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I Recovered From COVID-19. Why Am I Still Sick?

BY: VICTOR M. PLAVNER, M.D.

Some people have recovered from COVID-19, but months later they still have symptoms such as shortness of breath, weakness, a racing heart and trouble thinking.

If you are one of these unfortunate “long haulers,” you may continue to be sick even though you have recovered and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Most people who get the disease make a full recovery, but it’s estimated that 10%-30% of patients continue to experience symptoms months after their initial diagnosis.

Anyone can be a long hauler

Even young people and those who had only mild cases are affected. About one in five young adults reports prolonged problems, and some people who were never hospitalized can’t climb stairs, get winded easily, and need oxygen for shortness of breath.

Doctors aren’t sure what causes these drawn-out symptoms, but an inflammatory response may be responsible. COVID-19 makes your body’s disease-fighting antibodies overreact, attacking healthy cells and damaging tissues and organs. If this inflammatory response continues, the outcome could be “long Covid” that lasts for weeks or months.

First steps toward treatment

It is not yet well understood how to treat long Covid, but anti-inflammatory drugs may be one answer. Also, doctors are finding that a program of rehabilitation can help. People with lingering fatigue can benefit from gradual exercise, including breathing exercises to increase lung capacity. And those with cognitive issues can recover with the help of a neuropsychologist. Ask your doctor about possible treatment plans.

Since COVID-19 is a relatively new disease, its long-term health effects aren’t fully understood. One thing is certain, however: the best way to avoid complications is to prevent COVID-19.

Common ‘long Covid’ symptoms

If you continue to suffer any of these symptoms after recovering from Covid-19, you may be a Covid long hauler:

  • Cough
  • Fatigue
  • Joint and chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Headaches
  • Muscle pain
  • Changes in smell: food may smell bad
  • Confusion, forgetfulness, trouble concentrating

 

Victor Plavner, M.D.Dr. Plavner is a Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC partner, and practices at the MPCP Arnold office. He earned his medical degree at the University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; and at George Washington University Medical Center.

5 Tips to Stay Safe as Quarantine Ends

By: Victor M. Plavner, M.D.

With Maryland taking steps to reopen, you may be tempted to think the Covid-19 crisis is over. Not true ─ the coronavirus is still out there, with new cases being reported every day. To avoid a second wave of infections, you need to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Here are five tips for how to re-enter public life safely.

  1. Remember the basics

We all learned safe habits during the quarantine. You should keep doing them when in public:

  • Wear a mask
  • Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Practice social distancing: 6 feet apart
  • Disinfect surfaces and equipment
  • Limit contact with people who are at higher risk, such as the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. Remember, if you are infected, you can spread the virus before you show any symptoms.
  1. Avoid confined spaces

Try to stay out of places where air can be trapped or is unfiltered, such as elevators, break rooms and small shops. When possible, take advantage of any outdoor or open-air areas where people can meet while maintaining a healthy distance.

  1. Have a coming-home routine

Create a daily routine for arriving home to prevent bringing infectious germs into your home. Depending on your level of risk, this may include:

  • Using hand sanitizer before entering your house
  • Cleaning personal items with disinfectant before going in, such as keys, mobile phones, and things in your pockets
  • Taking a shower
  • Washing your work clothes
  1. Stay alert at gatherings

As we return to gathering socially, we should maintain a certain level of caution. This includes distancing or limiting interaction with people who don’t have the same level of concern about the virus. We have no way of knowing where someone has been, or their level of exposure to possible infection, so our best protection is to avoid getting close to people in restaurants, churches, stores, bars and other public places.

  1. Take care at work

If you work near others or have to attend meetings, try to keep some space between you and other people and wear a facemask. Try to keep surfaces in work and meeting areas sanitized.

The same applies to having lunch with a group of work friends. The wise thing is to skip this custom for a while. Eat lunch alone or carve out some personal space.

See this Wall Street Journal article for more tips to stay safe while you’re out and about.

Victor Plavner, M.D.Dr. Plavner is a Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC partner, practices at the MPCP Arnold office . He earned his medical degree at the University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; and at George Washington University Medical Center.

Flu Season Forecast

By: Celisa McGrone, CRNP

Cold weather is on the way, and with it comes another flu season. Before the flu can knock you down, find out how to fight back and avoid the misery it brings.

Flu – short for influenza – is a common virus that infects millions of Americans each year. For most people, the flu isn’t dangerous, but people over 65, young children, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions are at greater risk for serious complications, such as pneumonia and sepsis.

The flu vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the flu, but the tricky virus can mutate and produce nasty new versions of itself. The vaccine protects against three or four types of flu – and is updated yearly — but since the vaccine is manufactured ahead of time, sometimes a new strain pops up, putting more people at risk.

Flu season usually starts in October, so there’s no time to waste. Here’s what you can do.

  1. Get a flu shot: No surprise here – the annual flu vaccine is the number one way to protect yourself and your family. The vaccine is not 100% guaranteed to prevent the flu, but it greatly lowers your risk. Also, if you get the shot and get sick anyway, the vaccine can reduce the severity of your symptoms.
  1. After you get the shot, it takes up to two weeks to reach maximum protection, so the sooner you get the vaccine the better. The CDC recommends that everyone six months or older get the shot before the end of October.
  1. Take action to prevent infection: Doing these simple things can greatly reduce your risk of getting infected, or of you spreading the virus to others.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water often. If they aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with flu germs.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • If you are sick with flu symptoms, the CDC recommends you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.

 

  1. Ask your doctor about antiviral drugs: If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can be used to treat your illness. They can’t cure the flu, but they can make your illness milder and shorter.

 

Next steps

 

Celisa McGrone, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, received her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Mercer University. She sees patients in MPCP’s Arnold office.

Top Health Issues for College-Bound Kids

By: Lisa Goldberg Keithley, M.D.

You have a college-bound teen? Congratulations!

While you’re selecting classes and picking out towels, be sure to also pay attention to your teen’s health. Due to large classrooms and tight living quarters, college students are at risk for some potentially serious infections, including meningitis, mononucleosis, mumps and the flu. Here’s what you need to know to keep your college student safe.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord that’s usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, nausea, sensitivity to light, and confusion. In some cases, it can be deadly.

Fortunately, meningitis isn’t very common, and there’s an effective vaccine to prevent it.  Many colleges recommend that students get vaccinated to prevent outbreaks.

What to tell your student: If they have symptoms of meningitis, they should put on a face mask, if possible, and get to the nearest emergency room. Meningitis is very contagious, so going to the student health center is not a good option.

Mononucleosis

Caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, mononucleosis is often called the “kissing disease” because can be transmitted through saliva. Besides kissing, mono can be passed by coughing, sneezing or sharing a glass or eating utensils.

Symptoms include a sore throat, fatigue, low-grade fever, stomach pain, and swollen tonsils. Mono can also cause serious complications such as enlargement of the spleen and liver inflammation.

What to tell your student: If they are experiencing symptoms of mononucleosis, they should get checked out at the student health center. Unfortunately, people with mono can be laid up for weeks, which is bad news for a college student.

Mumps

Mumps is a viral infection that affects the salivary glands located near your ears. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite – also swelling of the salivary glands, which causes puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.

Mumps is highly contagious, but cases have been greatly reduced thanks to the childhood MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. However, even if your child was vaccinated, there is still a small chance they can get mumps.

What to tell your student: If they think they may have the mumps, they should visit the student health center. And if mumps is spreading at their college, they may need to get another dose of the MMR vaccine as a booster.

The flu

The influenza virus usually occurs in the fall and winter, and can be quickly spread by coughing and sneezing. The flu’s well-known symptoms include fever, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose, headaches, and fatigue, which typically last up to a week. Flu can be prevented, or its effects reduced, by the annual flu shot.

What to tell your student: They should go to the student health center soon after the onset of symptoms to get antiviral medicine, which can shorten the length of the flu. And, of course, they should get the annual vaccine at home or if it is offered on campus.

Before your student heads off to college, be sure they are up to date on recommended vaccinations. Ask your MPCP doctor what your child needs to stay healthy and reduce their risk of illness.

Dr. Keithley holds her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Family Practice. She sees patients in MPCP’s Arnold office.