Chris Cuomo Says the Rigors Caused Him to Chip a Tooth as He Fights Coronavirus
Chris Cuomo opened up about his coronavirus symptoms, and said that the rigors caused him to chip a tooth from shivering.
The CNN news anchor has experienced a high fever and extreme weight loss.
A doctor explains why your body can respond to a fever with rigors.
Following the announcement of his COVID-19 diagnosis on March 31, Chris Cuomo has been candid about his illness as he battles the novel coronavirus. Last week, the CNN news anchor gave an update on his symptoms, which included a high fever, extreme weight loss, sleepless nights, and even hallucinations. He recently revealed that the virus is now affecting his lungs.
Cuomo said he’s “never had anything like it,” and that he lost 13 pounds in just three days. “I’m eating and drinking constantly. I’m just sweating it out, and it’s just the sickness.”
He also said his high fever, which spiked to 103° F, has been keeping him up at night. “I’m telling you, I was hallucinating. My dad was talking to me,” he said of his late father Mario Cuomo. “I was seeing people from college, people I haven’t seen in forever. It was freaky, what I lived through, and it may happen again tonight.”
But another symptom the CNN anchor experienced caught the internet’s attention: the rigors. “It was like somebody was beating me with a piñata. I was shivering so much that I chipped my tooth,” Cuomo said. “They call them the rigors.”
What does rigors mean, exactly?
The rigors refer to the shaking and chills you experience in response to a severe infection, such as the novel coronavirus, making its way into the bloodstream. The symptom is often accompanied by a high fever and, as in Cuomo’s case, can make your teeth chatter.
“When a fever develops, body temperature rises toward a new higher set point,” explains Raj Dasgupta, M.D., an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board. This causes your body’s “heat-conserving and heat-generating mechanism” to kick in, leading to shivering and shaking.
While it feels unpleasant, Dr. Dasgupta says the rigors aren’t typically serious and it will just take some time for the fever to break. “After a fever ‘breaks,’ the set point has returned to normal, and body temperature is decreasing,” he says. The body will then begin heat-dissipating mechanisms, like sweating to help you cool off.
“The novel coronavirus usually needs time to run its course. Often, the only treatment is rest and staying well hydrated,” Dr. Dasgupta says. If you feel any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19—especially a fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath–it’s important to call your doctor to discuss your symptoms (instead of going directly to a hospital, where you could spread the virus.)
From there, he or she will likely recommend home isolation if your case seems mild. You’ll need plenty of rest, fluids, and medications such acetaminophen to help tamp down a fever and relieve possible body aches. (If your fever or rigors persist for more than a few days, Dr. Dasgupta recommends contacting your healthcare provider for a follow-up.)
As for Cuomo? He’s remaining quarantined in his basement at home, away from his wife and kids, until he makes a full recovery.
Like what you just read? You’ll love our magazine! Go here to subscribe. Don’t miss a thing by downloading Apple News here and following Prevention. Oh, and we’re on Instagram too.
You Might Also Like
