Post Covid Treatment
Post Covid Treatment
Post-COVID-19 syndrome is an assembly of signs and symptoms first described on patients recovering from severe COVID-19 infection. The syndrome is characterized by cognitive impairment, fatigue, and other neurologic symptoms. Due to the disease being so new, there are no direct paths for treatment, but many healthcare professionals are finding ways to support their patients. These symptoms might be due to oxygen saturations dropping so low for multiple days while fighting the illness. The body is in such a hypoxic state from not getting enough oxygen that it is doing its best to fight the virus and the symptoms that, in most, do not present until after the illness. From there, it is causing a domino effect of symptoms that can vary from person to person,” continues Jordan.
People with this complication have reported experiencing one or many of the following symptoms:
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Brain fog
- Headache
- Loss of smell or taste
- Dizziness while standing
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Cough
- Joint or muscle pain
- Depression or anxiety
- Fever
- Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental activities.
Neurologic signs and symptoms are common during hospitalization with COVID-19, with 42% of patients at onset of the disease and 82% during the course of the disease. Patients report mainly on myalgias, headaches, encephalopathy, dizziness, dysgeusia, and anosmia. After recovering from COVID-19, many patients continue to suffer from symptoms. Only 13% of the patients were completely free of symptoms after full resolution of the virus. The main symptom, reported by more than half the patients included cognitive impairment, fatigue and sleep disorders. A recent study analyzed data from 84,285 Individuals who recovered from suspected or confirmed COVID-19 showed reduced cognitive performance. This deficit scales with symptom severity and is evident amongst those without hospital treatment. COVID-19 can cause neuroinflammation, that might be prolonged and lead to signs of post-COVID-19 syndrome.
Two main biological sequelae of COVID-19 might play a role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. The first is hypercoagulability state accompanies acute infection. This is characterized by increased risk of small and large vessel occlusion and is associated with increased mortality [9]. Neurologic complications might be a result of micro-infarcts in the central of peripheral nervous system; The second is an uncontrolled inflammatory response, called cytokines storm. This cytokine release is characterized by an increase in IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and a change in macrophages population. Thus, COVID-19 can cause neuroinflammation, that might be prolonged and lead to signs of post-COVID-19 syndrome.
Benefits of HBOT :
The Micro-infarcts and neuroinflammation are important causes of local hypoxia, and specifically neurological hypoxia. One of the options to reverse hypoxia, reduce neuroinflammation and induce neuroplasticity is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) includes the inhalation of 100% oxygen at pressures exceeding 1 atmosphere absolute, thus enhancing the amount of oxygen dissolved in the body tissues. During HBOT, the arterial O2 tension typically exceeds 2000 mmHg, and levels of 200-400 mmHg occur in tissues Even though many of the beneficial effects of HBOT can be explained by improvement of tissue oxygenation, it is now understood that the combined action of hyperoxia and hyperbaric pressure, triggers both oxygen and pressure sensitive genes, resulting in inducing regenerative processes including stem cells proliferation and mobilization with anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory factors.
One of the best possible solutions to give the body the needed energy to recover is by means of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Patient 1:
A 48-year-old male who was diagnosed with COVID-19 and hospitalized for 14 days visited us for treatment of lingering COVID-19 symptoms. During his hospital stay, he was not ventilator dependent and was discharged on supplemental O2. Prior to contracting the virus, he was very fit and healthy, but post-COVID-19 he experienced extreme fatigue, brain fog, and very low energy levels. His oxygen saturations ranged from 90-93%.
He underwent 5 HBOT treatments for 3 weeks and experienced increased oxygen saturation and became no longer dependent on O2 after his final treatment. Upon discharge, he was able to return to work as well as his normal daily activities. The following weekend, he stated that he was able to play a full 18 holes of golf and was very pleased with his recovery.
Patient 2:
A 38-year-old female visited HHTC two months post-COVID-19 and complained of random twitches, dizzy spells, and depression.
She completed a total of 10 treatments once a week for 10 weeks. On her ninth treatment, tremors were completely gone, she no longer felt nauseous or dizzy, and her depression had improved.
Patient 3:
A 50-year-old female was diagnosed with COVID-19 in early January and was confirmed negative a few days later. Although she was in great health prior to contracting the virus, she eventually developed tremors, extreme dizziness, weakness, loss of taste, and severe headaches.
The patient’s son was a doctor who recommended she visit HHTC for treatment. Her son had to bring her to treatments because she was unable to drive. Upon arrival, her tremors were so intense that she could barely drink from her water bottle.
By her third treatment, she was able to drive herself with no complications and tremors had reduced by at least 50%. Upon discharge, her symptoms were resolved and she was pleased with her results.
Important Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DsEynD4SsE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WIhh30LQWE
