หายโควิดแล้วอย่าชะล่าใจ เพราะอาจเสี่ยงภัยจาก Long COVID

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that shows no sign of ending soon, those who are still safe and uninfected must continue to be cautious. For those who have unfortunately contracted the virus, even after recovering, they should not let their guard down because reinfection is possible. Additionally, those who have recovered should closely monitor their symptoms as there is a risk of developing Long COVID. If it occurs, it may cause abnormalities that deteriorate quality of life, making it difficult to live happily in the long term.
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<h2>What is Long COVID and why does it occur? 
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Long COVID, or Post COVID Syndrome, refers to a group of abnormal symptoms that occur after recovering from a COVID infection. If affected, symptoms can last for several months. The cause of Long COVID symptoms results from the body fighting the COVID virus by producing immunity. During this fight, a large amount of inflammatory substances are released. When these inflammatory substances spread throughout the body, they cause stress and fatigue, eventually leading to Long COVID symptoms.
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<h2>Which patients are at the highest risk of Long COVID? 
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Of course, those who can develop Long COVID are patients who have recovered from COVID infection. The chance of developing Long COVID is about 30-70% of all recovered patients. It is most commonly found in patients with severe symptoms. The more severe the COVID infection, the higher the chance of developing Long COVID after recovery because the body must produce more immunity to fight the virus during severe illness. Additionally, women have a higher chance of developing Long COVID than men, and patients with obesity or chronic non-communicable diseases have a higher risk and more severe symptoms than other groups.
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<h2>What are the symptoms of Long COVID? Watch carefully to recognize it early 
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To know if you or someone close to you is at risk of Long COVID, observe the following symptoms:
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<li>Symptoms similar to those during COVID infection include feeling chills as if having a fever all the time, chronic cough that persists for months after recovery, and possibly sore throat.</li>
<li>Additional important symptoms beyond those during infection include fatigue, which is the main symptom found in almost everyone with Long COVID. This includes extreme tiredness, muscle and joint pain, hair loss, brain fog, headaches, and sometimes diarrhea. Psychological symptoms may also occur, such as insomnia, stress, or even severe depression caused by stress and anxiety during isolation.</li>
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<h2>If suspected of having Long COVID, why should you see a doctor promptly? 
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Although Long COVID symptoms can resolve on their own, if self-care is inadequate, symptoms may worsen and affect daily life and work, leading to poor quality of life and unhappiness. Long COVID symptoms typically last at least 3 months, which is a long period. Therefore, if symptoms suggestive of Long COVID appear, it is important to see a doctor promptly for treatment and rehabilitation to restore health and normal life as soon as possible. Moreover, the suspected symptoms may not be caused by Long COVID but by complications or other abnormalities that require treatment, such as:
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<li>Hepatitis or kidney failure from excessive consumption of Andrographis paniculata during COVID isolation, which may cause fever and symptoms similar to Long COVID after recovery, worsening if untreated.</li>
<li>Blood clots or myocarditis resulting from COVID treatment, causing symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, similar to Long COVID, so a doctor’s diagnosis is necessary to identify the exact condition.</li>
<li>Fatigue from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), which has similar causes to Long COVID, such as stress and viral infection. Seeing a doctor helps confirm the diagnosis for proper treatment.</li>
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<h2>How to rehabilitate the body after being diagnosed with Long COVID 
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After being diagnosed with Long COVID, doctors will treat and manage symptoms accordingly. For patients with fatigue, doctors recommend blood tests to check for abnormalities. The same diagnostic and treatment program used for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) can be applied. Tests include checking for anemia, electrolyte balance, and hormone abnormalities, especially thyroid and adrenal hormones, which often affect fatigue the most. Vitamin D levels will also be checked because low vitamin D causes muscle pain and easy fatigue. If any abnormalities causing fatigue are found, hormone supplementation, electrolyte adjustment, vitamin supplementation, or other methods will be used to properly rehabilitate the body.
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<h2>How to take care of your health to stay safe from Long COVID symptoms 
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Whether you have been diagnosed by a doctor or have not yet been diagnosed but want to take care of yourself to recover or stay safe from Long COVID symptoms, you can easily follow these guidelines:
<ul>
<li>Increase protein intake by eating meat, milk, beans, eggs, and grains. The appropriate amount of protein can be calculated as 1 gram per kilogram of body weight.</li>
<li>Eat foods rich in antioxidants because during infection, the body produces more free radicals than usual, which damage cells. Therefore, consuming antioxidant-rich foods like vegetables and fruits helps.</li>
<li>Avoid junk food or unhealthy foods such as processed foods, frozen foods, and fermented foods, as they provide no benefit to the body. Also avoid alcohol and sweet fruits because these foods lower the immune system.</li>
<li>If very fatigued, eat smaller meals multiple times a day to maintain blood sugar levels throughout the day and reduce fatigue. You may divide daily food intake into 4-6 meals.</li>
<li>Supplement essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, B, C, and D, magnesium for muscle function, and fish oil with anti-inflammatory properties.</li>
<li>Get enough rest, engage in enjoyable activities to relieve stress, or take supplements to aid sleep, such as melatonin and other extracts like L-theanine from green tea and chamomile.</li>
<li>Consult a psychiatrist if experiencing severe insomnia and high stress due to mental health issues.</li>
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Long COVID syndrome is a very common condition among patients who have recovered from infection. Although it is not life-threatening and can resolve on its own, as a chronic condition, it deteriorates patients’ quality of life. Some symptoms may worsen significantly during the recovery period, such as fatigue and stress leading to depression. Therefore, those who have recovered from infection or have close ones who have recovered should closely monitor symptoms and watch for Long COVID. If suspicious symptoms appear, especially shortness of breath and fatigue—such as being able to climb 2-3 flights of stairs easily before COVID but needing to stop after a few steps post-recovery—consult a doctor promptly for diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitate the body to full strength, enabling a good quality of life and true peace of mind.

After recovering from COVID-19, if you still have chronic fatigue, easy breathlessness, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, cough, headache, lack of concentration, or poor memory, it may be due to Long COVID. For those experiencing these symptoms, you should promptly see a doctor.

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Recovered from COVID, don't be complacent because you may be at risk of Long COVID.

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