As the pandemic continues to ravage the world, research into the connection between COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is being funded. Many health professionals and sufferers of COVID-19 have observed a distinct difference in the energy levels of those who have had COVID before and after.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, CFS: the condition is known by many names, and its symptoms are increasingly well-understood in spite of early scepticism from the medical community, but what is less well known is how it occurs. Symptoms of CFS include:
- Extreme fatigue, impeding normal daily activities and even getting out of bed
- Dizziness, which worsens after standing up or sitting upright from a prostrate position
- Concentration or memory issues
- Headaches and stomachaches
- Insomnia and inability to experience refreshing sleep
- Above symptoms worsening after physical or mental effort (also called post-exertional malaise)
Many of these symptoms are connected to vascular inflammation, which can be caused by infectious diseases.
COVID-19 Patients Could Be at Risk For Long-Term Symptoms
It has been acknowledged by Dr Anthony Fauci, the country’s foremost authority on infectious diseases, that there is a definite necessity to look into the connection between COVID-19 and CFS symptoms. This post-viral syndrome could significantly reduce the long-term quality of life for tens, even hundreds of thousands of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Currently, the CDC estimates that 2.5 million people in the United States are living with chronic fatigue syndrome. With the number of COVID-19 cases in the US, even if there is only a slightly increased risk of contracting CFS post-infection, it could make a significant difference to the numbers. According to the CFS community, four out of five sufferers picked up chronic fatigue syndrome after a viral infection.
Post-COVID Syndrome
There are many concerns that healthcare professionals have about the wellbeing of those who are recovering from COVID-19. Especially among older sufferers, and those with a family history of heart disease or heart failure, there is a higher risk of sequela. There are documented abnormalities in the nervous, immune, and metabolic systems in post-COVID patients.
Symptoms specific to post-COVID chronic fatigue include:
- Hair loss
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty focusing/‘brain fog’
- Anxiety
- Memory problems
- Persistent chest pain
- Scarring
- Partial or complete loss of smell
- Headaches
- Difficulty sleeping
These symptoms have been identified by researchers and healthcare professionals from the University of Manchester and the University of Zurich, as well as researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine.
Integrative Cardiovascular Treatment for Post-COVID Syndrome
Traditional Western medical education teaches that a medical issue is most commonly something to be dealt with by a specialist who will focus on that issue. However, in the integrative holistic approach that Dr. Cynthia Thaik and her team practice, health is approached with the understanding that the systems of the body are interrelated: interconnected by the cardiovascular system which carries blood to all organs and systems. Therefore, it serves an important purpose beyond the heart. The whole cardiovascular system has an integral role in the body’s healing capacity. Therefore, any impediment or disorder that affects the continued good function of the cardiovascular system will have a negative effect on the overall health of the body.
The testing that the Holistic Healing Heart Center offers— Max Pulse and EndoPAT— both provide insight into any neurovascular or any vascular inflammation you might be suffering from. Most tests that cardiologists recommend for their patients focus on large vessels. Often, though, that isn’t where the cardiovascular damage caused by post-viral syndrome manifests. Everyone who has suffered from COVID-19 should make it a priority to get tested for cardiovascular damage or other effects from the disease. Book an appointment on our website.
