What is Long Haul COVID (also known as Post Acute COVID syndrome)?

Post Acute COVID syndrome (also known as Long haul COVID or Long COVID) is defined as six weeks of symptoms following confirmed or suspected COVID infection.

The following symptoms are typical:

Neurological System: headache, numbness in the feet and toes, hearing impairment, sensitivity to light and sounds, difficulties with memory and concentration (also known as brain fog), depression, anxiety

Cardiovascular system: chest pain, racing heart-beat, dizziness or lightheadedness (possibly related to dysautonomia or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)

General/constitutional: generalized fatigue, exercise intolerance, hot flashes, swollen lymph nodes

Musculoskeletal: pain or inflammation of the joints, muscle fatigue

Respiratory: dry cough and shortness of breath, sore throat

Gastrointestinal: nausea, abdominal cramping, diarrhea

Skin: rashes, bruising, hair loss

Endocrine/Metabolic: new lipid or glucose abnormalities, menstrual irregularities

Our treatment approach

Treatment of Long COVID. Many of our patients have been told that either nothing is wrong with them or that they have psychological problems. They have been told that they will get better and they are still not better after several months. The first step of treatment involves carefully listening to the patient, building trust and carefully documenting the symptoms. Treatment principles revolve around reconditioning the autonomic nervous system, identifying triggers such as improper food or activity, and excluding structural heart, lung and endocrine conditions. Highly specific advice and counseling on diet, exercise and rest, which are unique to long COVID, are given to the patient. Specialized testing is often performed.