Tips for Overcoming Long COVID Symptoms That Never Go Away

The year 2023 has begun and the COVID-19 pandemic has entered a new chapter, social restrictions from the government have also begun to be relaxed so that we can more easily visit families to gather to celebrate holidays and holidays, such as the Chinese New Year.

However, even though the number of COVID sufferers is decreasing, we must remain vigilant, especially for those who have previously been exposed to COVID 19, because the impact of COVID 19 may continue, or what is commonly referred to as "long COVID."

Long COVID is a condition characterized by sustained symptoms after a person recovers from a COVID-19 virus infection. Although most patients can recover in a short period of time, there are also those who experience symptoms that last a long time, even up to several months after recovery.

This symptom can affect a person's quality of life and cause limitations in carrying out daily activities. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the symptoms of long COVID so that you can take appropriate measures to deal with it.

What Is Long Covid?

Reporting from the Ministry of Health's website, WHO explained that long COVID/post-COVID symptoms are a condition where a person who has been declared cured of COVID-19 infection (a COVID-19 survivor) still feels the symptoms of the disease for a long time. Long COVID can affect patients with a history of being infected with the COVID-19 virus without symptoms, or with mild, severe, or critical symptoms.

Therefore, you must be aware of some of the symptoms of long COVID that can appear, especially for those of you who have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus before.

Symptoms of Long Covid

The symptoms of long COVID are separated into two phases: the acute phase, in which symptoms occur within 3–12 weeks, and the chronic phase, in which symptoms persist for longer than 12 weeks. The most commonly experienced symptoms of long COVID are exhaustion, shortness of breath, coughing, and muscle or joint pain.

However, you still must be careful if there are serious long COVID symptoms, such as the following:

• Heart palpitations
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Depression
• Visual impairment
• Lung dysfunction
• Tinnitus (ringing ears)
• Blood clotting and vascular disorders

Especially if you have a history of other diseases that worsen symptoms and require further medical treatment. If you experience the symptoms listed above and feel a worsening health condition you must immediately do medical treatment so that treatment can begin.

Causes of Long COVID

WHO mentioned that the cause of long COVID could not be explained until this article was created. However, Kirby Institute's post-Covid-19 patient study research professor, Gail Matthews, found differences in protein type levels in long COVID patients.

There is an increase in the level of certain protein types that function in response to the presence of the virus in COVID-19 patients. Generally, this protein will disappear after the infection is cured. However, the protein remains present in long COVID patients.

In general, the exact cause of long COVID is still unknown and requires further research to understand the underlying mechanisms of this condition. However, researchers assume that inflammation and damage to the immune system may play an important role in long COVID symptoms.

Who is at High Risk to Experiencing Long COVID

You will have a high risk of experiencing Long COVID if:

• Experiencing COVID-19 with severe symptoms, especially those who have received intensive care
• Have comorbidities before you get COVID-19
• Do not have a COVID-19 vaccination
• Experiencing conditions that affect organs and tissues during COVID-19

How to Prevent Long COVID

The best way to prevent long COVID is to prevent yourself from getting a coronavirus infection. This can be done by following health protocols and conducting a complete COVID-19 vaccination so that the risk of getting the corona virus will be much lower.

Handling or Recovery of Long COVID

There is no specific solution to deal with the symptoms of long COVID because everyone may experience different symptoms. Therefore, the doctor will treat long COVID according to the symptoms experienced by the patient.

To overcome the symptoms of long COVID, the doctor may provide recommendations such as breathing exercises, physical therapy, consuming a balanced, nutritious diet, adequate rest, medical treatment, and other treatments that are appropriate to the patient's condition.

However, MAGI summarize some long COVID treatments that you can do yourself.

Shortness of Breath

1. Breathing exercises by sitting upright, relaxing, inhaling long breaths, and exhaling slowly from the mouth.
2. Perform deep breathing.

• Lie on your back on a flat surface
• Bend the knees slightly
• Place pillows under the head and knees for support
• Put the right palm on the chest and the left on the abdomen
• Inhale through the nose slowly and exhale through the mouth slowly
• When inhaling and exhaling, the hands on the chest should remain still and the hands on the abdomen should rise

Fatigue

• Begin an activity with the simplest
• Move slowly
• Organize a healthy and nutritious diet
• Take vitamins if needed
• Start exercising lightly like a morning walk

Parosmia

• Inhale aromas from fruits, flowers, or essential oils for 20 seconds
• Consumption of nutritious foods

That's some information about the symptoms of long COVID, the causes, and how to deal with it: keep health protocols and do a complete vaccination of COVID-19 to reduce the risk of getting the COVID virus and the symptoms of long COVID.

Health Insurance Coverage for Long Covid

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us realize how important it is to have health protection for ourselves and our families. Because having health insurance will help us deal with the costs that arise due to health care¹. And with SmartCare Executive from Mandiri AXA General Insurance (MAGI) you will get a health insurance card that can be easily used at MAGI partner hospitals and clinics throughout Indonesia.

¹Coverage product of health insurance SmartCare Executive will based on terms and conditions applied
*Promo code applied until 31^st January 2023 through direct transaction in AXA Mandiri MyPage

Source: yankes.kemkes.go.id ; cnbcindonesia.com ; health.kompas.com ; sehatq.com ; orami.co.id ; medlineplus.gov ; mayoclinic.org