Not too long ago, many so-called experts claimed “long COVID” wasn’t even real. They implied the people who had it were just pretending to be ill. Nothing was wrong with them in reality.
They were even testing psych meds for the condition. (Something folks who battle chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia have dealt with for years.)
Well, my friend, all that changed in a hurry. Public health officials have had to admit long COVID is all too real. They also acknowledge that the condition is far more common than anyone ever realized.
As you’ll see in a moment, long COVID could explain your own sudden and mysterious symptoms. And that’s true even if you had a mild case or never have officially been diagnosed with a coronavirus infection.
But I’ve also got something else to share. And that’s a strong starting point in the fight to wipe out this debilitating condition and FINALLY get your life back.
The TRUE toll of becoming a “long hauler”
Two years ago, some of the first patients who had supposedly recovered from a COVID-19 infection started to report that they still didn’t feel right.
The virus itself was gone. And the acute, life-threatening symptoms… especially the frightening double-pneumonia that marked the most extreme cases… had cleared up.
These survivors were given a clean bill of health. Yet they KNEW something was wrong. They sought each other out online, confirming their struggles with others fighting the same battle. Yet it seemed no one else believed them.
Now far too many doctors are STILL refusing to acknowledge it. Or they believe developing the condition is rare.
But new numbers confirm that that’s NOT the case at all with frightening clarity. Long COVID is all too real. In fact, nearly a third of people who’ve recovered from an infection end up battling long COVID.
The condition is defined as “new, returning, or ongoing health problems 4 or more weeks after an initial infection.” And the most common symptom of long COVID is also one of the most debilitating: fatigue.
More than 30 percent of long COVID patients report fatigue four or more weeks after the infection. And we know from other studies that it can go on for months and even years.
In addition, 15 percent of long haulers report ongoing issues with shortness of breath. Another 16 percent of folks with long COVID continue to struggle with one of the strangest and most life-altering symptoms of all anosmia, or the loss of their sense of smell.
When you lose your sense of smell during the initial infection, it’s easy to ignore. You’re so miserable you might not even notice it. But when it doesn’t return, even after the other symptoms fade, it can become a serious quality-of-life issue.
What to do about long COVID
Many people who had COVID-19 know it. But many don’t.
Some folks may suspect they had the virus but were never tested. Others may have had such mild cases they never realized they had the infection. Yet it’s possible many of these folks – more than half the nation by some estimates – could still be at risk for long COVID.
And trust me when I say we all need to start taking the condition seriously. COVID-19 infections leave some long haulers with potentially permanent disabilities, including diabetes, heart conditions, and even neurological issues that can include debilitating brain fog and even a drop in IQ points.
There’s no proven cure for long COVID yet. But you certainly won’t be doing your body any favors if you give up and ignore your health as you fight the aftereffects of infection.
So it’s a good idea to make sure your immune system has the building blocks it needs to mount an effective battle with the basics, including vitamins C and D and a daily multi with minerals.
Plus, topping up your body’s friendly gut bugs with yogurt and supplements is likely a good idea since research points to gut health as a potential target for long COVID treatment. In fact, there’s evidence that probiotics could help speed recovery from long COVID.
In addition, there’s emerging evidence of another technique that could help deliver relief to precisely the folks who need it most. I’ll have the full scoop on that long COVID solution coming up later this week.
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