Who’s most likely to experience long-haul COVID-19 symptoms?

The coronavirus pandemic has meant a lot of worry for everyone.

Will you get the virus? Do you have pre-existing conditions that could make your Covid case more severe? Could you pass the virus to your friends and family?

And will you be one of the long-haul Covid sufferers — people who test negative for the virus after the normal two to four weeks but just never feel like they completely recover?

One of the most frightening issues with Covid is that unlike other viruses we are exposed to, such as the flu or the common cold, which are over when they’re over, the symptoms of Covid can linger for weeks to months.

That’s why a study from researchers at the University of Glasgow along with their colleagues from the Universities of Oxford, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Imperial College London took a look at just what your chances are of experiencing long-haul Covid.

Gender plus severity

The team followed 327 adults who were admitted to 31 hospitals around the UK from February to October 2020. They then followed up with each Covid-sufferer for a timeframe varying from three to eleven months after their COVID-19 had supposedly resolved.

And here’s what they found…

Hands-down, women under the age of 50 were significantly more likely to fall into the category of long Covid.

In fact, if you’re a woman in this age group and end up with the virus, you’re a whopping five times more likely to suffer from persistent symptoms even after a negative diagnosis.

Which symptoms are the most likely to be ongoing?

Well, according to the researchers, women under 50 are two times as likely to deal with worsening fatigue and seven times more likely to suffer from breathlessness.

Additionally, long-haul Covid symptoms reported include:

• Memory problems
• Vision and hearing impairment
• Mobility issues

Yet, even though women under 50 are the most likely to deal with persistent COVID-19 symptoms, that doesn’t mean that everyone else is safe.

The truth is just the opposite.

Overall, the research showed that 55 percent of participants reported that they did not feel fully recovered. And a shocking 93 percent felt they were living with ongoing symptoms.

When asked about the results of the study, lead author, Dr. Janet Scott, had this to say: “Our research shows that survivors of COVID-19 experienced long-term symptoms, including a new disability, increased breathlessness, and reduced quality of life. These findings were present even in young, previously healthy working-age adults, and were most common in younger females.”

With the statistics found in this study, it’s easy to see why some scientists warn that the issue of long Covid will be a pandemic in and of itself despite the advent of vaccines.

Supplements to boost your recovery

So what can you do if you end up as one of the Covid long-haulers?

Well, the first answer to that question is rest.

Getting adequate rest is part of any viral recovery, including Covid. But be sure to also get in some light activity post-infection to help regain your muscle strength.

Next, consider adding in supplements to boost both your immune system and your energy. These include:

• Vitamin D – This vitamin certainly took the spotlight during the pandemic. And for good reason: low levels of the sunshine vitamin are associated with increased susceptibility to infection and even autoimmunity.
• Probiotics – These gut-healthy bacteria have been shown to boost the intestinal and systemic immune response even in the face of obesity.
• CoQ10 plus PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline quinone) – These two supplements are known for enhancing mitochondrial growth and function to fuel the energy powerhouses of your body’s cells.
• Folate – Low folate levels can lead to loss of taste (a classic Covid symptom) as well as fatigue and cognitive dysfunction.

Together, these supplements can offer hope for beating back long Covid and taking back your quality of life.

Sources:

Women under 50 suffer from persistent COVID-19 symptoms for longer — TECHNOLOGY.ORG

Vitamin D and the immune system — NIH

Beneficial Effects of Probiotic Consumption on the Immune System — NIH

Effect of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation on mitochondrial electron transport chain activity and mitochondrial oxidative stress in Coenzyme Q10 deficient human neuronal cells — NIH

Pyrroloquinoline Quinone, a Redox-Active o-Quinone, Stimulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis by Activating the SIRT1/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway  — NIH

Folate — NIH

Vitamin deficiencies can alter your taste buds — Chicago Tribune