Long Covid Tips

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) People who have not experienced a significant post-viral crash such as long-COVID may be surprised to learn that it is sometimes treated as if it were traumatic brain injury (TBI).   But anyone who has lived with long-COVID, or other causes of chronic brain fog, memory issues and fatigue will understand it.   Even though after COVID most people do not show physical damage to their brains, the symptoms are can be remarkably similar to those of traumatic brain injury, such as after a stroke or a blow to the head.   Where it gets weird, is that when many such people get lots of rest, avoid stress, and do not overwork their brains, they can function quite well at times, and someone who did not know them before their symptoms started would think they are “normal” if they meet them on a good day. It took me over a year of waiting before I was allowed into a great research hospital’s post COVID program.   But once I finally made it in, one o...

L-Arginine in a Time Release Formula One of the best things that seems to really help my post-COVID energy levels is L-Arginine.  It is an amino acid that is both produced by your body and found in protein-rich foods including meats, dairy products, beans, soy and whole grains.  Research suggests that it can help with a wide range of health issues related to circulation.  It boosts nitric oxide levels and acts as a vasodilator, meaning it can help open blood vessels to improve circulation.  This is one of the reasons why body builders and men wanting to enhance their erections take it, as in larger doses it leads to that “pumped up” look and feel.   It was recommended to me by three people on my neurology team as potentially helpful for long COVID fatigue.  I started out with an ordinary L-arginine pill, but it gave me too much of a rollercoaster with jittery highs and sluggish lows.  I then discovered it in a time release formula that worked great for...

As previously discussed , it is believed that excess free radicals, oxidative stress, and insufficient antioxidant levels are bad for the nervous system (and really the entire body) and play a role in neurological disorders and long-COVID symptoms.  One of the ways I try to get enough antioxidants is to make a variety of easy to brew herbal teas or tisanes.   Useful Antioxidant Ingredients As someone who treasures variety, I keep the following items on hand to work with, mixing and matching them as the mood suits me: Dried Ginger Pieces Sweet and spicy, believed help with nausea, inflammation and boost serotonin and dopamine levels Dried Rose Hips Slightly tart, loaded in antioxidants, may reduce inflammation, boost immune system, fight type 2 diabetes, and potentially even fight sagging of skin Wild Blueberry Powder Very high in antioxidants, and may help regulate blood sugar, boost immunity, support eye health, reduce gastrointestinal symptoms and possibly ease UTI symptoms....

As we age and are bombarded with solar radiation, chemicals in our environment and natural biological processes, our bodies are exposed to free radicals.  Free radicals are unstable atoms or molecules that have an unpaired valence electron.  This imbalance makes them very reactive, and they tend to steal electrons from cells in our bodies which can damage cells and cause inflammation.  While free radicals have some uses, if your body has too many of them that electron stealing process subjects your body to oxidative stress which has degenerative effects such as accelerated aging.  Studies associate excess free radicals with aging, diminished health and with diseases of the central nervous system, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer and more. Recent studies suggest long-COVID is partly caused by oxidative stress and a shortage of antioxidants in the body . My long COVID recovery team suggested that I have a diet very high in antioxida...

I recently shared an introductory article on the benefits of sound and music therapy for Long Covid.  It occurs to me that it would be helpful to share some specific examples of methods and music and tips for how to enjoy it. Spotify Playlists for Relaxation and Sleep Here are some Spotify playlists featuring hours of Singing Bowls and Binaural Beats.  If you are not a subscriber, Spotify offers free ad-supported accounts.  If you choose not to sign up for an account, the links below will still allow you to see the names of songs and performers so you can search for them elsewhere.   Tibetan Singing Bowls for Sleep https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4lTadCehORo1j4XtjO6nki  Tibetan Bowls https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX3JNwc30ddaO   Binaural Beats: Sleep https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX8h3zQNo57xG Binaural Beats: Deeper Sleep https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWYILo9WhOOw6 YouTube Videos for Relaxation and Sleep While videos...