Here’s How Many People Actually Have “Long COVID” – Eat This Not That
cases of covid The decline is finally starting to happen, but that doesn’t mean the pandemic is over and we can lower our defenses. The virus is still a threat and as if dealing with COVID wasn’t bad enough, many people will experience prolonged COVID—a condition where symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, brain fog, hair loss and more It could be weeks, months. Or even years after the initial infection. according to Kaiser Family Foundation, “Long COVID has been described as our ‘next national health disaster’ and ‘post-pandemic’.” Furthermore, KFF states, “Preliminary evidence suggests there may be significant implications for employment: Surveys suggest that among adults with long-term COVID who worked prior to infection, more than half are out of work or working fewer hours.” There are serious long-term effects of COVID in the long run and Eat This, Not That! Health Talks to Family Practitioner, Dr. Janice Johnston, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder redirect health Who shares what there is to know about prolonged COVID and how many people expect it to happen. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t forget to check out these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID,
Dr. Johnson tells us, “Long COVID-19 can affect anyone of any age, including children and adolescents. Even someone with mild or no symptoms during the initial COVID-19 infection However, he or she may still be affected by prolonged COVID. Symptoms of prolonged COVID may be even worse. Severe only with acute COVID-19 infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported symptoms at least one month after the initial infection. have determined the timeline for diagnosing COVID. Doctors will use tests such as electrocardiograms, chest X-rays, CT scans, or bloodwork to rule out other conditions that can cause symptoms and From this they will evaluate the possibility of long COVID to diagnose the patient.”
Dr. Johnson says, “research It turns out that about 10-30% of people who contract COVID-19 will suffer from prolonged COVID, although this phenomenon is not widely or strongly understood by professionals. Although, new research has shown that there are 4 major factors that can contribute to someone experiencing COVID for a long time.
The first factor identified is the level of coronavirus RNA in the blood at the onset of infection, reflecting their viral load.
The second factor is the presence of certain autoantibodies within the body. These autoantibodies are antibodies that mistakenly attack their own body and tissues while fighting the virus.
The third factor is the reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus in the case that someone has been exposed earlier in their life. Epstein-Barr affects many people when they are young and can be dormant in the body.
Finally, the fourth factor contributing to the prolonged COVID is type-2 diabetes. However, experts say that diabetes may be one of the many conditions that provoke long-term COVID. Someone with one or more of these factors is more likely to have difficulty recovering from COVID-19 with an increased risk of long-term COVID than someone who does not experience these issues.”
According to Dr. Johnson, “a new study It was found that people who feel sad, anxious, lonely or stressed are more likely to develop long-term COVID symptoms. The results showed that those who reported psychological distress before becoming infected with COVID-19 had a 32–46% increased risk of prolonged COVID, compared with people without these stressors. The study also found that there was a stronger association between long-term COVID and psychological distress than physical factors such as obesity, asthma and high blood pressure. However, physical comorbidities and pre-existing conditions such as lung disease, diabetes and asthma are still major risk factors for long-term covid. Additionally, vaccination status plays an important role in one’s ability to recover from COVID-19 and avoid the development of protracted COVID symptoms. People who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are 7-10 times less likely to experience 2 or more prolonged COVID symptoms than people without vaccination. research shows,
Dr. Johnson says, “The most common symptoms of long-term COVID are extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of smell and muscle aches. However, there are many other symptoms that you can experience after a COVID-19 infection. , including but not limited to, brain fog, chest pain or tightness, insomnia, heart palpitations, dizziness, pins and needles, joint pain, depression and anxiety, earache, diarrhea, a High temperature, cough, headache, sore throat, changes in the sense of smell or taste, or rashes. COVID-19 symptoms can vary greatly and so can be COVID over a long period of time, so it can be hard to predict How can a person be affected. Most people are expected to recover from COVID for 12 weeks longer, but for some, symptoms may persist for a longer period of time.”
In addition, many people in the workplace have been affected, according to kff,
“Many conditions associated with long-term COVID – such as malaise, fatigue, or an inability to concentrate – limit people’s ability to work, even if they have jobs that allow remote work and other accommodations Two surveys of people with long COVID who had worked before infection showed that between 22% And 27% Among those workers were out of work for a long time after having COVID. In comparison, in 2019 of all working-age adults, only 7% was out of work. Given the vast number of adults working with COVID for a long time, the employment implications could be profound and likely to affect more people over time. A study estimates that long-term COVID is already responsible 15 percent unfinished jobs,
Dr. Johnson says, “According to CDC, 1 in 13 of all US adults claimed to have experienced prolonged COVID symptoms. However, 1 in 5 American adults who report that they have had COVID-19 in the past report experiencing COVID-19 for a long time. Interestingly, young adults aged 50-59 are three times more likely to develop chronic COVID than those aged 80 and older. Women are also more likely to experience long-lasting symptoms than men.”
According to Dr. Johnson, “While studies While still in its early stages, many health professionals agree that getting sick with COVID-19 more than once increases your risk of experiencing long-term COVID with each re-infection. The risk of developing a long-term medical problem for infected individuals is three times higher than for those who are not. While it is still possible to have a less severe case upon reinfection, each reinfection increases your chances of experiencing a more severe case of COVID-19.”
Dr. Johnston shared, “Experts have long divided COVID into three different categories so that people can properly differentiate between the different ways people experience these symptoms.
Hospitalization – when symptoms appear as a result of prolonged hospitalization from COVID-19 and may lead to hospitalization or weeks of bed rest. Symptoms in this category usually include decreased cognitive brain function, muscle performance, and PTSD symptoms.
Cell damage – Some cases of long-term COVID are the result of cell damage from the virus in the body that can take a long time to heal or cause permanent damage.
Post-Recovery – Some people experience COVID symptoms for a long time only after recovering from the disease. This is often due to an interaction between the immune system and the inflammatory system, both of which are acting at a faster rate than the virus, and therefore appear only after you have recovered.
Just like with COVID-19, chronic COVID symptoms can affect almost every system in the body, from the nervous system, cardiovascular system to the gastrointestinal system. This means, if you end up with COVID symptoms for a long period of time, every part of your body is subject to be affected and there can be a variety of consequences. The results can trigger shortness of breath, insomnia or brain fog, diarrhea, skin conditions, or even longer-lasting issues that may have occurred before you became ill with COVID-19.” And to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t go to any of these 35 places you’re most likely to catch COVID,
