- After analyzing the medical records of 2.4 million survivors, new symptoms associated with persistent Covid-19 were identified.
- This term is used to describe patients who become infected and continue to have complaints after 12 weeks of discharge from the hospital.
- Other previously detected problems are added to this list of problems, such as fatigue, tiredness and mental confusion.
Although the world has experienced one of the worst pandemics in the last two years, there is still much to learn. For this reason, studies are constantly being carried out to obtain a clearer picture. All this allowed identify two new symptoms associated with persistent Covid-19.
First of all, you should be aware that Not everyone who gets infected makes a full recovery. Some develop sequelae of varying duration. In fact, some can be kept for long periods of time.
What is persistent Covid-19?
While another important point is to know the meaning of Persistent Covid-19. In its simplest definition, it is a term used to describe survivors who continue to have discomfort or sequelae after 12 weeks of discharge from the hospital.
A few months ago The Lancet published a list with the most frequent that have been detected. Among the main ones are the following:
- Fatigue.
- Fatigue.
- Mental confusion.
- Visual hallucinations.
- Tremors.
- Skin itch.
- Changes in the menstrual cycle.
- sexual dysfunction.
- Heart palpitations.
- Bladder control problems.
- Herpes.
- Memory loss.
- Blurry vision.
- Diarrhea.
- Tinnitus.
On the other hand, now researchers from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom), together with a team of doctors from all over England, have carried out ambitious work. It consisted of the analysis of the medical records of 2.4 million UK patients. In all cases, these are people who were infected and managed to overcome the disease but have had sequelae since then.
Most interestingly, two symptoms associated with persistent Covid-19 that are not deadly but can affect people’s emotional health. It’s about the alopecia and sexual dysfunction.
About, Shamil Haroonwho was the lead author of the study, noted that the results offer a broader view of the true dimensions of this disease.
“The symptoms we identified should help clinicians and clinical guideline developers to better assess patients with long-term effects of Covid-19, and to further consider how this symptom burden can be better managed.”
Recommendations for survivors
Now, for people who have managed to overcome the disease but have not yet fully recovered, there are a series of indications that must be followed. In all cases they have the objective of promote continuous improvement until achieving the same lifestyle prior to infection.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself
In patients who try to return to normal life too quickly, there is a resurgence of fatigue, shortness of breath and muscle pain, which can last from hours to days. Because this forces them to rest, they can enter a cycle of trying to resume normal life and suffering setbacks that leave them demoralized and in poor physical shape.
Importance of endurance activities
When patients exercise after Covid-19, they often choose activities that increase their heart rate, such as walking or cycling.
However, we see that the most difficult type of activity for patients with Post Covid-19 Syndrome is cardiovascular exercise. So, start better with resistance activities (resistance bands, light weights, yoga, or Pilates) and once that goes well, add some light cardio.
Optimize sleep
Many patients with persistent Covid-19 take naps but it is not one of the most appropriate recommendations. The reason is because it disturbs the sleep schedule. It is important to sleep in the best possible way and, for this, the first thing is to make sure that the area where one sleeps is ideal.
Suggestions for better sleep include the following: make sure the room has good air circulation and that the temperature is a little cooler than during the day; Minimize electronic distractions, such as using your mobile phone in bed, because this keeps your brain stimulated enough to stay awake. do not consume caffeine after lunch, and avoid exercising for two hours before going to sleep.