Long Covid
Understanding Long Covid
The evil of COVID-19 continues.. 1 in 5 adults who have been infected and recovered from the devil itself are now suffering from a long list of health problems, and wait for it, even looong after they have tested NEGATIVE. It’s called the “Long COVID”.
…and evil has many names:
Long-Haul COVID
Chronic COVID
Post-acute COVID
Post-COVID-19 Condition
Long Hauler
Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS CoV-2 Infection (PASC)
.
It's clear that Long COVID is a complex entity that can be difficult to diagnose and there is no one definition. Medical research and clinical studies are still in the early stages and in fact, it is the long-haul patient community who have been at the forefront of research and advocacy and was even responsible for coining the term ‘long-covid’.
Long Covid is characterized by a continuation of symptoms experienced from the initial SARS CoV-2 Infection and/or development of new symptoms that last for at least 2 months and can not be explained or correlated to another condition or diagnosis.
Even though Long COVID does not have a definite form, researchers are noticing these:
The severity and persistence of long-haul symptoms are unrelated to the severity of the initial infection
Though there is a long list of possible symptoms, some of these symptoms tend to show up in clusters and each person affected may have different combinations of ailments
Symptoms tend to come and go or are brought on and exacerbated by certain stressors and activities
Generally, diagnostic testing and visits to the doctor do not turn up any clinical abnormalities
Other pre-existing health conditions that may not have been a major issue for a patient in the past, can be activated or amplified
Who Can Get Long Covid?
Post-Covid conditions can affect anyone who has previously been infected with the SARS-CoV-2. Some individuals may be more susceptible to developing long-haul symptoms.
Some of these factors include:
Pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions, autoimmune diseases, and obesity
Age over 65
Biological sex: studies have shown that women have a higher incidence of developing long covid
Severe infection with Hospitalizations (especially with a prolonged ICU stay)
Vaccination status: being unvaccinated
All this being said, one particularly challenging aspect of understanding post-acute covid, however, is the fact that there are many people experiencing long-term effects who presented with mild symptoms (or were asymptomatic) when they were initially infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
What are the symptoms of Chronic Covid?
The most common symptom associated with Long Haul COVID-19 is fatigue; many patients report feeling physically drained and exhausted for weeks or months on end, even after their initial infection has cleared up.
Other common symptoms of Long Covid include:
Body aches
Headaches
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty concentrating/processing information (known as “brain fog”)
Loss of appetite
Depression/anxiety
Dizziness/lightheadedness
Insomnia/sleep disturbances
Joint pain/muscle pain, and chest pain
Abdominal pain
Pins-and-needles feelings
Change in smell or taste
Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “post-exertional malaise”)
While these symptoms vary depending on the person, they are all signs that something more serious might be happening than just a typical COVID-19 recovery.
How Do I Prevent Getting Long Covid?
Because so much is unknown about the cause of long covid or why some people get it and some people don’t, the only surefire way to protect yourself is to do whatever is in your power to avoid initial infection with the covid-19 virus.
Here's what you should do:
TEST OFTEN! and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Regular testing for covid-19 is a proven way to make sure you know your positive or negative status so you can make safe choices about when to participate in activities where you could potentially infect other people and spread the virus.
VACCINATE! Studies are showing that vaccinated individuals have a lower incidence of contracting long covid symptoms. Vaccination also safeguards against severe infection and/or hospitalizations which can be risk factors for long covid.
MASK UP! When in doubt, wear a mask to protect yourself. Most masking regulations have been lifted, but it is still a good idea to wear a mask at large indoor public gatherings and for public travel, especially airline travel.
What Are Some Ways To Manage Long Covid?
Western Medical Care
Work closely with your general practitioner or specialists to manage symptoms.
Long Covid Research + Trials
Given the fact that long covid is a new and highly complex health phenomenon, research and clinical trials are still in the early stages and conclusive data is still forthcoming.
One of the challenges about honing in on effective treatments is that the cause or causes of long covid are still not fully understood. There are several hypotheses about the underlying pathologies that could be wreaking havoc on long hauler’s’ health. Some research posits that treatment approaches are moving in the direction of tailoring treatments to several sub-categories of underlying mechanisms rather than trying to target one root cause.
The good news is that there is progress and there are new trials being launched regularly.
Pharmacological Trials
Some existing medications are having some success being ‘repurposed’ to treat certain long covid symptoms/conditions such as brain fog, inflammation, and micro-clots.
Here are just a few of the clinical trials underway (BMJ 2021;374:n1648).
For respiratory conditions: hyperbaric oxygen, montelukast, and deupirfenidone.
For fatigue, there are trials to assess the effectiveness of exercise programs.
There is promising data that high doses of IV Vitamin C could be a beneficial treatment option for those with fatigue in long covid.
There are two trials examining the effects of nicotinamide riboside (a dietary supplement) with the thought that the molecule reduces cognitive symptoms and fatigue by modulating the pro-inflammatory response.
There is a clinical trial ongoing to assess the effectiveness of a probiotic supplement to normalize the composition of the gut microbes and reduce inflammation in long covid
The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory function of melatonin may also be useful in treating long covid.
Other potential treatments are molecules that suppress the intense inflammatory response seen in covid-19. There are trials looking at different antibody treatments that block interleukin-6 receptors and have shown efficacy in post covid-19 patients.
Look into treatment options at a long covid treatment center.
There are a growing number of academic research and treatment centers dedicated to finding ways to help long haulers with the debilitating effects of long covid.
modMD is dedicated to staying on top of all the cutting-edge research regarding long covid and helping patients navigate this difficult health journey. Stay tuned to our blog for news and updates.
Alternative Therapies
IV Infusion Therapy: IV infusions with NAD+ and Glutathione have proven to provide relief from some long covid symptoms. Find a healthcare practitioner who specializes in long covid conditions and explore the healing properties of these powerful IV treatments.
What is NAD+?
~NAD+ is found in every cell in the body and is vital to helping our biological processes function properly. Supplementing NAD+ via IV infusions has been shown to help alleviate some of these long covid symptoms:
Brain Fog
Fatigue
Depression
Inflammation
Pain
What is Glutathione?
~Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant-sometimes called the ‘Master Antioxidant’. Recent research suggests that Long Covid is linked to an excessive release of cytokines, leading to detrimental inflammation and fatigue. Glutathione is an important immune response regulator which plays a role in inflammation control. Increasing levels of this powerful antioxidant can help relieve:
Brain Fog
Inflammation
Lowered Immunity
Fatigue
Joint Pain
modMD is offering concierge IV Infusion Therapy in the Los Angeles area. Please contact us to find out more about this service.
Anti-Viral Medication
Paxlovid, a widely-used prescription medication for treating active Covid infections— is now being studied to help treat those suffering from long covid. Research is still in the very early stages but some preliminary results show potential promise in offering renewed hope and relief.
How Can modMD Help In The Battle With Long Haul Covid?
Doctor-led modMD offers walk-up + concierge Covid-19 testing (PCR, Rapid PCR + Rapid Antigen) with same-day results in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York.
Other top-notch modMD services include:
IV infusions (including NAD+ and Glutathione)
Nationwide mail-in PCR testing
Telehealth antigen testing
Large event testing (private + public)
Corporate office testing
Group testing
Production testing
Flu/RSV/Strep testing
Concierge + group testing outside of LA/ATL/NYC (please contact us for more information/availability)
References
Shaffer, L. (2022, September 1). Lots of Long COVID treatment leads, but none are proven. Retrieved from https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2213524119
Backman, I. (2022, December 13). Potential New Treatments for ‘Brain Fog’ in Long Covid Patients. Retrieved from https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/potential-new-treatment-for-brain-fog-in-long-covid-patients/