COVID-19 is persistent in more ways than one. What some people initially believed would be a 15-day lockdown is now well into a second year. According to current statistics, the world has recorded more than 190 million confirmed cases resulting in more than four million deaths.
Of those, the U.S. claims more than 34 million confirmed cases resulting in more than 609,000 deaths. In our state of Florida, we’ve had nearly 2.5 million confirmed cases resulting in slightly fewer than 39,000 deaths.
Most of those infected experience mild to moderate symptoms and fully recover within a couple of weeks.
Unfortunately, about 10 percent of those infected — even those with only mild or no symptoms initially, suffer long after the usual two-week recovery period and even after they’ve tested negative for the virus. These “long haulers” commonly experience one or more of the following symptoms, some of which can be debilitating:
- A pins-and-needles sensation
- Changes in period cycles
- Chest or stomach pain
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as brain fog)
- Dizziness upon standing (lightheadedness)
- Fever
- Headache
- Heart palpitations (heart beating fast or pounding)
- Joint or muscle pain
- Lost or diminished sense of smell or taste
- Mood changes
- Rash
- Sleep problems
- Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental activities
- Tiredness or fatigue
Officially, COVID-19 long haulers are said to suffer from PASC, which is short for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2. As with any chronic illness, PASC can trigger an avalanche of problems — lost productivity, strained relationships, depression, despair, and the list goes on. And all of these issues can contribute to or exacerbate other physical and psychological dysfunction.
Long haulers often suffer unnecessarily and for far too long because they don’t seek medical help or have been led to believe — by their doctors or the mainstream media — that little more can be done than to wait it out.
The truth is treatments are available to make long haulers feel significantly better in a matter of days or weeks, restoring their health, fitness, and vitality.
Understanding Why Some COVID-19 Patients Experience Long-Term Symptoms
Why do most patients fully recover from COVID-19 within two weeks, while others suffer long-term symptoms? For the same reason that certain people are more susceptible than others to dying from the disease — preexisting conditions.
COVID-19 can irritate the immune system by upregulating inflammation. That means people who already have an overactive immune system and some degree of underlying inflammation are more likely than others to suffer more serious side effects for a longer duration.
Some of these patients are aware of their underlying condition before they contract the infection, whereas others are totally unaware. Think of it this way: You can have underlying vascular issues for many years without knowing it. Then, you see your doctor for a routine physical, and you’re suddenly diagnosed as having atherosclerosis. That didn’t happen overnight.
Likewise, patients who suffer most from COVID-19 tend to have underlying inflammatory conditions that have developed over years or decades. COVID-19 simply unmasks the inflammation or serves as “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” We’re also seeing patient coming in with autoimmune-like symptoms. In these cases, COVID-19 triggered a strong immune response that the body hasn’t turned off.
In a functional medicine practice like ours here in Tampa, we’re well equipped to handle inflammation and immune dysregulation associated with viruses and autoimmune responses. We were treating patients for these conditions long before COVID-19 became a household word. The only difference is that now we have more of these cases.
Identifying Root Causes
Plenty can be done to help long haulers feel better faster. We’ve had many patients respond within days to weeks of treatment.
The first step is a thorough physical exam and an analysis of the patient’s history prior to infection. We look at whether the patient was previously healthy and resilient. We screen for any chronic conditions or other medical conditions that may be causing inflammation.
We also consider the patient’s age — young, middle-aged, or older.
What we’re looking for are any root causes, and the root cause can’t just be the virus. If that were the case, everyone infected would have long-hauler symptoms. We want to know what’s happening with the immune system and whether a patient has other inflammatory conditions.
Here are a few common contributing factors:
- Low levels of vitamins C or D or the mineral Zinc can all negatively impact immune regulation.
- Low glutathione (a powerful antioxidant) can impair the body’s detox pathways, which can contribute to brain and lung inflammation.
- Cortisol imbalances due to stress, excess sugar, or the virus itself can weaken your system. Resolving high cortisol is often a part of treatment.
Your body knows how to fight a virus, then calm itself down so it doesn’t destroy its own cells. However, when underlying inflammation is present, the immune system can behave inappropriately, thus delaying recovery. The good news is that normal regulation of the immune system can be restored.
Treatment Protocols for Long Haulers
Every patient is different, so here at BioDesign Wellness Center, we develop an individualized treatment protocol for every patient based on what we uncover through our patient examination and lab test results. A patient’s treatment protocol typically includes one or more of the following treatments:
- High dose vitamins and minerals taken orally or intravenously (IV): When the body is inflamed, vitamins and minerals are depleted quickly.
- Peptide therapy: We’ve found certain peptides to be effective in helping to regulate or boost immune function in long haulers. For example, thymosin Alpha can increase immunity in patients who have experienced a loss of resilience. Thymosin Beta and BPC 157 can balance or help regulate the immune system if it is overactive or producing autoimmune-like symptoms.
- Cortisol management: Resolving high cortisol is often a part of treatment. Diet and lifestyle changes (to reduce stress), along with certain supplements can be effective in bringing cortisol levels down. Lifestyle changes may address sleep issues, exercise (too little, too much, or the wrong kinds), sources of stress in your life, and too little fun and laughter.
- Diet/nutrition: Eating foods that support healthy immune function and avoiding anything that disrupts immune system health or function or increases inflammation can be helpful for some patients.
- Nebulized glutathione: Glutathione is a natural antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and fight infection. However, it’s commonly broken down in the gut when taken orally. Nebulized glutathione is inhaled to improve absorption and deliver it more directly to the lungs and brain. Taking N-acetyl cysteine (a precursor of glutathione) orally can also be helpful.
All of these treatments have strong safety profiles and are easily accomplished at home. Within days to weeks, patients generally feel better and start to recover.
The takeaway message here is that long haulers need not be discouraged.
Effective treatments are available. The first step is to consult with a functional medicine practitioner who understands what’s going on beneath the surface and can help you provide your body with the support needed to heal itself.
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Disclaimer: The information in this blog post about post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect current medical thinking or practices. No information contained in this post should be construed as medical advice from the medical staff at BioDesign Wellness Center, Inc., nor is this post intended to be a substitute for medical counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this post without seeking the appropriate medical advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a licensed medical professional in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.