There’s a frightening coronavirus factor that no one’s talking much about. But we absolutely should be.
In fact, this COVID-triggered complication could turn out to be a sort of epidemic of its own in the next few years.
You see, it’s not just the COVID-19 infection alone that we need to be concerned about. Because many folks who survive the disease could still have a long battle ahead of them.
They could find themselves fighting a mysterious coronavirus complication called Long COVID.
And it’s not just those who had a severe case of the illness who are at risk. Even folks with mild infections can be victims of Long COVID. And in those cases, this complication may be even worse than their initial battle with the virus.
As many survivors have already found out, lingering effects of the virus can leave you sick and miserable for many months (or possibly years) afterward.
But the latest research offers us a hint of what could be behind at least some cases of this debilitating syndrome. And along with that hint comes some hope for potentially lowering our risks for the illness or easing symptoms.
And it turns out it all starts in the gut.
How BACTERIA could influence LONG COVID
New research has revealed that many people suffering from Long COVID (or what the white coats are now calling post-acute COVID-19 syndrome or PACS) have differences deep in the gut.
Certain imbalances in their microbiome were even linked to some of the specific symptoms Long Haulers report the most, including…
- fatigue
- brain fog
- poor memory
- hair loss
- anxiety
- sleep struggles
Since the research into Long COVID is just getting started, we have a lot more to learn. For example, it’s not yet clear if these folks had gut differences before the virus struck, which may have made them more prone to the condition. Or if the COVID-19 infection caused the gut to fall out of balance.
But the team behind the study suspects it may be the former… that specific bacterial profiles could leave you susceptible to Long COVID.
This may open the doorway to some treatments for the syndrome. For example, one day, a probiotic-centered solution could be given to coronavirus patients to potentially block long-term complications.
For now, it’s just something worth keeping a close eye on. I will be sure to do that and follow up as we learn more.
But regardless of whether or not you’ve had COVID-19 yet, it’s still an excellent reminder of how critical our gut-bug balance is for our overall health.
Trust your GUT to support your immune system
It’s beyond clear now that our microbes play a much more significant role in the immune system than they’ve traditionally been given credit for. And it’s high time we change that BEFORE we get ill and regret it.
Now to be clear, we have NO solid evidence yet that probiotics can make a difference in Long COVID. Researchers are working hard to figure that out.
But we DO know these friendly bacteria can enhance and support your microbiota. And that, in turn, can help support overall good digestive health.
Plus, there’s also emerging evidence these bacteria may play a role in immune function with other infections – including the common cold. And they may even help with mood, memory, and more.
The general trend in most studies isn’t just ensuring you have a single “good” strain but an overall balance. And that means if you’re interested in a probiotic supplement, you should look for a quality blend with multiple strains backed by human research.
If you need help choosing one you can talk with your doctor. And in the meantime, take a look at my earlier report, How to pick the best probiotic for YOU.
And be sure to get those same bacteria from your diet, too, be eating more yogurt (just avoid the sugary kinds) and other fermented foods such as pickles and sauerkraut.
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