Resources
The Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19 Report (Services Report)
outlines federally funded support and services that can help individuals experiencing the longer-term effects of COVID-19, including Long COVID and its associated conditions, mental health, substance use, and bereavement.
Long COVID prevention and treatment guidance
COVID variants appear to be less life threatening in the acute phase than the Alpha strain, but they are causing other disabling medical conditions that affect the quality of life, including brain, nerve and organ damage. Prevention and early intervention are the keys to avoiding this…
In February 2022 we passed the official 2-year mark since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While people may not want to hear about it anymore, COVID-19 continues to spread, causing disability and death from primary and secondary health issues the acute virus causes.
Don’t let your guard down yet. This is the “superbug” scientists have been warning us about. SARS was declared a threat in 2017 (link to NIH article in resources listed below).
Like other viruses, COVID-19 changes and mutates rapidly and frequently. Newer variants are considered less fatal in the acute phase, but they are lighter, smaller and more contagious than the Alpha strain and they can cause more long-term damage than the Alpha strain. Long COVID will be a risk for many years.
COVID-19 statistics:
Researchers project that 30%-50% of people contracting COVID-19 will develop long COVID.
A study of 5,693,208 million people including 257,427 people with first infection, 38,926 people with re-infection, and 5,396,855 non-infected controls, showed that people with re-infection had an increased risk of death, hospitalization, and Long COVID outcomes.
Re-infection complication risks were evident in all groups including those who were unvaccinated, had 1 shot, or 2 or more shots prior to the second infection.
Re-infection complication risks were most pronounced in the acute phase but persisted in the post-acute phase of reinfection (Long COVID), and risks for most sequelae were still evident at 6 months.
According to Johns Hopkins University, as of July 7, 2022, there were 88.38 million COVID-19 cases diagnosed in the US, 22.97 million in the UK and 3.97 in Canada.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in adults in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021, with heart disease and cancer being the top two causes.
When factoring in teens 15 years and older, COVID-19 was among the top five leading causes of death.
Stroke which may or may not be related to post COVID sequelae, was the fifth leading cause behind COVID-19.
As of July 2022, over 1.02 million people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19.
The statistics vary by age groups.
In 2020, COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in people 45-54, and in 2021 it became the first leading cause of death in this age group.
In 2020 COVID-19 was the fifth leading cause for those between 35–44, and in 2021 it became the second leading cause of death in this age group.
COVID-19 hit older age groups harder as the second leading cause of death in 2020, but dropped to the third leading cause in 2021, likely because of targeted vaccination efforts in this age group.
In addition to causing direct deaths in the U.S., COVID-19 also had other negative health impacts related to the post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC, aka Long COVID).
Deaths from sequelae, included heart disease, accidents, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes, increased from 2019 to 2020.
About Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions (CDC)
Post-COVID conditions are a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems that people experience after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Most people with COVID-19 get better within a few days to a few weeks after infection, so at least four weeks after infection is the start of when post-COVID conditions could first be identified. Anyone who was infected can experience post-COVID conditions. Most people with post-COVID conditions experienced symptoms days after their SARS CoV-2 infection when they knew they had COVID-19, but some people with post-COVID conditions did not notice when they first had an infection.
There is no test to diagnose post-COVID conditions, and people may have a wide variety of symptoms that could come from other health problems. This can make it difficult for healthcare providers to recognize post-COVID conditions. Your healthcare provider considers a diagnosis of post-COVID conditions based on your health history, including if you had a diagnosis of COVID-19 either by a positive test or by symptoms or exposure, as well as doing a health examination.
Long COVID Symptoms (CDC)
People with post-COVID conditions can have a wide range of symptoms that can last more than four weeks or even months after infection. Sometimes the symptoms can even go away or come back again.
Post-COVID conditions may not affect everyone the same way. People with post-COVID conditions may experience health problems from different types and combinations of symptoms happening over different lengths of time. Most patients’ symptoms slowly improve with time. However, for some people, post-COVID conditions may last months, and potentially years, after COVID-19 illness and may sometimes result in disability.
People who experience post-COVID conditions most commonly report:
General symptoms
Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “post-exertional malaise”)
Fever
Respiratory and heart symptoms
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Cough
Chest pain
Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
Neurological symptoms
Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
Headache
Sleep problems
Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
Pins-and-needles feelings
Change in smell or taste
Depression or anxiety
Digestive symptoms
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Other symptoms
Joint or muscle pain
Rash
Changes in menstrual cycles
Symptoms that are hard to explain and manage (CDC)
Some people with post-COVID conditions have symptoms that are not explained by tests. People with post-COVID conditions may develop or continue to have symptoms that are hard to explain and manage. Clinical evaluations and results of routine blood tests, chest x-rays, and electrocardiograms may be normal. The symptoms are similar to those reported by people with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and other poorly understood chronic illnesses that may occur after other infections. People with these unexplained symptoms may be misunderstood by their healthcare providers, which can result in a long time for them to get a diagnosis and receive appropriate care or treatment. Review these tips to help prepare for a healthcare provider appointment for post-COVID conditions.
Health conditions (CDC)
Some people experience new health conditions after COVID-19 illness. Some people, especially those who had severe COVID-19, experience multiorgan effects or autoimmune conditions with symptoms lasting weeks or months after COVID-19 illness. Multiorgan effects can involve many body systems, including the heart, lung, kidney, skin, and brain. As a result of these effects, people who have had COVID-19 may be more likely to develop new health conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions, or neurological conditions compared with people who have not had COVID-19.
People experiencing any severe illness may develop health problems (CDC)
People experiencing any severe illness, hospitalization, or treatment may develop problems such as post-intensive care syndrome, or PICS. PICS refers to the health effects that may begin when a person is in an intensive care unit (ICU), and which may persist after a person returns home. These effects can include muscle weakness, problems with thinking and judgment, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD involves long-term reactions to a very stressful event. For people who experience PICS following a COVID-19 diagnosis, it is difficult to determine whether these health problems are caused by a severe illness, the virus itself, or a combination of both.
People More Likely to Develop Long COVID (CDC)
Some people may be more at risk for developing post-COVID conditions (or long COVID). Researchers are working to understand which people or groups of people are more likely to have post-COVID conditions, and why. Studies have shown that some groups of people may be affected more by post-COVID conditions. These are examples and not a comprehensive list of people or groups who might be more at risk than other groups for developing post-COVID conditions:
People who have experienced more severe COVID-19 illness, especially those who were hospitalized or needed intensive care.
People who had underlying health conditions prior to COVID-19.
People who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine.
People who experience multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) during or after COVID-19 illness.
How do I prevent Long COVID or permanent damage?
Prevention is the best approach!
Prevention through vaccination, social distancing, handwashing, avoiding crowded spaces with poor ventilation.
Nasal flushing, gargling, and swishing daily to wash out viral particles.
Early intervention is the key!
If you think you have been infected or re-infected, get tested or do a home test.
If you test positive, ask your doctor about anti-viral medication within the first 5 days of infection.
If you get sick, focus on early intervention and utilize the antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulant protocols as well as other resources that are available.
Keep learning and advocating!
If your doctor doesn’t have answers, keep looking.
Remember western medical doctors are trained in medication and surgery and they may not have all of the answers.
You need to take charge of your recovery through education and self-advocacy.
Consider complimentary alternatives such as Chinese medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, counselling or other types of care if you need extra help.
What are the medication protocols for long COVID prevention and treatment?
Talk to your doctor about the top 4 concerns: Histamines, Inflammation, Depression, and Blood Clotting
The antihistamine protocol: Seasonal allergy medicines like Allegra or Zyrtec (H1 blockers) and antacids like famotidine or Pepcid (H2 blockers) to counter the histamine cascade.
The anti-inflammatory protocol: Such as steroids in severe cases, or NSAIDs like ibuprofen or other prescription medications to reduce inflammation, pain, and the risk of damage to nerves and organs.
The antidepressant protocol: SSRI and SNRI medications to reduce depression, anxiety or fatigue.
The anticoagulant protocol: Aspirin, baby aspirin or prescription medications to prevent micro-clotting or deep vein thromboses (DVT) that can cause neural damage, organ damage, or stroke by blocking the flow of blood to vital organs.
Helpful recovery tools
We have arranged discounts on some products and services that have shown helpful in recovery. To date, we have discount codes for:
THE BREATHER: The BREATHER is the first drug-free device for those who suffer from shortness of breath, speech and swallow difficulties, COPD, and other chronic illnesses resulting in respiratory muscle weakness. Use coupon code COVIDCareor click here to receive a 20% discount on Breather products from PN Medical.
PULSE OXIMETER Power your health and track your vital metrics with medical-grade accuracy. Use the discount code CARE to receive a 15% discount on Wellue products including the O2Ring Oximeter, Continuous Oxygen Monitor.
HEADACHE MANAGEMENT: Track your headaches and migraines, share them seamlessly with a neurologist, and receive treatment from the comfort of home. Use code C19LHS to receive $15 off monthly, quarterly or annual membership fee, after you complete your first week trial for just $1.
NUTRITIONAL GUIDANCE: A personalized nutrition program includes a custom-tailored mobile app, data analytics, and one-on-one sessions with a certified health coach, trained to support Mymee clients with long COVID symptoms under the supervision of a Doctor of Naturopathy, and put in you control of your health and wellness. This program has a monthly fee with the option of stopping/restarting as needed at no additional cost. Use Coupon Code CCGM when enrolling to receive 20% off the first month.
Keep checking the covidCAREgroup website for product updates!
Guidance on “Long COVID” ADA Disability, Section 504, & Section 1557 (CDC)
Many people with COVID-19 get better within weeks, some people continue to experience symptoms that can last months after first being infected or may have new or recurring symptoms at a later time. This can happen to anyone who has had COVID-19, even if the initial illness was mild. People with this condition are sometimes called “long-haulers.” This condition is known as “long COVID.”
The Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice have joined together to provide this guidance explaining that long COVID can be a disability under Titles II (state and local government) and III (public accommodations) of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Section 1557). Each of these federal laws protects people with disabilities from discrimination. This guidance also provides resources for additional information and best practices. This document focuses solely on long COVID and does not address when COVID-19 may meet the legal definition of disability.
The civil rights protections and responsibilities of these federal laws apply even during emergencies. They cannot be waived. Follow this link for more information: Guidance on “Long COVID” as a Disability Under the ADA, Section | HHS.gov