56 | www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com As if catching and enduring COVID-19 wasn’t challenging enough, the Centers for Disease Control has discovered that this unpleasant invader is more than happy to take up much longer residence than was originally recognized. The Household Pulse Survey, done by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, described long COVID as including symptoms that last three or more months after the person starts suffering with COVID, when those symptoms were not present before contracting the virus. Furthermore, the CDC reported that approximately 79% of those with long-haul COVID complained that the debilitating symptoms were restricting their daily activities and their ability to work. Obtaining disability benefits for this condition, especially for lower-paying jobs, can be both difficult and frustrating. The CDC also offered some hopeful news: “As coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations have stabilized, longCOVID symptoms have declined from 19% in June of 2022 to 11% in January of 2023. Most people with long-haul COVID symptoms will find them resolved within a year.” WHO IS MOST VULNERABLE TO LONG-HAUL COVID-19? • Of the 40% of Americans who have contracted COVID-19, about 7.5%, or 1 in 13, adults will also experience long-haul COVID. • Younger adults are more susceptible than older adults. • Women are almost twice as likely to have long COVID than men. • In order of prevalence, Hispanics are most likely to develop long COVID, followed by whites, Blacks and Asian Americans. • Bisexual and transgender adults are more prone to long COVID than those with other sexual orientations. • Long COVID is most prevalent in Kentucky, followed by Alabama, Tennessee and South Dakota. To date, Hawaii, Maryland and Virginia have the fewest cases. In addition to long-haul COVID-19 overstaying its visit, the National Library of Medicine, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, has identified a lesser-known connection between postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, commonly known as POTS, and long COVID, although the specific nature of the relationship is not clearly understood. The data indicates that a significant percentage of COVID-19 survivors will develop POTS within six to eight months of their COVID-19 infection. This lesser-understood disorder causes some variation of autonomic dysfunction. Its most prominent symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, tachycardia and cognitive impairment. The exact mechanisms of post-COVID-19 POTS are unclear. Typical WHEN C VID-19 REFUSES TO LEAVE The CDC reported that approximately 79% of those with long-haul COVID complained that the debilitating symptoms were restricting their daily activities and their ability to work. “ “ By Janet E. Perrigo
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1