This is a weekly Q and A column written by Dr. Lydia S. Segal in conjunction with Chaffee County Public Health. This column is focused on questions readers have about COVID-19 news and sciences. As Segal points out, ‘Everything I write today is valid for today. COVID-19 news and science are rapidly evolving, assume updates will be made”
QUESTION: What is long COVID?
ANSWER: Long COVID is a still yet to be completely understood disorder that occurs to about 10 to 30 percent of people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 when their symptoms last longer than 28 days from the day of onset of their first symptoms.
QUESTION: Who is most affected?
ANSWER: There is no clear trend on who is affected most, though women comprise about 70 percent of those with long COVID. There is no age or race or geographic predisposing trend.
QUESTION: Does long COVID include people who had severe COVID with prolonged convalescents typical of any long major illness?
ANSWER: Yes currently the terms long COVID, long haulers, and others include a heterogeneous mix of people. In general, the medical community does not include those with protracted convalescents after severe ICU hospitalizations.
QUESTION: If I wasn’t in the hospital with COVID, does that mean I will not develop long COVID?
ANSWER: No, it does not. There are people who have had asymptomatic cases who have developed long COVID.
QUESTION: How long does long COVID last?
ANSWER: A majority have symptoms for four to five months.
QUESTION: I hear the vaccines make some people with long COVID better. Tell me more?
ANSWER: Early data shows that about 30 percent of people with long COVID who got vaccinated with one of the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) got substantially better or had complete resolution of their symptoms. In the same study, about 5 – 10 percent got worse, by self-report.
QUESTION: What are the most common symptoms?
ANSWER: The most common symptoms include brain fog, headache, numbness and tingling, dysgeusia (altered sense of taste) and anosmia (loss of sense of smell), myalgia (body aches), and fatigue. Diminished quality of life was also noted in this study by Northwestern University published recently in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
QUESTION: Are there any pre-existing medical conditions that might predispose a person to long COVID?
ANSWER: Currently there is not a relationship between pre-existing medical conditions and developing long COVID.
QUESTION: For those people who lost their sense of smell, is there any hope for them?
ANSWER: Some people who have lost their sense of smell have found a home, self-guided training program helpful. One free program can be found at ascent.org
QUESTION: I hear the hospital has a comprehensive program for patients with long COVID. Can you tell me more?
ANSWER: Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC) created a Long COVID Rehab Clinic. Patients enter into a multi-session program designed specifically for the symptoms they are experiencing. The program will include physical therapy, exercise physiology, speech therapy, nutrition, occupational therapy, and neurological interventions. The aim of the program is to improve overall function and symptom improvement. The program is cash-based, but may be covered by insurance for some patients, which will be determined after initial evaluations. For more information, call 719-530-2200, Extension 2579.
For more information about COVID-19 and the vaccines, eligibility, and appointments, see the links below. Pharmacies are getting small shipments of vaccines. Information will be posted in this news source and on the county public health and hospital web pages.
http://chaffeecounty.org/Public-Health-Coronavirus
https://www.hrrmc.com/covid-19-updates/covid-19-vaccine/
Pharmacies with vaccine clinics:
Buena Vista Drug and Valley-Wide Health
Safeway
Salida Pharmacy
By Lydia S, Segal, M.D., MPH
If you have questions you would like Dr. Segal to address in a future COVID Q and A column, please write to arkvalleyvoice@gmail.com
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