Things to Know About Life After Recovering From COVID-19

While the whole world is slowly moving back to the pre-covid situations after vaccination, countries like India, Scotland, and South America are still struggling with the crude second wave. On the other hand, some of the European countries have started to experience rejuvenated cases due to the Indian and Delta variants, even after the maximum amount of vaccination. 

However, the rhythmic increase and decrease of infections have become a part of our daily life. While many people are still protecting themselves to stay away from COVID, millions of people have already experienced it. But how is life after COVID? It is undoubtedly a struggle for many to recover from the infection. But is recovery the last word?

Sadly, no! There are many evident cases where the patient has collapsed even after recovery, which lets us know how dreadful the virus can be. Not only dealing with this viral disease is a concern, but post-recovery brings about new challenges, which are making lives difficult. What are those? Here, let’s have a look.

How has COVID-19 changed human lives?

Human lives are limited by social distancing. It is tough to stay with each other closely, even if you witness that the health of your close one is deteriorating. This faster-transmitting virus has the potential to eat away someone else’s life who comes in contact with the patient. And this cycle keeps continuing.

What about the recovery stage? Once you have recovered completely from the COVID infection after 14-21 days of quarantine, there is no possibility that the infection will not happen again.

As an HR professional, Ananya NS told The Hindu that the post-covid stage has even restricted her from seeing her parents. Though she expected the reunion to be a happier one after the recovery, it was not. The warrior said, “I did not even hug them. My 14-day quarantine was over and the doctors said I was fine. But what if…”. The chances of reinfection just do not go away.

Moreover, post-recovery, many patients feel a collapse in their mental health. Many people feel difficulties in encountering people. The uncertainty, the fears and the prolonged days of isolation are negatively affecting mental health.

What risks exist after recovery from COVID-19?

Coronavirus leaves your body by leaving a higher chance of risks, which can affect your lifestyle and overall health. A stigma comes attached with the COVID recovery, which is preventing people from leading a normal life. Dr. Rajesh Parikh, the Director of Medical Research and Hon. Neuropsychiatrist at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai says- “Stigma adds a burden on those who have already suffered the consequences of the illness and those of its residual symptoms such as lung fibrosis and difficulty in breathing long after recovery.”

This deadly disease comes with various long term complications, which ruins the health condition even after 15-30 days of recovery. Here is how it affects you during and after the recovery.

• Chronic health problems
• Reduced immunity 
• Enhanced chances of heart attack and cardiac diseases
• Poor lung health
• Diabetes
• Kidney damage

How COVID affect your long-term physical condition?

Many studies conducted on recovered patients have shown that their recovery actually hints at some major body damages. Especially those who suffer from severe COVID complications are very likely going to get affected with instability in their mental health and cardiac health. Thus, post-COVID recovery calls for regular and routine check-ups and tests to know how your health is performing.

How COVID affect your kidney?

While you are recovering from COVID, you should keep in mind that you are being exposed to plenty of kidney-related complications. Some of the patients who have suffered from various forms of coronavirus have experienced signs of kidney damage. But why does it take place? Here are the reasons:

• An enhanced level of protein intake
• Abnormal blood functions
• Dealing with the COVID-induced cytokine storm
• Oxygen level fluctuations

Such complications become more severe for those who are suffering from diabetes or inflammation.

What can happen to your heart post-recovery?

There are also alarming reports about the fact that post-recovery, many patients are also experiencing severe myocarditis and heart-related symptoms. 

Even if you are healthy enough, you can still experience such complications, which can affect your heart’s health. Facing symptoms like shortness of breath, exhaustion, chest pain, lack of energy, and panting is quite common. Doctors think that there is also an increased risk of arrhythmias, myocarditis, and various other cardiovascular symptoms, which are making complications more deadly.

Many recovered patients even experience complications just after day-5, which is an indication of serious upcoming issues. Here are the problems that can occur:

• Feeling or pain or pressure in the arm
• Discomfort in chest
• Abnormal sweating
• Breathing difficulty
• Uncontrolled blood pressure 
• Irregularity in the heartbeat

What mental disorders can you face after recovery from COVID-19?

The recovery of COVID-19 comes with a huge cost that you have to pay if you are healing from severe symptoms. Here are the psychological disorders that you are most likely going to encounter after COVID:

• Lack of concentration
• Mood disorder
• Brain fog
• Increased stress and anxiety
• Memory loss 
• Insomnia
• Exhaustive feeling 

In case these symptoms keep continuing even after a few weeks of recovery, you have to approach a psychiatrist to seek some professional help. 

What are the various types of post-COVID conditions?

The after-effects of COVID recovery come with a variety of conditions. Here is what you need to know:

• Long COVID:

Long COVID refers to the symptoms that last for weeks or months. Long COVID can also affect those who are already infected. Even mild symptoms persisting over a prolonged time are considered as Long COVID. Here are the symptoms it comes with:

• Fatigue or tiredness 
• Headache 
• Loss of smell and taste 
• Dizziness
• Difficulty in concentration
• Chest pain
• Faster heartbeats
• Joint or muscle pain
• Cough
• Fever
• Depression or anxiety
• Worsening mental or physical health

Multiorgan effects

Without affecting any particular organ, you can also see symptoms of multiorgan failure. It includes various conditions like multisystem inflammatory syndrome and autoimmune conditions, which ultimately result in death. MIS causes the swelling of your different body parts. On the other hand, autoimmune conditions attack your immune system and healthy cells, which causes painful swelling in the body.

What effects does the COVID treatment or hospitalization have?

Not only the infection itself but also the treatment procedure can have various negative effects and long-time drawbacks. Some of the long-term effects of the treatment are respiratory infections or various other critical conditions.

Hospitalization can also have effects like post-intensive care syndrome, which comes with various health effects that persist even after recovery. These effects can include tiredness, weakness, and PTSD with plenty of stress.

What are the treatments for your post COVID conditions?

As Dr Syamasis Bandhopadhyay, the Senior Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist, Director Medical Services Apollo Hospitals, says, after COVID, patients can have symptoms like ILI. After 10 days of the onset of symptoms, patients become non-infectious.

Thus, it is important to take the necessary precautions to stay away from such complications. The Health Ministry has recommended having a follow-up visit to the clinic after seven days of discharge.

“Subsequent treatment/ follow-up visits may be with the nearest qualified allopathic/AYUSH practitioner/medical facility of other systems of medicine. Poly-therapy (use of multiple medications) is to be avoided due to the potential for unknown drug-drug interaction, which may lead to Serious Adverse Events (SAE) or Adverse Effects (AE),” the protocol says.

Other precautions that you need to follow up is-

• Regular gargling with turmeric and salt mixed in warm water
• Steam inhalation
• Taking cough medications if needed
• Staying hydrated and taking plenty of fluids
• Following a very nutritious diet
• Practising breathing
• Performing routine exercises and meditation
• Getting an adequate amount of sleep
• Avoiding smoking or drinking
• Consulting doctor for any complication

Conclusion:

Battling with COVID-19 is itself very challenging. But this deadly infection comes with a huge cost. You can go through plenty of post-COVID complications, which can range from milder to deadlier ones. Thus, following proper restrictions and social distancing are required to ensure quick and easy recovery. Making adequate usage of masks and living a healthy and restricted lifestyle can speed up your recovery process. Also, do not forget or avoid getting vaccinated, which can massively mitigate the risk.