What strategies are effective for managing long COVID symptoms?

Introduction

Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), refers to the persistence of symptoms for weeks or months after the acute phase of COVID-19. These symptoms can include fatigue, dyspnea, cognitive impairment, and more, significantly impacting the quality of life. Various strategies have been explored to manage these symptoms effectively.

Key Insights

Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation and Psychological Support:
- Early and adapted rehabilitation programs, including respiratory, olfactory, cognitive, and psychological therapies, can help manage symptoms like dyspnea, anxiety, and chest pain, although fatigue and neurocognitive disorders may persist .
- Psychological interventions based on WHO and NICE guidelines emphasize psychoeducation, self-care, support networks, relaxation techniques, and goal setting to manage long COVID symptoms.
Physical Exercise and Manual Therapies:
- Manual therapies, including effleurage and mobility exercises, along with self-massage and alternating warm and cool gel packs, have shown significant reductions in fatigue-related symptoms.
- Physical exercise and lifestyle advice are commonly recommended by general practitioners to manage symptoms like fatigue and dyspnea.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM):
- CAM interventions, particularly Chinese herbal medications, have been effective in relieving pulmonary dysfunction symptoms.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS):
- Transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) has shown potential in reducing mental fatigue and other neuropsychiatric symptoms in a subset of individuals, demonstrating safety and feasibility for at-home use.
Coordination and Follow-Up:
- Coordination teams and follow-up consultations, even as simple as phone calls, can significantly reduce feelings of abandonment and improve symptom management and return-to-work rates.
Patient-Centered Care and Digital Health:
- Patient-centered care, including vaccination, COVID-19 medications, and digital healthcare, is recommended for managing long COVID, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly and those with respiratory dysfunctions.

Conclusion

Effective management of long COVID symptoms requires a multifaceted approach. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation, psychological support, physical exercise, and manual therapies are crucial. Complementary and alternative medicine, particularly Chinese herbal medications, and innovative treatments like vagus nerve stimulation also show promise. Coordination and follow-up care play a significant role in improving patient outcomes. Patient-centered care, supported by digital health technologies, is essential for addressing the diverse and persistent symptoms of long COVID.

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What strategies are effective for managing long COVID symptoms?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

The rationale for the treatment of long-Covid symptoms – A cardiologist's view

Long-Covid symptoms, including neurological, cardiovascular, and psychiatric disorders, can be effectively treated with a therapeutic strategy targeting both post-COVID-19 and post-SARS-CoV-2 symptoms.

Two-Years Follow-Up of Symptoms and Return to Work in Complex Post-COVID-19 Patients

Phone calls can help reduce patients' feelings of abandonment and improve symptom management in complex post-COVID-19 patients.

Reducing fatigue-related symptoms in Long COVID-19: finding an intervention that works

Early intervention using massage and mobility exercises significantly reduced fatigue related to Long COVID-19, potentially preventing chronic symptoms.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Long COVID: Scoping Review and Bibliometric Analysis

There are few published studies on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for long COVID, with Chinese herbal medications showing potential in relieving pulmonary dysfunction symptoms.

Rehabilitation of Adult Patients with Pulmonological Manifestations of Long COVID: a Review

Rehabilitation in specialized centers using multidisciplinary teams and respiratory rehabilitation programs, including therapeutic physical education, is most effective for adult patients with pulmonary manifestations of long COVID.

Health psychology on long COVID: Strategies based on NICE and WHO guidelines recommendations

Long COVID management requires lifestyle changes focusing on education, self-care, support networks, relaxation techniques, and goal setting, aligning with WHO and NICE guidelines.

Long COVID: An overview

Long COVID symptoms include fatigue, cough, chest tightness, breathlessness, palpitations, myalgia, and difficulty to focus, and should be managed by identifying the pathophysiology and appropriate remedial measures.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of supervised, at-home, self-administered transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) to manage long COVID symptoms

Self-administered taVNS is safe and feasible for managing long COVID symptoms, potentially reducing mental fatigue in a subset of individuals.

How do German General Practitioners Manage Long-/Post-COVID? A Qualitative Study in Primary Care

German general practitioners manage Long-/Post-COVID patients using wait-and-see approaches, lifestyle advice, and non-pharmacological interventions, with few referrals.

Healthcare response strategies for the long-COVID era

Proactive measures, including vaccination, medications, and digital healthcare, are crucial for addressing long-COVID symptoms and preventing potential pandemics.

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