Long COVID – Development of Precedent for Unprecedented Symptoms
Unprecedented. It’s a word I never want to hear after living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the pandemic is over, COVID-19 continues to impact our daily lives in new and unprecedented ways. Normally, when a virus runs its course, you are well, but COVID-19 symptoms can linger and impact patients long after the patient is “cured.” It’s another unexpected and unprecedented consequence of COVID-19.
What is long COVID? Because it’s unprecedented, we don’t have a good definition or diagnostic criteria for long COVID. Generally, long COVID is a hodgepodge of lingering symptoms after a COVID-19 infection. These symptoms include the following:
Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “post-exertional malaise”)
Fever
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Cough
Chest pain
Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
Headache
Sleep problems
Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
Pins-and-needles feelings
Change in smell or taste
Depression or anxiety
Joint or muscle pain
Rash
Changes in menstrual cycle
Approximately 10 – 30% of COVID-19 patients suffer some combination of long COVID symptoms, and these symptoms reduce quality of life including, but not limited to, the ability to work. Doctors need criteria to accurately diagnose and treat patients with long COVID. Without a proper diagnosis, doctors can treat symptoms. With diagnostic criteria, doctors can treat a patient.
Fortunately, the medical community is working to develop a set of criteria to clearly define long COVID. On May 25, 2023, the JAMA published an article discussing these criteria and the prevalence of long COVID with different variants. (Thaweethai T, Jolley SE, Karlson EW, et al. Development of a Definition of Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. JAMA. 2023;329(22):1934–1946.
doi:10.1001/jama.2023.8823 (Link: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805540)).
Here at HyOx, our physicians are working on criteria to assess and grade long COVID based on the types of symptoms and duration and frequency of those symptoms. In addition to reporting symptoms, lab results show how long COVID impacts a patient’s physiology. This information helps our doctors understand each’s patient specific case of long COVID, develop a treatment plan, and monitor progress.
Why do HyOx’s physicians care about long COVID? Early studies and anecdotal evidence indicate that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help alleviate long COVID symptoms and potentially cure the underlying problems causing those symptoms. One study showed significant improvement in cognitive function, attention and executive function, sleep, energy, and psychiatric symptoms.
Visit https://www.hyox.com/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-long-covid to learn more about how hyperbaric oxygen therapy can treat long COVID.
HyOx will continue to monitor development of the long COVID diagnostic criteria and ongoing research for treatment of long COVID. If you have questions about long COVID, please do not hesitate to contact us.