The Covid-19 pandemic has brought lingering problems to those who have been hit by it. Those who were lucky enough to recover suffered from loss of taste and smell, which for some still did not return, despite having recovered months ago. Those who got their sense of taste and smell back reported that they could taste hints of flavor but could not get the whole experience of the food. They could also smell a little here and there, but the experience was muted. Here are a few other side-effects of the Covid-19 virus on patients that have long recovered from it.
Long-term Side Effects of Covid-19
Doctors worldwide reported that their patients were suffering from memory loss as a lingering side-effect of the virus. They could not remember events that happened before they contracted the virus. They also had difficulty concentrating, which was frustrating for them, especially if they were doing simple tasks like cooking or doing the groceries. These side-effects became more pervasive after seven months in hospitalized patients after experiencing severe symptoms and patients who were quarantined at home.
What is even more disturbing is that these patients were relatively young without comorbidities. Even those who had manageable symptoms and were isolated at home still had these side effects. They had brain fog, which meant that they had attention problems and memory issues. They also had issues with their mental processing speed, which meant that they could not process simple thought processes like a person who did not experience Covid-19.
Patients who were hospitalized because of severe symptoms had it worse. Long after recovering, they reported having problems accomplishing basic tasks because they have been experiencing difficulties in organizing and planning.
Since the virus has been ravaging the world for almost two years now, people are finding it challenging to manage their new normal with all these side effects that they have been experiencing.
What Physicians Say About Side Effects of Covid-19
Some patients recovering from Covid-19 are scared to go back to the hospital to have their side effects checked by a doctor. So instead, they’ve turned to over-the-counter solutions which they purchase online. There have been a lot of anonymous online pharmacy reviews from people who have purchased supplemental drugs to jog their memory and thought processes. However, doctors encourage people to have these side effects checked, as they might indicate something worse.
Doctors also say that aside from experiencing brain fog and memory loss, patients have had more physical side effects like fatigue, joint pain, and shortness of breath.
Mental problems have also emerged, like anxiety and depression. Covid-19 does not just affect the pulmonary system. It also affects all the other parts of the body, and scientists are proving that it has a long-term effect on the brain as well.
Online pharmacy reviews have been revealing more side effects from patients that have already recovered from Covid-19. It appears that aside from the symptoms listed above, patients have also been experiencing fever, even after they have been cleared for Covid months ago.
What Is Brain Fog and Why Is It Covid-19 Side Effect?
By now, we are all aware that Covid-19 targets the pulmonary system. So, what is brain fog, and why is it one of the primary side effects that linger in a patient that has already recovered from the virus?
Brain fog causes forgetfulness, confusion, and difficulty processing thoughts. People with brain fog often feel tired, distracted, and disoriented, which keeps them from finishing tasks because of persistent headaches and lacking mental clarity. Here are the symptoms of brain fog that Covid-19 patients have been experiencing:
☑ memory problems
☑ little or no mental clarity
☑ having difficulty concentrating
☑ feeling lost
☑ migraines
☑ confusion
Doctors say that the usual duration of brain fog in Covid-19 patients is three months, but there are medical reports that say it can last longer. However, if Covid-19 primarily affects the lungs, why is brain fog a prevalent side effect?
Covid-19 is a neuro-invasive virus which means it can invade a person’s brain tissue. Additionally, case studies about the virus say that Covid-19 patients developed complications like encephalopathy and altered consciousness. Encephalopathy is a disease that damages the brain. In this YouTube video, medical experts try to understand brain fog and how it has impacted people who were infected with Covid-19.
After a person is infected with the virus, inflammatory cytokines, or molecules that encourage inflammation, have increased in their brain. When the brain gets inflamed, neurons have difficulty communicating with one another, and Covid-19 only aggravates that. Not only that, but researchers also found microstructural changes in other parts of the brain, which they think have been contributing to cognitive impairments in Covid-19 survivors.
How To Recover From Brain Fog?
Doctors have been telling Covid-19 survivors that there are non-medical ways of recovering from brain fog. Since many online pharmacy reviews reveal that survivors are relying on supplemental medicine, physicians are also encouraging their patients to get enough sleep, do exercise, eat healthily, and stay away from alcohol and tobacco. It is also recommended to drink vitamins that contain Omega 3, Vitamin D, magnesium, Vitamin C, and B-complex, to fight the long-term effects of brain fog.
Conclusion
If you are a Covid-19 survivor who has been experiencing brain fog, it is best to consult your doctor. There is no need to fear going back to the hospital because there are online consultations, and you can order vitamins via an online pharmacy.
It is also a good idea to get vaccinated since vaccines can prevent you from getting infected again.
Brain fog can sometimes be unbearable. It can do lasting damage to your brain, and despite getting better from Covid-19, there might be a long-term effect on your cognitive processes. To relieve yourself of brain fog, take vitamins, get at least 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and eat a lot of healthy food like vegetables and protein, which can help your brain get back to normal.