To date, millions of people have recovered from COVID-19 in South Africa. But, as many of these will testify, recovering from COVID is quite different to recovering from other viruses (like a cold or flu). In fact, there are still many questions around the long-term effects of this virus because it simply hasn’t been around for long enough for us to understand exactly how it affects the body and mind over time.
According to some studies, between 10% and 20% of those that get COVID will have symptoms for longer than a month. But, even after the symptoms have disappeared and you have a clean bill of health, you may feel some lingering effects of the illness.
Regardless of whether or not you have ongoing issues after recovery from COVID, it’s important (and wise) to take extra care of your body and mind, even months after being ill. Of course, it’s essential that you consult with your doctor along your recovery journey too.
Some Common Health Issues after Recovering from COVID
Those that have experienced lingering after-effects of COVID usually report having some or all of the following:
- Difficulty breathing
- Headaches
- Blood clots
- Accelerated heart rate
- Challenges with concentration
- Cognitive problems (including anxiety and depression)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Vastly increased chance of having a stroke in the future
- Loss of taste and smell
- Inflammation of the heart muscle
- Long-term kidney disease
- Fatigue (very common in those recovering from COVID)
- Dizziness
- Increased risk of developing diabetes
- Sleep disorders
- Coughing
- Pain in the muscles and/or joints
Long-Term Care after Recovering from COVID
Regardless of how long you were down with COVID-19, it’s important to take care of your body and mind. This ensures a full recovery, restores your body’s healthy systems, and (hopefully) undoes some of the damage caused by the virus.
The major challenge is that COVID and all its variances haven’t been around for long enough for researchers to understand and anticipate the complete extent of the damage it has done or can do to a person 12, 24 or 36 months after they’ve recovered. Still, there are steps that you can and should take to give yourself the best chance of being as strong and healthy as possible over the long term.
This includes not becoming blasé and feeling like recovering from COVID once will prevent you from contracting it or another strain again. So, above all, continue to take the usual precautions (washing and sanitising your hands, wearing your mask over your nose and mouth, and maintaining a good distance from others). Here are some other important ways to care for yourself after recovering from COVID:
1. Slow Down
Most of the people that have suffered from the longer-lasting COVID were those that returned to exercise too soon as this caused damage to their hearts and lungs. In many cases, when people are recovering from other illnesses, they can return back to being active as soon as they feel up to it. But, after recovering from COVID, it’s important to take your time before starting to exercise again. Don’t push yourself.
It’s best to consult your doctor about whether it’s safe to return to activity. Even when you do go back, do it gradually. It might be best to start with something like Pilates, as opposed to high-intensity cardio or weights.
Even returning to your daily routine should be done gradually. Pushing your body and mind will only set you back and prolong your return to health.
2. Sleep
Proper, healthy sleep gives the body the opportunity to recover and heal. Without the right kind and amount of sleep, our immune system suffers enormously. If you find that you’re not able to sleep properly, be proactive about it. Listen to sleep meditations, play white noise, avoid caffeine after noon, eat a light dinner, and so on.
3. Swelling
Because COVID may affect the heart and lungs (sometimes without your even knowing it), your feet and lower legs might be swollen, retaining water. Be sure to elevate your feet for 15 minutes a few times a day, and consider sleeping with a pillow under them.
4. Diet
After being sick for some time, you might feel like you want to treat yourself. While the odd treat is fine when you’re recovering from COVID, it’s important to give your body the fuel and support that it needs to recuperate from what has been a complete assault to the system. Incorporate plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and opt for grain-fed meats. Keep hydrated with water. Avoid excessive amounts of sugar, carbohydrates and alcohol; which compromise your immune system.
5. Mind Games
To help your cognitive function to improve in the months and years that follow your recovering from COVID, play games that stimulate your brain. Crossword puzzles, word and number games, and Sudoku are all great ways to spark your neural connections and get your brain working.
6. Know Your Body
Be aware of any symptoms or ‘feelings’ that aren’t necessarily normal and watch them carefully. If there’s anything that concerns you, see your doctor as soon as possible.
7. Supplements
To give your body a fighting chance of staying fit and healthy after recovering from COVID, it’s crucial that you add these important supplements to your daily routine:
- Liposomal Vitamin C – this is the ultimate immune system booster. It’s particularly effective because the vitamin C is transported directly into your cells instead of being discarded as waste.
- Triple Immune Boost – a powerful trio of vitamin C, zinc and selenium; this product is packed with benefits that help to build your body’s natural defences.
- Vitamin D – this vitamin has been proven to have incredible effects on the body’s immune system and ability to fight diseases. It also helps to ease depression, which is a common after-effect of COVID.
- Organi-mune drops – apart from improving your metabolism, these amazing drops increases your white blood cell count (the soldiers that fight diseases) and help to combat chronic fatigue.
To order your supplements, visit our online shop or email info@nordens.co.za today.