Created by Philippa Steinberg for the IGI.
March 15 is Long COVID Awareness Day, and in conjunction with the COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project (C19LAP), we invite you to learn more about Long COVID and how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can serve as a valuable treatment modality for this immensely challenging and impactful condition.
C19LAP is working on a national and international platform of advocacy, and taking the lead on a number of initiatives, including:
- Reaching out and meeting with members of Congress to encourage funding for Long COVID
- Asking for more support for the Long COVID community
- Urging President Biden to mention Long COVID during the State of the Union Address
- Organizing light up events at monuments, landmarks, and homes
- Advocating for Congress to formally name and honor Long COVID Awareness Day
- Providing awareness day T-shirts, profile pictures, and infographics you can share
Understanding Long COVID
Long COVID is a chronic condition estimated to impact approximately 20% of people infected with COVID-19, including children and those with no pre-existing health conditions, according to C19LAP. Reinfections also increase the chances of developing or worsening Long COVID.
Long COVID can significantly impact quality of life, impair activities of daily living, reduce one’s ability to work, and has been recognized as a disability under the ADA. As of 2022, Long COVID was estimated to cost the United States at least $3.7 trillion dollars/year.
Common side effects of Long COVID can persist for weeks or months after the acute phase of the illness, and can consist of any number of symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Joint pain
- Chest pain
- Brain fog, memory loss, or other cognitive challenges
- Difficulty sleeping
- Muscle aches or weakness
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Loss of taste or smell
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as diarrhea, nausea, or abdominal pain)
- Depression or anxiety
- Hair loss
- Skin rashes
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Persistent fever
- Symptoms resembling autoimmune diseases
- Neurological symptoms (such as difficulty concentrating or memory problems)
- Post-exertional malaise (feeling worse after physical or mental activity)
- Blood clotting issues
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy And Long COVID
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is useful in combating these challenges thanks to its ability to speed healing in your body by encouraging new growth in tissues, stem cells, and blood vessels. HBOT enhances your overall immune function and has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. HBOT is also helpful in treating the chronic brain fog and reduced heart function associated with Long COVID.
HBOT also supports cellular repair mechanisms and promotes recovery from persistent fatigue, cognitive impairments, and other lingering symptoms associated with long COVID, improving the overall quality of life for affected individuals of all ages.
Current research is backing up our consistent experience of the value of HBOT as a treatment for Long COVID, and one of the most recently released studies also indicates that the positive effects of HBOT treatment can last over a year.
If you want to learn more about how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can help heal Long COVID, we’ve got a number of studies posted on our Resources page. And of course, always feel free to give us a call!