Today’s topic? A Long COVID Twist: Cases Are Falling.
As a radiation oncologist in the Seattle area, I’ve witnessed firsthand the ebb and flow of COVID-19 cases.
Recently, we’ve seen a concerning uptick, a stark reminder that the virus hasn’t vanished.
However, amidst this resurgence, there’s a glimmer of hope, a silver lining that’s emerged since the pandemic’s onset: your chances of developing long COVID have significantly decreased.
Intrigued?
You should be.
This change isn’t just a minor improvement—it’s a major shift in the long-term COVID landscape, offering both reassurance and a fascinating glimpse into the evolving nature of this complex illness.
What Causes Long COVID?
The exact cause of long COVID remains a mystery, but researchers are exploring several possibilities:
- Immune System Disruption: A weakened or overactive immune response after COVID-19 could contribute to lingering symptoms.
- Viral Persistence: The virus might hide in the body and cause problems even after the initial infection clears.
- Inflammation: The body’s inflammatory response to the virus might go into overdrive and cause damage to organs and tissues.
- Deconditioning: Prolonged inactivity due to illness can lead to muscle weakness and fatigue, making recovery harder.
- Post-Traumatic Stress: The stress of a serious illness can take a toll on mental health and contribute to ongoing symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Emerging research even suggests that long COVID could be the result of injury to multiple organs, including the lungs, heart, and brain.
The lasting misery of coronavirus long-haulers
Months after infection with SARS-CoV-2, some people are still battling crushing fatigue, lung damage, and other symptoms…www.nature.com
It’s a complex puzzle, but with ongoing research, we’re making significant strides in understanding the root causes of this condition and developing effective treatments.
This progress should reassure you and give you hope for the future.
Long COVID — A Glimmer of Hope
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis (USA) meticulously analyzed data and found this:
The risk of developing long COVID has dropped considerably since the early days of the pandemic.
Here are the specific numbers for unvaccinated individuals:
Among unvaccinated people, long-term COVID-19 developed in 10.4 percent of those infected with the original strain of COVID-19, 9.5 percent of those infected with the Delta strain, and 7.7 percent of people infected with Omicron.
Why is the Long COVID Risk Dropping?
This decline, the researchers say, is primarily attributable to two key factors:
- The widespread availability and uptake of vaccines
- The virus is undergoing changes that may make it less likely to trigger long-term complications.
Study author Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, observes that the odds of heart, kidney, brain, and lung problems dropped among individuals infected with the Omicron strain.
In contrast, the risk of gastrointestinal system or metabolic function problems rose.
My Take — The Long COVID Twist No One Saw Coming: Cases Are Falling
It appears that each variant has its signature.
With long COVID, symptoms persist months or years after infection.
Common long-term COVID symptoms include extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of the sense of smell, muscle aches, cognitive difficulties, sleep disturbances, and mood changes.
Now, here’s where it gets even more interesting: while long COVID is most often associated with severe COVID-19 cases, it’s crucial to understand that it’s not exclusive to those who were hospitalized or critically ill.
Even individuals with mild or even asymptomatic infections can develop this persistent condition.
In fact, due to the sheer number of mild cases compared to severe ones, most people experiencing long COVID had mild initial infections.
Natural History of Long COVID
Because COVID-19 is a relatively new disease, we’re still learning about the long-term effects of long COVID.
Symptoms go away on their own within three months of getting sick for many people.
But for others, symptoms can linger for much longer, sometimes for years. Even for people with multiple symptoms, some may disappear while others stick around.
It’s a complex picture; we’re working hard to understand it better.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Household Pulse Survey, 18 percent of American adults say they’ve experienced long COVID at some point.
Long COVID Hits Children, Too
And it’s not just adults who are susceptible — children can also be affected by long COVID, although it appears to be more prevalent in adults.
This observation highlights the importance of recognizing the diverse range of individuals who can experience long-term consequences from this virus, even those who initially seemed to have weathered the storm unscathed.
Seek Help
If you are suffering from long COVID, please get in touch with a trusted healthcare provider.
You should reach out for medical help immediately if you have any of these symptoms:
- breathlessness that worsens
- unexplained chest pain
- a new state of confusion
- weakness
- changes in vision, hearing, or speech
I hope that you stay safe.
Resources
In the United States, the following support groups may provide help for those suffering from long COVID symptoms:
There are also dedicated clinics for those with long COVID.
Here is an interactive map of post-COVID care centers in each U.S. state.
A COVID Recovery resource from the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) is available. Support groups such as LongCovidSOS also exist.
One More Thing — A Long COVID Twist: Cases Are Falling
While recent studies have shown that the rates of developing long-term complications after COVID-19 and influenza are similar, it’s important to remember that SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is far more contagious than the flu.
This observation means that even if the percentage of people developing long-term issues is comparable, the number of individuals affected by long COVID will be much greater than those with long flu.
Thank you for reading “A Long COVID Twist: Cases Are Falling.” Have you suffered from long COVID?
