According to Scientific Reports on the website www.nature.com, over 80% of patients who have been infected with COVID still experience long COVID symptoms, which are long-term effects caused by the virus damaging cells at a deep level. Post-COVID health check-ups to detect signs of damage are therefore important. Here is a list of tests that patients who have had COVID should check!
Complete Blood Count
After recovering from COVID, many people worry about the efficiency of their respiratory system, sometimes forgetting that the “blood system” is another important mechanism because it circulates throughout the body and changes when a patient is infected with the virus. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) test measures the quantity and characteristics of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It is not only used to diagnose the severity of COVID but also helps assess how patients should rehabilitate their bodies after recovery.
Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Test
Because the virus affects “beta cells”, which are cells found in the pancreas responsible for producing and secreting insulin, causing damage that leads to elevated blood sugar or glucose levels, especially in patients who already have diabetes.
Even in COVID patients with lung infections and severe symptoms, studies have found that steroid medications help reduce mortality in patients using ventilators and oxygen. However, steroids can also increase blood sugar levels.
When blood sugar levels rise, the “liver” is stimulated to produce more cholesterol while reducing its efficiency in eliminating cholesterol. Therefore, after COVID-19 treatment, patients should have their blood sugar and cholesterol levels checked.
Neurological and Brain Function Tests
Studies have found that long COVID symptoms include more than 50 symptoms. Over 44% of patients with long COVID experience headaches, 16% have memory problems, 12% show depression-like symptoms, and more than 11% have sleep issues. Checking neurological and brain functions after recovering from COVID is an important list of tests that should not be overlooked.
CT-Chest and Lung Function Tests
The lungs or chest area are often damaged after COVID infection because the receptors that the virus attaches to in order to infiltrate the body are mostly located on the surface of human lung cells. A CT scan and lung function tests 3-6 months after recovery help identify remaining damage and adjust lung rehabilitation plans before long-term effects occur.
Kidney Function Test
The receptors that the COVID virus attaches to are not only in the lungs and heart but also in the “kidneys”, which may be damaged. Dr. Al-Aly, a professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, stated that after recovery from COVID, there is a risk of kidney disease within the first month because the infection affects kidney function and may lead to acute kidney failure.
Heart Function Test
According to UC Davis Health, a specialized cardiovascular medical center in the USA, about 20-30% of patients treated for COVID-19 experience heart problems. These may be direct effects of the virus causing inflammation or indirect effects from the immune system fighting the virus and releasing excessive cytokines. When the ACE2 protein coating cell surfaces is interfered with by the virus and cannot protect heart cells, the immune response becomes harmful and damages the heart. This inflammation weakens the heart muscle, causes arrhythmias, or leads to severe complications such as “acute heart failure”.
Vitamin D Test
Vitamin D not only helps the immune system function effectively but studies have found that it also aids faster recovery. This may be due to vitamin D’s role in supporting neurological and brain function, lung function, and cardiovascular health.
Inflammation Marker Test
C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation. This chemical binds to dead or severely damaged cells and helps stimulate the immune system to enhance macrophages, white blood cells that remove abnormal cells or foreign substances. Measuring C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) is used to diagnose inflammation caused by viral or other infections. High CRP levels indicate poor recovery after infection.
D-Dimer (FDP) Test for Blood Clot Indicators
Severe infections trigger blood clotting processes to stop blood flow, known as “blood coagulation”. If this mechanism is excessively activated and clots move to block blood vessels, it can obstruct blood flow and cause organs connected to those vessels to be deprived of blood, leading to life-threatening complications such as acute heart attacks. The D-dimer test helps assess whether blood clots are being formed and broken down in the body. It is used to diagnose pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, or bloodstream infections.
Immune Level Test
Immune level testing, whether after vaccination or previous COVID infection, can be divided into two types: antibody response testing, which measures antibodies produced to bind to the virus’s spike protein, and resistance testing, which measures the ability to inhibit or neutralize the virus. High antibody and resistance levels do not guarantee that a person will not be reinfected but help reduce the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.
Since long COVID symptoms include more than 50 symptoms, health check-ups are not only to detect remaining damage but also to identify appropriate rehabilitation methods for each individual. Regular follow-ups during recovery also help strengthen patients’ health and speed up their return to full health.