointestinal symptoms, with loss of appetite being the most common. This happens because COVID-19 can make you lose your sense of taste and smell, making food unappealing.
Other stomach issues from COVID-19 include diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Dr. Edward Creagan from Mayo Clinic says smoking causes various cancers by damaging DNA. Experts also warn that vaping is harmful and can lead to cancer.
If you’ve smoked for years, quitting is still beneficial. Dr. Creagan notes that quitting smoking can halve your risk of lung cancer. The lungs can heal over time, improving health significantly.
To lower your cancer risk, besides quitting smoking, you should maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol and red meat, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, stay active, and protect yourself from UV rays.
For more details, check out the full article on Parade.
Sources:
- Parade
- Dr. Syra Madad
- Dr. Edward Creagan
- Dr. Adam Booth
- Dr. Zuri Dale
- Dr. Peter Hotez
- Dr. Pornchai Leelasinjaroen
- Dr. Scott Roberts
- Dr. Samuel Sarmiento
https://parade.com/health/most-overlooked-covid-19-symptom-according-to-infectious-disease-experts