Long-Haul COVID: What Is It and Why Should We Be Alarmed? Part II

With up to ten percent of COVID patients impacted by a long-haul version of the disease, it’s clear that pandemic concerns won’t be immediately over once the vaccine is distributed.

At this point, the general symptoms of long-haul COVID are understood, but not why it persists in some people or how long we can expect the lingering symptoms to continue. Experts have a few predictions, however, as we highlight below:

The Hunt for a Cause

Medical experts remain stumped as to what, exactly causes some people to continue experiencing COVID symptoms months after they’re initially diagnosed. Identifying potential long-haul patients is becoming easier, as a growing body of evidence suggests that those with several symptoms early on in the disease’s trajectory are more likely to experience extended suffering.

Further research suggests that reports of troubled breathing can largely be blamed on fatigue and cardiovascular de-conditioning. After all, only a small percentage of patients with ongoing symptoms have received abnormal results during X-rays.

Experts such as Dr. Liam Townsend believe that nutritional deficiencies may play a contributing role. Researchers remain committed to identifying other causes, but additional information may not be available for some time.

Treating Long-Haul COVID

Due to the sheer range of long-haul COVID symptoms and the lack of knowledge regarding its primary cause, no strong treatment system exists just yet. For now, health care workers look for top areas of inflammation, using inhalers or anti-inflammatory drugs as needed.

Overcoming fatigue can be more complicated, but rehabilitation teams can work with patients to create exercise plans that help them speed up their cardiovascular recovery.