4 Signs to Know If You Are a COVID Longhauler

Are you a COVID Longhauler?

Are you unsure if you might be a COVID Longhauler? As a result, do you want to know how to identify it? Consequenteially, did you experience severe COVID symptoms, like ongoing loss of taste and smell? It’s normal to feel confused because there’s still a lot we don’t know about Longhaulers. Inevitably, this can lead to frustration. You might even be going through tough times, like losing your job, missing time with your family, or feeling unable to relax.

COVID Longhauling is frustrating

Unfortunately, losing your job, missing out on family time, feeling isolated, and having unexplained symptoms can be overwhelming and very stressful. But here’s some good news. I’ve worked with patients who have chronic diseases and fixed illnesses for the past 10 years, helping them recover their health. For COVID Longhaulers, there are similarities with other chronic diseases. The severity and duration of the illness, along with a person’s overall health and risk factors, all contribute to lingering symptoms.

Interestingly, having chronic symptoms after an infection is not new. In the past, there have been cases where infections caused ongoing symptoms. For instance, patients who had Epstein-Barr (mono) infection could experience lingering symptoms long after the initial infection.

Common Signs of COVID Longhaulers

• Persistent sickness: Remember COVID? Around 80-90% of patients had mild to moderate respiratory symptoms like cough, chills, and fever. Usually, most COVID cases get better within 4-6 weeks. But Longhaulers continue to feel sick even after this time, without needing to be hospitalized. Think of it as a “mini-COVID” infection. One theory suggests that this ongoing sickness might actually be an autoimmune disease triggered by the initial viral infection.
• Mild shortness of breath / dry cough: The coronavirus likes to affect our lungs. If you’re a Longhauler, you may experience mild lung symptoms long after the initial infection. Studies suggest that long-term lung issues and fatigue might be caused by increased blood clotting.
• Fatigue: One possible reason for Longhauling is that the virus is not completely cleared from your immune system’s special cells, called immune privilege cells. These cells are protected from your immune system to prevent severe damage. Organs like your eyes, spinal cord, and hair follicles have these special cells. Feeling fatigued could be a sign that your body is too weak to fully get rid of the virus.
• Brain fog: COVID Longhauling can affect more than just the respiratory system. The virus can harm multiple systems in our body. For example, losing your sense of taste and smell is a common sign of COVID. This happens because of inflammation in the nerves that control these senses. This inflammation can persist and cause a brain fog similar to chronic fatigue syndrome. Additionally, about 35% of Longhaulers have reported hallucinations or vivid dreams, which might indicate neurological damage.

What can you do about Longhaul symptoms?

Our current understanding of COVID Longhauling suggests three possible causes: autoimmunity, increased blood clotting, and difficulty clearing the virus from the body. However, we may discover more about this condition as research progresses. So, what can you naturally do to improve your health and reduce COVID Longhauling symptoms? Luckily we have a free ebook with tools and tips to help you reclaim your health. Download the free ebook and get started today.

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