What is Long COVID? If you’re asking this question, chances are you’re hearing terms like “post COVID syndrome”, “COVID long haulers”, or “post-acute COVID-19.” Or maybe you or a loved one is experiencing new or lingering symptoms weeks or even months after a COVID-19 infection. And now you’re wondering, “What’s going on?”
Whatever the case might be, Long COVID is a real and sometimes serious condition that can include a variety of health problems.
Let’s talk about who gets Long COVID, the types, symptoms, and current treatment options.
Who gets Long Covid & how long does it last?
As of now, researchers aren’t exactly sure why some people develop Long COVID, while others do not. This being said, regardless of how severe a COVID-19 infection is, an article from the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that between 45% and 69% survivors experience at least one symptom of Long COVID.
The top reported symptoms include fatigue, headache, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and issues with attention and memory. Researchers believe that it could be more likely with increasing age, BMI, and female sex.
The duration of these symptoms can vary greatly, but experts say that true Long COVID cases can occur as early as four weeks after a COVID-19 infection.
Keep Reading: How long does Long COVID last?
During this time, however, people who experience Long COVID for an extended amount of time do not test positive for the virus. They merely have “side effects” from the virus that are unexplained at the moment. This also means Long COVID patients are not contagious (since they no longer have the virus).
What are the main symptoms of Long Covid?
There are a variety of symptoms associated with Long COVID. Some of the more common Long COVID symptoms can include:
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Attention Disorder
- Hair Loss
- Dyspnea
However, there are well over 50 various symptoms of Long COVID that have been recorded by researchers (some more serious than others). More serious symptoms can include chronic fatigue syndrome, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
How do you treat Long COVID?
As of now, there is no comprehensive treatment for Long COVID. Since Long COVID can manifest in a variety of ways, treatment depends on the individual.
This being said, many cases of Long COVID don’t require medical intervention. Instead, proper rest and nutrition is recommended.
In more serious cases, however, medical intervention may be required. It’s important to speak with your doctor if you’re having difficulty managing your Long COVID symptoms. They can help you determine what the best treatment plan is for your specific symptoms. One such example is EECP Therapy – which can be used to manage Long COVID symptoms shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, and chest pain.
What is EECP Therapy?
EECP Therapy treats patients that have a variety of issues, including chronic heart disease, coronary artery disease, shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, and now, Long COVID.
Several of our patients were disabled to the point of not being able to work. Remarkably, all patients at this point were able to successfully return back to work after undergoing treatment. These patients also showed improvement in ‘brain fog,’ which is a common symptom of long COVID. We are excited about continuing to analyze this data and share it in the future.
Sachin A. Shah, PharmD, Chief Scientific Officer at Flow Therapy
American College of Cardiology
EECP Therapy is a non-invasive treatment option that involves no pills, shots, or surgeries. Instead, it involves a simple, outpatient procedure with the patient, compression cuffs, and an EKG machine.
During treatment, the patient lays down on a table and EECP compression cuffs are wrapped around his or her calves, thighs, and lower hips. With the assistance of the EKG machine, the inflation and deflation of the cuffs regulate with the rhythm of the heart to improve circulation, increase cardiac capacity, reduce joint pain, reduce shortness of breath, and increase overall stamina.
Results from Long COVID patients who underwent EECP Therapy:
- Chest pain symptoms improved in 97% of patients
- Fatigue improved in 88% of patients
- Walking distance improved in 83% of patients
- Breathing difficulty improved in 63% of patients
Want to learn more about this Long COVID treatment option?
At Flow Therapy, we work with patients from all walks of life, who are suffering from a variety of issues affecting their day-to-day lives, and we’d love to work with you, too! If you think you’re suffering from Long COVID symptoms and would like to see if you’re a candidate for treatment, take our online Long COVID assessment.
If you’d like more information on EECP Therapy for Long COVID treatment, give us a call at 1-888-678-FLOW or find a Flow Therapy closest to you.
