Coronavirus: Battling long COVID symptoms? How to manage symptoms and recover, according to experts

As coronavirus cases hit a downward spiral in the country post the second wave, many are battling a deluge of post-COVID symptoms and complications.

ALSO READ: 3 possible signs of long COVID, as per doctors

Some are being rushed back to the hospital, while some are encountering lingering symptoms of the viral infection. Persistent bouts of coughing, chest pain, weakness, joint aches, insomnia and mood fluctuations being some of the most common ones which sadly, also damper daily life. While statistics suggest that 1 in 5 COVID survivors may be hit by long COVID, the bleak awareness, and the lack of help, many doctors believe is only going to make the COVID crisis worse. Thus, not only is there a dire need of raising awareness on the same, every COVID survivor needs to prioritize rest and healing, and manage symptoms long after testing negative for COVID-19.

Long COVID or post-COVID syndrome has been medically dubbed to be the phenomenon that plagues COVID survivors for weeks and months after the infection clears off. Some patients, who have battled a moderate or severe form of infection can continue to encounter lingering signs of infection for a while after, and face problems resuming normal pace of life.

ALSO READ: How to identify if you are at the risk of developing long COVID symptoms

One's age, type of infection, pre-existing risk factors, all can determine the risk of long COVID.

Past studies have also shown that women and people who have more than 5 symptoms in the first week are most vulnerable to the ills of post-COVID symptoms.

The most pressing symptoms, however, remain to be fatigue, brain fog, breathlessness, insomnia, anxiety, coughing, recurrent infections and may also require support.

Good care and therapeutic help, along with clinical diagnosis can help people heal faster and alleviate symptoms. If you are someone who has recently recovered from a COVID-19 battle, here are some tips which can help you recover faster and manage symptoms better:

A COVID-19 infection can impair vital functioning, but the gravest risk is for your respiratory health. Lung capacity can be greatly reduced, and if you have battled a severe infection, it can take a long time to build capacity back. Hence, encountering frequent breathlessness, palpitations, chest pain, fatigue can be common. This being said, remember that your body will need time to get its strength back. So, firstly, do not exert yourself and slowly pace yourself back into work and a normal routine. Do not rush in, or perform tasks that will strain you.

You can also consider splitting tasks into smaller activities, and prioritize work in the part of the day when you have the most energy (if that is possible). Those on continued oxygen support should not stop it. Lung-strengthening exercises, breathing exercises and yoga asanas may also be tried. However, do only the exercises which are suitable, and not strain you.

Do remember that if an activity tends to make you breathless or tires you out, do not skip it completely. Instead, rest and try to be consistent. Be gradual, and slowly, you will be able to resume the normal pace of life and do chores faster.

Body pain, headaches, joint aches and muscle cramps are signs of myalgia. Inflammation caused by the virus (or viral debris) can persist for some weeks after you recover. However, do not worry as these symptoms can be taken care of by making use of a warm/cold compress, taking good rest and ample breaks. As mentioned above, do not exhaust yourself beyond means. Pushing yourself beyond limits will only further tire your body out.

Apart from therapeutic care, it's also beneficial to include some forms of flexibility exercises and strength training workouts into your regime. They will help build strength back and alleviate pain as well. Consult your doctor before trying any of the exercises out.

A constant, worrying symptom during COVID infection and recovery can be very commonly encountered. While it is known that viral infection can impact the brain, it can also lead to a lot of cognitive and memory impairment issues. They are most likely temporary, but nonetheless, could be disturbing and stress a person out.

The most important thing to remember is to not let memory and cognition issues add to your worries and not get too stressed.

If you are constantly finding it difficult to remember things or experience frequent brain fog, a practical tip is to try and write or jot things down, which you might need to remember. This can come helpful if you are resuming work as well. Break down tasks into smaller ones, prioritize what is important, and avoid distractions.

Also remember to limit your screen usage, change diet and curb additives that decrease concentration skills. Manage stress levels as well, if possible.

If you need extensive help or continue facing mental health, memory issues, seek help from a qualified doctor.

Though not extremely persistent during the second wave, a lot of people who have been infected by COVID-19 can suffer from a diminished sense of smell and taste. Some can altogether feel a change in the sensory taste buds. This symptom can also take a long while to heal, depending on your condition. Most people tend to fully get their sense of smell and taste back by 6-8 weeks after infection.

While there's little medicinal help available to cure this symptom, experts do recommend people to try out therapies like smell training, aromatherapy frequently to help gain some sense back and fasten up healing. If poor taste buds are putting you away from having proper meals or have lowered your appetite, consider making tweaks in your diet for a while and seek help from a nutritionist.

Apart from the above-listed steps, it's also crucial that patients and caregivers keep following all the medications needed to take. Post-COVID screenings, doctor checkups and tests are also helpful to ascertain your health and seek proper care.

It’s also important to have a good, nourishing diet that helps you recover well and take care of any health issues. Exercise needs to be slowly introduced, but will definitely help you feel stronger as you continue to recover. Be active, but slow down and take all the time you need without rushing in.

Most of all, remember that recovery from COVID-19 isn’t easy and can take a while. There can be a lot of good days, and some bad ones as well. Managing your mental health, apart from physical symptoms is crucial. Connect with loved ones, seek support for your emotional well-being.