So, we’ve been discussing all those long-term symptoms that accompany one’s recovery from COVID-19. One I haven’t discussed in a while has been cardiovascular complications. Again, like the other long-term symptoms, the manifestations do not require the subject to have been hospitalized with the disease. In the case of cardiovascular complications, COVID survivors are roughly 63% more likely to manifest a heart attack and about 52% more likely to suffer a stroke. But, there’s also heart failure, irregular heart beats, and a slew of other cardiovascular complications that are caused by COVID-19.
If that weren’t daunting enough, the traditional tests- EKG’s (electrocardiograms), ultrasounds, etc. do not demonstrate the COVID effect on the subject’s heart. (The tests actually provide a rosy picture of the patient.) It seems that it’s the damage to the nerve fibers that control the circulatory system that are the issue- which the tests don’t diagnose. (That’s called small fiber neuropathy.) And, the good thing is that with proper treatment, these symptoms can be alleviated.
One such therapy is breathing exercises- in particular, diaphragmatic breathing. This is the sort of thing I was taught as a youngster to alleviate anxiety and to help my body absorb more oxygen. One engages the stomach, the abdominal muscles, and the diaphragm.
Another technique is one that has been used for chronic fatigue syndrome- energy conservation. The syndrome assumes we have a quantum of energy that we can expend each day. So, we need to conserve our energy to ensure that we can accomplish the tasks required each day.
This next technique is something I have been advised will be in my future. Once I am considered “healed”, I will need to use sitting (recumbent) exercises to garner my past strength and conditioning. In the case of COVID recoverees, they will need to have their heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels monitored while doing these exercises.
From there, the subjects can “graduate” to using ellipticals or treadmills. Eventually working oneself up to 5000 steps a day.
Not surprising, monitoring is a major component. One may need a heart monitor or a smart watch, a blood pressure device, and a pulse oximeter. The assurance that one doesn’t expend all one’s energy is going to be the norm for 6 months to a year
So much for “mild COVID”, eh?
That is a little terrifying though. I must show this to my hubby just to be sure. He had COVID in December — he was pretty asymptomatic but this might be something to watch for…
Thanks for the post!
Glad to oblige, Dominique. Hope your husband has no lasting effects.
Thank you for this informative post. It’s good to hear that there are things people can do, and they’re as simple as breathing exercises.
Just the other day I was watching a documentary about chronic fatigue syndrome. It was super scary. Young people in their 20s spend their lives in bed. Sometimes too exhausted to write a shopping list for someone who does chores for them, so they’ll just text “please just get me the same stuff as last week”.
Valuable add to the conversation, Tamara! Thanks so much.
This reminds me of my husband’s ordeal before he passed away last June of 2021. We all got Covid in November 2020.
He was released the following month and was able to attend physical therapies. What I noticed is the slow health progress and when he was hospitalized again in March 2020 and was released 23 days after, he slowly got weaker and had edema from the foot up to the waist. He also contracted pneumonia again and an enlarged heart.
We were told by the doctors that we have to monitor vital signs. I bought all the needed monitoring devices but unfortunately, his condition worsened. Covid s*cks.
So sorry to hear about your husband, Bing. Too many people poo-poohed COVID-19.
Another informative article. I love that this gives the breathing exercise too. You’re writing about Covid, but many of these tips also help people sufferring from other autoimmune conditions and/or long-term illness.
Bingo, Pam. You are absolutely correct. These have been around for a long time.
Roy, thanks for all this. These strategies would be great for anyone recovering from weakening medical adventures (like me– surgery and chemo). I’m going to try the breathing protocol.
You are absolutely correct, Kebba. These are not exclusive to COVID recoverees.
WOW so many people will have to make life changing schedules if they had COVID.
You bet, Martha. It has vast implications.
I learned diaphramatic breathing when I was taking voice lessons, and most choir directors encourage it. It is an essential for singers and just about anyone else.
I hope that your continued journey to recovery is smooth and without roadblocks.
Thanks for adding to the discussion, Alice. Appreciate the visit and the comment.
COVID definitely is having so much long term impact in so many ways..
Absolutely correct, Vidya.
A good friend’s sister had chronic fatigue syndrome – it is a terrible thing and to think that breathing exercises might have helped. If only the studies of Long COVID lead to advances in other areas of medicine, especially with therapies that do not involve medications that people can ill afford.
That’s why I shared the information, Alana!