Treatment options for fatigue

There is currently no known causal therapy for treating fatigue, i.e. one that targets the cause. However, attempts are being made to prevent chronification with non-drug methods and thus alleviate the symptoms of fatigue. These methods include, for example, sleep promotion, pain therapy, circulatory support and measures to reduce stress. In addition, the promotion of adequate coping behavior can be helpful, i.e. teaching those affected healthy strategies for dealing with the illness.

Depending on the individual symptoms (physical, cognitive and/or emotional), dosed physical training, cognitive performance training and/or psychotherapeutic or psychopharmacological treatment may be used.

Doctors should also instruct their patients to prevent crashes with the help of pacing (you can find out exactly what this is and how it can help with Long Covid in the blog post on Pacing). Information about the disease and how to deal with it in everyday life can also be helpful.

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Treatment options for respiratory problems

One of the most common symptoms that people report after an infection with the coronavirus is shortness of breath. This describes the feeling of being quickly out of breath and therefore no longer being as efficient. This can be very stressful because everyday performance suffers as a result. If shortness of breath occurs, it is urgently recommended to avoid negative factors such as smoking, pollutants in the air, extreme air temperatures and physical overexertion. Other options include:

Certain breathing exercises and lung rehab may be helpful. This consists primarily of respiratory physiotherapy, physical training and patient training so that patients can better understand and deal with their illness. But smoking cessation and psychosocial counseling are also included.

Certain postures can relieve the body of breathing so that you can breathe more easily. The World Health Organization recommends the following attitudes:

There are numerous exercise options. Controlled breathing and also timed breathing can lead to conscious perception and control of breathing and thus positively influence breathing and thus performance.

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Psychotherapy

Depending on your individual state of health, your psychological well-being can also be addressed in therapy alongside the treatment of your physical complaints.

Psychotherapeutic treatment makes sense if there is a confirmed clinical diagnosis or if the burden on those affected is so great that their quality of life is significantly impaired. If the doctor suspects a change in mental health (persistent exhaustion (fatigue), persistent depression, unfounded fears, reduction in quality of life, etc.), appropriate diagnostics should be carried out at an early stage. This allows appropriate treatment to be initiated to prevent the symptoms from becoming chronic and to reduce the emotional burden.

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Drug therapies

Due to the high number of cases and the sometimes protracted consequences of an infection, the development of drugs against COVID-19 has become very interesting for research. In fact, progress has already been made in this field, which we would like to highlight here. However, we naturally make no claim to be exhaustive. If you would like to know more about drug treatment for an infection with the Corona virus or Long Covid, you should ask your doctor for more information.

In general, patients with an intact immune system and full vaccination protection do not require early drug therapy for a COVID-19 infection. The immune system is prepared for the viruses thanks to the vaccination and can fight them faster and more actively. In patients who nevertheless have an increased risk of severe Covid or in whom it is suspected that the vaccination has not provided sufficient protection, doctors may consider the use of antiviral medication. This is relevant for Long Covid insofar as it can reduce damage (e.g. permanent lung damage) that could occur in the event of severe Covid-19 progression and help the body fight the virus.

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Nutrition

In addition to medical and exercise-based therapies, diet can also play a major supportive role in Long Covid therapy. It makes sense because 40-75% of Covid sufferers may experience a loss of smell and taste. These sensory deficits in smell and taste can also be associated with anxiety and depressed mood. The impaired mental health can promote malnutrition, which may make it to a vicious cycle.

There is evidence from initial studies that a plant-based diet can help with symptoms that also occur with Long Covid. A plant-based diet is also recommended as it reduces the amount of pro-inflammatory substances in the body. Fruit and vegetables provide a whole range of important vitamins, fibers, minerals, trace elements, phytonutrients and antioxidants. Highly processed foods, on the other hand, are often low in important nutrients and therefore tend to promote inflammation in the body. Of course, not all nutritional recommendations are valid for all patients - individual advice is therefore important, to also consider preferences, intolerances, food sensititivies, etc.