Long Covid

AKA Post Covid Syndrome, Long Haul Covid, Post Acute Covid, Chronic Covid

Long COVID is defined as the persistence of COVID-19 symptoms for greater than 12 weeks post-onset.  It has emerged as a major public health issue with figures as high as 10 - 30% of the population affected.

Long Covid appears more frequently in older populations, those living with concurrent medication conditions, and those with severe disease.  However it is also affecting large portion of young and otherwise healthy individuals.
​
General symptoms
  • Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
  • Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental                effort (“post-exertional malaise”)
  • Fever
  • Pain
  • GI Distress (Abdominal pain, Nausea, Diarrhoea,                    Weight Loss, Loss of appetite) ​
Other symptoms
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Rash
  • Changes in menstrual cycles
  • Tinnitus or hearing loss
  • Earache
  • Sore throat
  • Nasal Congestion
Respiratory and heart symptoms
  • Rapid or difficult breathing, shortness of breath
  • Cough
  • Chest pain/ tightness
  • Heart palpitations
Neurological symptoms
  • Cognitive Impairment (Brain fog, loss of                                  Concentration & Memory)
  • Headache
  • Sleep problems
  • Dizziness when you stand up 
  • Pins-and-needles feelings
  • Mobility Impairment
  • Visual Disturbance
  • Change in smell or taste
  • Depression or anxiety

​

So what do we do about all this?

Research is underway right here in New Zealand into Long Covid, and it is building on key insights from studies of another disease - Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).  A once maligned condition, and often still neglected by the medical establishment.
ME/CFS has striking similarities to Long Covid in terms of symptoms and the demographic it affects.  One postulated theory is that Long Covid could be a sub-type of ME/CFS.  
​
From a Naturopathic perspective, we understand ME/CFS/Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome to be a mosaic disease.  What this means, it is that its drivers are many factors coming together to create a disease picture.  So while some drivers will be common to most people, others will vary from individual to individual.
Key Areas that Need to be Assessed in Long Covid Include:
  • ​​Mitochondrial Function
  • Endothelial Function
  • Autonomic Nervous System Function
  • Immune Function/Inflammation
  • Mast Cell Activation
  • Chronic Viral Infection Reactivation

Risk Factors for developing Long Covid

  • High levels of viral RNA early during an infection
  • Presence of certain autoantibodies
  • Reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus/Glandular Fever
  • Type 2 Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome

​​
As Long Covid is not the same for every person, your unique symptom picture needs to be assessed in relation to the key areas above. 
From here a dietary, supplement and lifestyle plan can be put together with the aim of helping you to rebuild and recover.  ​