Rehab Select Blog

We are beating back COVID-19. As of May 14, 2021, over 35% of the U.S. population has had both doses of an approved vaccine. The moving weekly average of cases continues downward; however, this is not the time to assume that treatment innovations can stop. We have seen firsthand how tough this virus can be on vulnerable populations and how diverse and complicated its effects are.

Marie Curie once said, "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."

One thing is certain: COVID-19 affects people in different ways. The majority will experience mild to moderate symptoms, including a fever, a dry cough, and tiredness. Some will also have muscular aches and pains, a sore throat, a stomach upset, headaches, conjunctivitis, the loss of taste or smell, or a skin rash. An unfortunate one in five COVID-19 patients will develop more serious symptoms, including difficulty breathing, chest pain, loss of muscle control, severe inflammation, and organ damage.

It may seem like the pandemic is almost over. According to the CDC, in March of 2021, hospitalizations are down 70 percent since the January peak. At this time, more than 15 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, according to a Wall Street Journal report. And almost everyone who wants the vaccine should be able to receive one by May.

If you have contracted COVID-19 and are still suffering from symptoms for more than four weeks after the initial diagnosis, you're not alone. Many patients experience long-term COVID symptoms, and medical professionals are taking notice.

As a respiratory illness, COVID-19 tends to hit the lungs the hardest of all the organs in the body. In fact, lung damage is one of the most common lingering symptoms reported by those who experience long-term effects from COVID-19.

The coronavirus is still relatively new, with the first case in North America reported in the United States in January of 2020. Yet, almost 29 million cases have been reported in March of 2021. Of those nearly 30 million cases, most recover as expected. But there proves to be a notable instance of COVID-19 long haulers whose recovery takes longer than expected.

In a recent survey, up to 35% of adults who tested positive for COVID 19 report still feeling the effects of the infection two to three weeks after diagnosis. After the initial illness, the virus can cause lasting effects, particularly to the lungs, heart, and brain.

Over the past year, researchers have been avidly working to uncover any information they can about COVID-19: specifically, how to prevent, detect, and treat it. Every new discovery related to COVID-19 gives long-term care providers more effective tools to care for their patients every day.