The Daily Impact of Long Haul Covid on the Quality of Life

Real Stories, Real Struggles: Susan’s story –

Susan, a healthy and fit 63-year-old health policy consultant, contracted COVID in April of 2020. She and her husband got the illness at the same time, but after he recovered a week later, and she was still suffering through symptoms: fatigue, headaches, high fever, muscle aches, and a nasty cough that developed two weeks later. She remained sick in bed for three weeks. Two months later, she was still struggling plagued with headaches and brain fog. Eventually, those symptoms cleared , but new ones replaced them: fatigue and breathlessness. “In the first few months, I was frustrated that I couldn’t even walk to the local shops, having always been a very active and independent person,” she says. But, she considered herself “extremely lucky” given the number of COVID deaths that year. Susan eventually was diagnosed with post-viral chronic fatigue – a classic sign of long COVID. Since COVID, her life has slowed down considerably. She still experiences fatigue to this day, and has altered her life to move more slowly, go to bed earlier, and focus on yoga, mindfulness, and simplicity. As the weeks turned to months and now years, I have had days when I’ve wondered if I will ever be the person I was before, and it makes me a bit depressed. My main frustration is not being able to go for long walks, climb hills, or travel long distances because of fatigue. I also find my memory and ability to recall words has been compromised. –World Health Organization The latest research says:

- Long haul COVID doesn’t just affect the elderly
- Symptoms could last up to 2 years instead of a few months
- Respiratory issues aren’t the only long haul COVID indicators

When it comes to getting your health back on track, education around the issue becomes powerful in order to find the answers you need.

Statistical Overview: The Broader Picture

One in 5 people suffer from long COVID, with symptoms lasting up to 12+ weeks after the initial infection has cleared, according to the CDC. And although scientists don’t know for sure what exactly causes Long COVID, emerging research is providing more and more clues:

SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), particles may become active again, causing symptoms to reappear
Overactive immune cells may be releasing high levels of inflammatory substances that can injure organs and tissues
The infection may cause the immune system to start making autoantibodies that attack a person’s own organs and tissues

The Daily Impact of Long Haul Covid on the Quality of Life

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Comprehensive Care for Long Haul Covid: A Forum Health Perspective

Our Approach to Long Haul Covid Treatment

COVID-19 and long haul COVID, although elusive, are still imbalances in the body that can be treated at the root cause. Although it’s difficult to treat and heal on your own, long haul COVID can greatly benefit from addressing any underlying imbalances. Using functional and integrative medicine can help you find relief and put you on the road to recovery.

The Role of Integrative and Functional Medicine in Holistic Recovery

Integrative and functional medicine focuses on treating the person as a whole: mind, body and spirit, rather than solely focusing on the disease itself through symptom management. Lng COVID affects not just the physical body, but also cognitive functioning and mental health. Targeting what is underneath the illness, integrative and functional medicine looks at your medical history, lifestyle habits, nutritional deficiencies, emotional well being, toxin exposure, social connections, and mental health. All of these factors play a role in your vitality and how you recover from illness.

Explore Our Long Haul Covid Treatment Options at Forum Health Advanced Therapies Today

Expert-Recommended Management Strategies

Lifestyle Adjustments for Symptom Management

When you think about healing from long COVID, think of it like any other illness: focusing on getting plenty of quality sleep, managing stress, eating well, and moving your body is key, say experts from Forum Health. However, it’s important to talk to your doctor or healthcare professional about what type of exercise is best suited for you: the wrong kind or amount of exercise could actually make your symptoms worse. Try spending extra time in the evening winding down to prepare for sleep, and practice good sleep hygiene techniques to get a better night’s sleep because sleeping is how the body truly heals and rejuvenates itself.

Rehabilitation and Support Services: What's Available?

There are many different government-supported resources available for patients with long COVID as well as those with disabilities who also have long COVID. As an integrative health platform, it’s also suggested to find a practitioner or care center that uses a root-cause approach, to not only treat symptoms but to get to the root cause of what’s causing issues.

Explore our long haul COVID services here to learn more.

FAQs: Addressing Your Key Concerns About Long Haul Covid

What Every Long Hauler Should Know: Top Questions Answered

What is the duration of long haul COVID?

Long haul COVID is defined as a condition where symptoms persist long after the COVID infection has cleared. Typically patients experience long haul COVID symptoms up to 12+ weeks. The type of symptoms and duration of long COVID varies from person to person, but studies show the average range of long COVID lasts 12 to 18 months, and for some – years.

What are the diagnostic approaches to long haul COVID?

Unfortunately, there is no single test to determine if you have long haul COVID, but an assessment of symptoms by a doctor/healthcare practitioner will help you determine what’s going on. Typically, this involves a clinical evaluation and discussion of your COVID illness, ruling out any other potential conditions or illnesses, and a possible exploration of new and emerging diagnostic tools, such as micronutrient testing, autonomic testing, and advanced MRI screens.

What are the immune system implications of long COVID?

Long COVID can have serious implications on the immune system. Here’s what we know so far:

Studies show signs of immune dysfunction in long COVID patients, which includes persistent immune cell activation and markers of chronic inflammation.
Exhausted T cells - T cells are important when it comes to fighting off infections. This can leave patients with long COVID more susceptible to getting other illnesses.
Along with inflammation, patients with long COVID have been found to have Thromboinflammation, a disruption in the blood clotting system. This can damage tissues and cause long-term complications.

Autoantibody production: COVID might be linked to the production of autoantibodies, which are antibodies that mistakenly attack the body’s own tissues. This could contribute to autoimmune conditions.

What are the treatment modalities for long haul COVID?

While there is currently no cure for long haul COVID, there are treatments available to help ease symptoms. This includes medications and treatments to manage pain, fatigue and sleep problems, and rehabilitation modalities to help the body regulate itself again. Self-therapy includes shifting into eating a healthier diet, pacing (which is learning to schedule activities at the optimal time to conserve your energy), 1-1 counseling or therapy, boosting immunity and gut health, IV therapy, professional grade supplement. There are some emerging medications out there still being tested that help treat various symptoms of long haul COVID.

What are the contagion concerns of long haul COVID?

Because the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection has passed, there is no live virus to spread to others, so luckily when you have long COVID, you will not pass it to others.

What are the diagnostic indicators of long COVID?

Innovations in Long Haul Covid Research: A Glimpse Into the Future

Surprising Discoveries: From Gut Microbiome to Neurological Insights

There’s emerging new research that suggests the gut microbiome may have something to do with long COVID. “Gut microbiome” describes the trillions of microorganisms living in the intestines. When there’s an imbalance of adequate gut microorganisms (which our digestive system needs), we can develop gut dysbiosis, which can contribute to long COVID symptoms. This disrupted microbiome can trigger inflammation in the gut, which can contribute to COVID symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and joint problems. And, as recent research has emerged, we know the immune system and the digestive system are intimately linked. Dysbiosis can lead to an underactive or overactive immune response, contributing to long COVID inflammatory states. Although more research is needed and is being conducted, in functional medicine we know that digestive health is an important foundation of overall health.

The Promised of Personalized Treatment Plans

Because long COVID is not a one-size-fits-all condition, health professionals are beginning to understand the need for more personalized care. Referred to as a “heterogeneous disease”, there are many moving (and varying) parts and each individual experiences different things. This is forcing doctors to truly consider more of a root-cause approach, where they slow down their assessment and look at:

Underlying conditions using advanced diagnostics
Personalized recovery plans
Targeted therapies that address the individual’s specific needs
Precision medicine: aiming to treat individuals based on their genetic makeup and other biological factors

Currently, accessibility, cost, and limited treatment options are being looked at (as well as continuing ongoing research), so more patients of long haul COVID can get the help they need.

Empowering Your Recovery Journey: Practical Tips and Resources

Nutritional and Dietary Considerations

When experiencing long COVID, it’s important to get the adequate nutrients you need to optimize cellular function to get you feeling better, faster. Focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein as well as healthy fats. This not only helps the body’s immune function improve, it can help cognitive health as well. Stay hydrated throughout the day with water and eat regularly to maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Be sure to consult with a healthcare practitioner one to one to assess your current symptoms and needs, as the recommendations will look different for everyone.

Physical Activity: Finding the Balance

Before starting exercise, talk to your doctor. For some conditions, exercise will help, and for others, it will worsen symptoms. Working with a provider 1:1 will help you assess your medical background, as well as current symptom struggles, so you can determine what kind of and how much exercise you need to be focusing on, whether it’s more gentle or something more vigorous.

Building Immunity

Building a strong immune system is crucial for recovery from Long Haul COVID. Maintaining consistent sleep habits, eating a balanced diet and being physically active can strengthen the immune system and help in recovery. It’s of great importance to talk to healthcare providers that offer targeted support and treatments for long-haul COVID based on the symptoms and needs of each patient, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution for long COVID.

Mental Health and Cognitive Support

Long haul COVID can significantly impair your mental and cognitive health,from experiencing brain fog, to depression or anxiety, for starters. It’s important to seek help. Options include 1:1 cognitive behavioral therapy, support groups (Long COVID Alliance), as well as mindfulness techniques and practices, like meditation, breathwork, and ways to improve your sleep. Cognitive rehabilitation is also a wonderful option for those who are suffering from brain fog and other cognitive issues.

How Forum Health Can Support Your Recovery From Long Haul Covid

Our Unique Approach: Combining Integrative and Functional Medicine

Here at Forum Health, we combine integrative and functional medicine for a whole-being approach to get you feeling better. Our personalized treatment plans target the root cause (not just masking symptoms), include professional-grade vitamins and supplements for post-COVID fatigue, and continuous monitoring of our patients. Depending on your needs, we may use advanced lab testing, Ivermectin, professional grade nutraceuticals, Iodine nasal spray, low-dose Naltrexone, IV therapy, and many more modalities to help you heal and feel like yourself again.

Case Studies: Success Stories From Our Patients

Connect with Our Specialists at Forum Health Advanced Therapies

Managing Long Haul Covid

While there is currently no cure for long haul COVID, there are treatments available to help ease symptoms. This includes: medications to manage pain, fatigue and sleep problems to help the body regulate itself again. Self-therapy includes shifting into eating a healthier diet, pacing (which is learning to schedule activities at the optimal time to conserve your energy), and 1:1 counseling or therapy, and there are some emerging medications out there still being tested that may help treat various symptoms of long haul COVID.

The Role of Integrative Medicine in Managing Long Haul Covid

Integrative medicine addresses the person as a whole, rather than just managing symptoms we often find in conventional medicine today. Integrative medicine offers a wider range of tools to address symptoms and help treat the root cause of the issue. This includes nutritional therapy, mind-body therapies, and physical and occupational therapy, as well as supplementation and herb-based treatments when needed. These evidence-based tools treat the person from a whole-body and whole-being perspective, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to healing long haul COVID.