What Is Post Covid Syndrome And How Is It Treated?

What Is Post-COVID Syndrome?

COVID!! COVID!! The entire human race is now surrounded by this disease. Many medicines and treatment processes are turning successful. However, another challenge that the COVID impacted individuals are facing is the post-COVID syndrome. Irrespective of whether the COVID attack is mild or severe these post COVID symptoms are lasting for a few days to as long as months, even with the COVID test reports resulting in negative. This worse situation is noticed in a number of people who have recovered from COVID-19, yet, suffer from the symptoms that linger around. Such individuals are named ‘COVID long-haulers’ and the solution to this unbearable condition is yet to be answered.

Evidence proves that there are a fair number of people facing these effects of COVID post the illness and the scientists are at no clue about how many days this PCS lingers around but suggest that regular follow-ups and some specialized care would help them out. However, scientists and doctors are trying to understand the various long-term and short-term side effects of this illness.

Symptoms Of Post-COVID Syndrome

Just like how COVID-19 appears with some symptoms, in the same way, the post-COVID syndrome also comes along with a range of symptoms.

Here is a list of the most commonly noticed symptoms that are observed to linger around even after COVID reports turn negative;

• Fatigue or tiredness
• Pain in the chest
• Breathing difficulty
• Muscle or joint pains
• Brain fog, wherein, the individuals are observed to have some inability in concentrating unlike pre-COVID along with weekend memory.
• Loss of smell and taste
• Sleep concerns
• Cough
• Fever at times

Even the health care professionals are unsure of how long this post-COVID syndrome persists, but, it’s observed that the symptoms may last for at least 6 months in some or even longer for others. These symptoms are manifesting interestingly and in a unique way. Like, in some cases the MRI scan results in myocarditis for a few which is a case where for several months the heart muscle remains inflamed, even with no prevalent heart illness symptoms.

It is still very unclear as to what causes this situation and are there any long-term consequences. But some believe that it may be due to the infection from hidden areas. But, in the end, even with not knowing answers to many, one thing is clear that this worst COVID has a great impact on the “quality of life”. However, no severe impacts are expected as of now.

Causes Of Post-COVID Syndrome

COVID-19 is not only the first virus causing long-lasting symptoms, the earlier outbreaks like SARS, MERS, etc. also left some infected people weak for a long time post the illness is cured. This doesn’t mean that the virus is still alive and is causing the post-COVID syndrome in the infected people but the response the virus has triggered is the cause of the symptoms to be persistent for such a long time. Now, the challenge is to find out the response that is triggered to fight against the virus during the treatment.

Here are the few suspected triggers that may be the response caused;

1. Excessive Inflammation

Causing heart inflammation in many COVID treated patients leading to symptoms like breathing difficulty, pain in the chest, uplifted heart rate.

2. Autoimmune Response

This response is something where the immune system by mistake generates antibodies and immune molecules that are unnecessarily attacking healthy tissues resulting in fatigue, digestive issues, etc.

3. Nervous System Problems

Dysautonomia is a symptom noticed in the patients and this disturbs the blood flow resulting in fatigue, headaches, etc.

4. Blood Vessel Damage And Clots

The possible reason may be due to the impact on the cells that line the blood vessels. These clots are noticed everywhere throughout the body of a COVID impacted mortal resulting in many bodies functioning interruptions.

How To Treat Post-COVID Syndrome?

The treatment for the post-COVID syndrome depends on the symptoms that the patient is facing. Various tests are carried out to better understand the patients’ condition. With the main goal of finding out the primary problems, the patients’ symptoms are to be controlled and brought down to normal and further improve the patients’ ability both physically and mentally.

However, many studies and practices are being carried out to improve the treatment for PCS.

Tips To Protect

There are no proper answers for the PCS treatment as the symptoms are varying from one to one. However, the best tip to post-COVID syndrome long-haulers is, not to get infected with coronavirus in the first place.

But here are few more tips to protect yourself;

• Healthy breathwork practicing to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Better quality sleep.
• Never skip wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining social distance.
• Take a good rest.
• Avoid any kind of stress or anxiety.
• Include healthy meals and stay hydrated.

Follow a healthy and hygienic lifestyle and be under your doctors’ guidance, never lose hope or get worried for a healthy and happy future.

Sudheendra Reddy

Sudheendra is a passionate blogger for 8 years and holds a Degree in Journalism & Mass Communications. His writings particularly focus on health, medicine, diet & lifestyle. For him, everything that interlinks and relates to health & medical world entices him. His write-ups aim at educating people not by just giving facts but by infusing human touch.