Long Covid Clinic

Long Covid symptoms and resulting health concerns comprise a wide range of multi organ complications beyond the initial period of acute infection. Symptoms of Long Covid can include “brain fog”, fatigue, breathlessness, sleep disturbance, headaches, peripheral neuropathy (numbness and pins and needles), dizziness, anxiety and depression, sometimes with associated joint pains, nausea and gut disturbance. These symptoms can range from mild to incapacitating and strike regardless of age, fitness level or the severity of the Covid-19 virus.

With over 5.77 million people having contracted Covid-19 in the UK and research indicating that 2 million people may have experienced lingering symptoms 12 weeks post infection, this is a growing concern on a national and global basis. Recognising the limited resources, the U.S. National Institutes of Health(NIH) has committed $1.15billion of funding for investigations into Long Covid, or Post-Acute Sequelae of Sars-CoV-2 or PASC, as NIH have recently named. The UK’s resources are also limited and demand for treatment is rapidly rising.

What causes Long Covid?

Unfortunately, we do not yet know what causes Long Covid. It is presently used as an umbrella term to define a variety of problems arising following the initial infection, and each of these are likely to have different causes, with one common factor – COVID infection. Extensive research is under way, investigating a variety of hypotheses including viral, immune, inflammatory, degenerative mechanisms.
Whilst research is ongoing, urgent treatment is needed to help individuals recover from Long Covid.

Fatigue and Long Covid:

It is estimated that 78% of Long Covid sufferers experience disabling and persistent fatigue, impacting all areas of daily life. Re:Cognition Health’s comprehensive chronic fatigue and pain service has a dedicated specialist team with over 70 years combined experience in all aspects of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. The team carry out thorough assessments, bespoke to the individual’s symptoms, to provide a full assessment to rule out other neurological and psychiatric conditions that can present with similar symptoms and to provide an individual plan for rehabilitation.

Brain Fog and Long Covid:

There are many physiological and psychological  mechanisms that could be influencing “brain fog” in Long Covid patients which is a common complication of the infection. From post-inflammatory and oxygen related changes in the brain to  anxiety, breathing difficulties, stress, lack of sleep and many other contributing factors; we are learning more about it every day.
Dr Emer MacSweeney Medical Director at Re:Cognition Health comments, “Brain fog is not progressive and there is no evidence to suggest that this leads to a long term, neurodegenerative cognitive diseases, which is very good news for those suffering. However, it is important to see a doctor if “brain fog” is affecting your ability to perform normal tasks, or if you have any concerns about the impact it is having on your daily life.”

For further information on the Long Covid Clinic at Re:Cognition Health and to book an appointment, contact our team: referrals@re-cognitionhealth.com

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng188/documents/final-scope

• Long Covid is the term currently used to describe a variety of symptoms developing during or following a Covid-19 infection, that persist for three months or more and which cannot be explained by other diagnoses
• Around 10% of those experiencing an acute infection, describe ongoing symptoms after 12 weeks
• Symptoms are varied, but approximately 78% of people with Long Covid suffer from persistent fatigue, whilst pain and cognitive and emotional problems are also common
• Persistent symptoms following Coronavirus are a growing concern on a global basis