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COVID first appeared four years ago and almost overnight, the world changed. Events were cancelled, restaurants closed, social distancing and masks became the norm, and schools moved to at-home learning to accommodate lockdown orders. All of these things were designed to keep us safe but regardless, COVID reached millions of people.
We watched the reports on tv of the numbers of those infected and those who died. The World Health Organization says at least three million people worldwide have died of COVID, and that number is well over one million people in the United States alone.1
Even in 2023 – well after vaccines were rolled out to fight COVID – the CDC found that those over the age of 65 made up 63% of all COVID-related hospitalizations and nearly 90% of COVID-related deaths.2
That underscores the importance of getting vaccinated, especially for those in more vulnerable populations. Currently, only about half of seniors are following vaccine guidelines for boosters. Remember, being unvaccinated means a senior or elderly adults is much more likely to develop complications if they do get COVID.
At this point, we know a lot about COVID, as well as efforts to prevent it and treat it. But we still know little about the potential aftermath of the virus – something known as long COVID.
The Symptoms of Long COVID
For all the millions who died of COVID, tens of millions more might be suffering the lingering effects of the virus. Known as long COVID, this condition is characterized by a wide variety of symptoms that linger after a COVID infection.
The symptoms are often debilitating but not well-understood. Common complaints include brain fog that makes it difficult to concentrate, physical fatigue, depression, and anxiety. But other symptoms might show up in various people for factors researchers don’t yet understand. For instance, one person might suffer from intense headaches while another might experience gastrointestinal problems that make it almost impossible to leave the house.
It’s important to note that if you are showing any signs of long COVID, you should see your doctor right away. It’s also a good idea to look into an alert for elderly adults. Having a medical alert wireless system can help you as you can simply press the button to get help right away. There’s no waiting and worrying about what is happening, but rather, there’s a confidence in knowing that you aren’t alone and help is on the way.
Right now, there are no “official” treatments for long COVID, and there is no clear test doctors could use to diagnose it. But researchers do have some leads as to what causes long COVID and how to treat it. Here’s a roundup of the latest facts.
· The number of long COVID cases is going up. The CDC reported in June 2022 that from 14 to 15% of those who had COVID would develop long COVID. In January and February of 2024, the number of long COVID cases had risen to well over 17% of those who were infected with COVID.
· Of all the symptoms of long COVID, it appears older individuals are more likely to develop cardiovascular or metabolic problems. They might also have brain fog, malaise, and fatigue, but these tend to be in addition to the other problems, not stand-alone symptoms.
· Those who have other medical conditions are much more likely to get long COVID. Though this has been proven in some of the first long COVID studies, the latest reports continue to confirm that those who have underlying conditions are not only more likely to get long COVID, but they are also more likely to get the COVID infection more than once, increasing their odds of complications.
· A March 2024 study from the Australian National University found that nearly 20% of those who contracted COVID suffered from memory problems and fatigue so severe that the symptoms became debilitating.3
· Reporting from NPR suggests that long COVID might be caused by a protein or other remnant of the virus that takes up residence in the gut, creating a chronic infection that can affect every system of the body. It’s also possible that the virus creates dysfunction in the immune system, creating an auto-immune response where the body attacks itself.
· Scientists believe that most cases of long COVID are undiagnosed. This could be because the symptoms can often mimic that of other health problems, or because a person might have one or two of the symptoms and not a full constellation of issues to report. Simply having an uptick in headaches, for instance, might be attributed to stress – not the remnants of COVID.
The Big News on Brain Fog
Brain fog is a common complaint among those with long COVID. The latest research has focused on the blood-brain barrier, which is a layer of the brain that keeps harmful substances from reaching it. They began looking at this when they realized that after a COVID infection, there is less serotonin circling in the body. The scientists knew that about 90% of the serotonin in the body is made in the gut. They then looked at the gastrointestinal tracts of those who had been infected with COVID. They found that in 30% of patients, the virus was still hanging around their gastrointestinal tract. The inflammatory response from the body as it tried to get rid of the virus also resulted in depleting the supply of serotonin.
Why does all of this matter?
Serotonin is one of the drivers of communication between the brain and the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve controls specific bodily functions, such as digestion and heart rate. Without the serotonin to communicate well, the result is reduced activity in the hippocampus. That leads to brain fog.
But when mice in the study were given an anti-depressive drug, the brain fog began to lift as more serotonin circulated in the brain. Though clinical trials on humans will be necessary, the study points to the idea that serotonin is involved in the brain fog problem, which could lead to treatments or even a way to block the issue from occurring in the first place.
But in the meantime, some doctors have begun prescribing anti-depressants for those with long COVID symptoms, finding anecdotal evidence that it does help.
New Studies on Post-Exertion Malaise
One of the usual recommendations to make someone “feel better” after any bout with illness is to eat a better diet and exercise regularly. But among those with long COVID, exercise can actually make someone feel worse.
Known as post-exertion malaise, it’s something researchers can more easily measure through tests on blood and muscle. Studies published in 2024 found that those who experienced post-exertion malaise as part of long COVID found surprising levels of cell death as well as cells that didn’t function in a healthy way.
The research also found that many of the subjects had tiny blood clots in their muscles, indicating that the lining of the blood vessels is compromised, which then impairs the delivery of oxygen. And of course, cells that are deprived of oxygen will die, thus the high level of cell death discovered by the testing.
If you have long COVID, it’s still very important to exercise. But you should do it carefully while under the supervision of a doctor, and never push yourself beyond the limits of what your body is telling you it can handle. It’s a good idea to have a workout buddy as well as to wear a medical alarm at all times.
Protecting Yourself from Long COVID
You can’t get long COVID if you’ve never had COVID.
Vaccination has proven to be wildly effective among those who get it and keep up with their boosters. In fact, studies show that getting vaccinated can decrease the odds of hospitalization and death among seniors and the elderly by more than 90%.
The first way to protect yourself is to get the vaccination and all the boosters, as well as other vaccinations your doctor recommends. You can still get COVID if you are vaccinated, but the odds are that you will face a much milder case of the illness.
If you do get COVID, take any medication exactly as described and get plenty of rest to allow your body to fight off the infection as effectively as possible. Expect to feel tired or weak for a few weeks after the infection is over – COVID takes a toll on the body and you need some time to recover.
If symptoms persist beyond a few weeks, see your doctor. It’s also a great idea to have an emergency button alert with you at all times. As many who have suffered through COVID will tell you, the infection can get much worse very quickly. If you ever feel shortness of breath, chest pain, or any other indication that you might need medical assistance, press the button! The trained professionals at the monitoring center are standing by to help 24/7 for any and all emergencies.
