Long Covid and Brain Fog

Have you heard the term from those with reference to their previous Covid 19 viral infection:” I have long-COVID” or “I am a COVID long hauler?”

What is long Covid ?  First of all please be assured that “long-Covid is real. According to recent survey 65 million individuals previously infected with the COVID-19 virus have long Covid. That is 1 in 5 (20%) adult survivors aged 18-65 and 1 in 4 survivors aged 65 years and older (25% or one quarter) have a health condition related to their previous COVID -19 illness . And a most recent CDC posting by the CDC people with “long Covid”, often referred to by doctors as “post-COVID conditions” can have a wide range of symptoms that can last weeks, months, or even years after infection. Sometimes the symptoms can even go away and come back again. So you are not alone and the symptoms you are experiencing are real.

For more specific details you can check the CDC link ( https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects ) ,

What are some of those symptoms? According to the results of a recent study , of 1.2 million people from 22 different countries who had symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (Covid disease) the prevalence of “Long Covid symptoms” amounted to 74,000 of those individuals. The major three symptoms reported from that group of people were fatigue, respiratory symptoms including shortness of breath, and cognitive problems or “brain fog”. So again , you are not alone if you are experiencing any of these symptoms 30 or more days after your Covid infection You are not imagining them.  These post-COVID conditions, i.e., ‘long-Covid’ may not affect everyone the same way. People with post-COVID conditions may experience health problems from different types and combinations of symptoms happening over different lengths of time. Though most patients’ symptoms slowly improve with time, speaking with your healthcare provider about the symptoms you are experiencing post-COVID could help identify new medical conditions. Post-COVID conditions can last weeks, months, or years after COVID-19 illness and can sometimes result in disability.

* Journal of the American Medical Association (October 25, 2022 Volume 328, Number 16)

Consistent with the reports from 22 different countries, for the United States the CDC reports that the most commonly reported post-Covid/Long Covid conditions include the following:

General symptoms ( Not a Comprehensive List)

Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “ post-exertion malaise ”)
Fever

Respiratory and heart symptoms
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Cough
Chest pain
Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)

Neurological symptoms
Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
Headache
Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
Pins-and-needles feelings
Change in smell or taste
Depression or anxiety
Most patients’ symptoms slowly improve with time.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR LONG COVID SYMPTOMS

Though most patients’ symptoms slowly improve with time, many people with unexplained symptoms may be misunderstood by their healthcare providers, which can result in a delay in getting a diagnosis and in receiving appropriate care or treatment.  Speaking with your healthcare provider about the symptoms you are experiencing post-COVID could help identify new medical conditions. Post-COVID conditions can last weeks, months, or years after COVID-19 illness and can sometimes result in disability.

In preparing for a visit with your primary doctor to discuss your long-Covid (PCP) symptoms to help your visit be more productive maybe prevent you leaving the appointment feeling disappointed that your complaints were not taken seriously, the CDC created an check list for you to complete before your appointment.   CLICK HERE to download the chart.

STRESS & ANXIETY REALTED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider the Covid-19 Pandemic as one of mankind’s major catastrophic events. To date it is responsible for over 1 million deaths in the United States and 6.7 million deaths worldwide. The total number of deaths in all American wars is estimated to be 184,000-250,000. Covid has taken almost 27 times that amount. Such a global tragedy has affects on all of us.

Are you experiencing increased stress and anxiety at this time related to the Covid pandemic?  In addition to the difficulty that comes with living our everyday lives, the daily news announcements of new variants, ne w warnings, new outbreaks of infection in this country and in the world provides a background that for many amplifies the day-to-day worries we all share.  

 Here are some steps that may help manage some of that stress and anxiety:

Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories , including social media. Hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
Take care of your body .
Take deep breaths, stretch,  meditate, or  practice mindfulness.
Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
Exercise, if you can. Listen to signs from your body.
Get plenty of sleep.
Avoid  alcohol  and drugs.

Make time to unwind . If you feel able to, try to do some activities you enjoy.

Connect with others . Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

For more information, explore CDC’s recommendations on  how to cope with a traumatic event. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/care-post-covid.html

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