Long Covid: Actions to take for a fast recovery

You’ve probably heard of “Long Covid”, but you don’t quite understand what that means. This article explains one of the most common health problems caused by COVID-19. Keep reading this article if you’ve recently had COVID-19 but the signs of illness aren’t completely gone. You might be suffering from a condition known as “Long Covid.”

We’ll go over all there is to know about Long Covid, including how to recognize it, what symptoms to look for, who is most prone to get it, and how to treat it, as well as the role of ozone treatment and vitamin therapy in the healing process.

What is Long Covid?

Long Covid refers to COVID-19 symptoms that last longer than four weeks after you’ve been diagnosed with the virus.

COVID-19, whether mild or moderate, lasts roughly two weeks for most persons. Others, on the other hand, have health issues that remain long after they have recovered from the acute phase of the illness. There is no longer any live coronavirus in the body of such people. The patient would show negative for the coronavirus if tested, but they might still be chronically sick.

There are various names for the problem. Long-term COVID-19 symptoms are known as PASC, which refers to post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, according to the National Institutes of Health. However, long COVID, post-COVID syndrome, and long-term COVID are far more common names.

What are the symptoms of Long Covid?

One of the many frustrating aspects of Long Covid is that it doesn’t look the same in every person. In other words, symptoms could include anything, appear at any moment, and change or disappear at any time. According to the World Health Organization:

Common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction but also others, which generally have an impact on everyday functioning. Symptoms may be new onset, following initial recovery from an acute COVID-19 episode, or persist from the initial illness. Symptoms may also fluctuate or relapse over time. A separate definition may be applicable for children.

More than 100 probable symptoms have been linked to Long Covid, according to a comprehensive study published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine in November 2021. The most frequent ones discovered in the study are those linked to the first Covid-19 infection, such as:

  • extreme tiredness
  • loss of taste and smell
  • headaches
  • respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath)
  • heart palpitations, chest pain or tightness
  • fever

Other common signs and symptoms of Long Covid are:

Who are the people that are most likely to be affected by Long Covid?

According to a Coronavirus Infection Survey performed in the United Kingdom in August 2021, the Office for National Statistics states that Long Covid is most common in:

  • 35- to 69-year-olds
  • women
  • people with underlying conditions that limit their day-today activities
  • people working in health and social care
  • people living in poorer areas
  • people who had five or more symptoms in the first week of becoming ill with Covid-19
  • people who had severe Covid illness and needed to be admitted to hospital
  • people with asthma 
  • people who are overweight or obese
  • people who smoke

Also, researchers looked at data from the COVID Symptom Study app to see who was most likely to develop Long Covid. They discovered that this health issue affects about 10% of 18-49 year olds who had COVID-19, and up to 22% of people over 70.

How many people are affected by Long Covid?

As more information is gathered, the figures will alter and fluctuate accordingly. The British Institute for National Statistics reported, in April 2021, that one out of every ten persons with Covid experienced symptoms that lasted at least three months. In September, however, it was reported that this number was one in 40.

Children are less likely than adults to catch Covid and, as a result, to develop Long Covid, however some do. Leading specialists claimed in August 2021 that they were relieved by the size of long-term Covid in young people after the biggest research in the world revealed that persistent symptoms were less frequent than previously thought.

What should you do if you notice symptoms of Long Covid?

Long-term COVID can impact your entire body, and you may suffer a variety of symptoms at once or over time. Contact your general practitioner if you’re concerned about symptoms four weeks or more after having COVID-19. They will ask about your symptoms and discuss the treatment and assistance you may need. This might include suggestions for treating your symptoms at home. They may send you to a professional rehabilitation unit or a specialist who can help, if your symptoms are having a major impact on your life. A physiotherapist, a dietician, an occupational therapist, or another team member might be involved.

You must speak to your doctor or call 112 if:

  • You witness sudden chest pain, accompanied by vomiting, nausea, sweating, shortness of breath, or loss of consciousness;
  • You cough up blood;
  • Your back pain is getting worse;
  • You witness heart palpitations;
  • Your pain interferes with your daily activities;
  • Fatigue or breathlessness prevent you from being active;
  • Your arms or legs swell;
  • Your joints and muscle problems haven’t improved after three months;
  • You develop new symptoms;
  • Fall into depression, causing thoughts of self-harm or neglect.

How to recover from Long Covid?

After COVID-19 or Long Covid, there is no textbook on how to get back on your feet. However, there are some similarities between the two in terms of the healing process. Consult your doctor, and if your symptoms aren’t too severe, concentrate on getting well at home while your immune system fights the virus. Be prepared for a gradual recovery

  • Eat nutritious meals. Choose foods that are simple to digest and somehow bland, such as chicken noodle or vegetable broth soup, avocados, or toast, to make eating easier. If you lack taste and smell, food may be unappealing, but it will definitely help you recover. Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
  • Hydrate yourself. Drink plenty of water and eat frequently to avoid being dehydrated. Every day, drink 64 to 70 ounces of water. If you’re sweating profusely due to a fever, you could also replace some of your water with an electrolyte-rich sports drink.
  • Rest and get plenty of sleep.
  • Connect with others and share your feelings.
  • Exercise as little as possible, every day.
  • Stretch and meditate.

How can complementary medicine help with Long Covid?

Ozone therapy has been proven to be extremely helpful in treating patients with Long Covid.

Ozone is a form of triatomic oxygen (O3). It is created by lightning and solar UV radiation and is the most powerful oxidant known in nature. Ozone has antiviral properties through inhibiting viral reproduction and inactivating viruses directly. Studies have shown that inflammation and lung damage are reduced when ozone and antivirals are used together.

Systemic ozone therapy appears to be effective in reducing inflammation, boosting immunity, acting as an antiviral, and protecting against acute coronary syndromes and ischaemia reperfusion damage, offering a fresh approach to immune therapy. In COVID-19-positive individuals and in Long Covid patients, systemic ozone treatment – in association with antivirals – may be reasonable, beneficial, and synergistic.

If you’ve ever had COVID-19 or are currently struggling with the symptoms of Long Covid, you should definitely look at the benefits of ozone treatment for your health. Dr. Adriana Feher, the clinic’s owner, and medical director, will take great care of you at the Ozone Therapy and Vitamins Center in Luxembourg. The doctor has extensive knowledge in the domains of internal and complementary medicine, using ozone therapy to fight COVID-19 and Long Covid, and using the most up-to-date technology available. You can book an appointment by sending an email to [email protected] or calling +352 2600 8907.

What are the long-term consequences of Long Covid?

When discussing Long Covid and its atomic lesions, it is first and foremost necessary to distinguish between sequelae and consequences. According to Nicolas Barizien, 90% of patients recover completely, with no residual lesions. Some people may report short-term consequences: memory loss, sleeplessness, or concentration difficulties, but a brain MRI would indicate no visible problems. Only 10% of Long Covid patients have such sequelae.

Aside from that, Long Covid has a significant economic and social influence on our society. During these times, human contact has been severely harmed, with depression and anxiety being two of the most common symptoms of Long Covid. Furthermore, the virus has had an impact on our professional and financial lives as well. Six months after having COVID-19, a third of the patients who showed signs of Long Covid never returned to work.