hm-atif-wafik

Physical, Mental Health Challenges After Covid-19 Recovery

The National Policy of the Government of Bangladesh states that if a person is hospitalized with coronavirus, he or she must undergo regular health check-ups even after recovery. || Photo: Collected

The National Policy of the Government of Bangladesh states that if a person is hospitalized with coronavirus, he or she must undergo regular health check-ups even after recovery. || Photo: Collected

Many people infected with coronavirus have been reported to suffer from various physical and mental complications after recovery. In some cases, there are no complications. Again, coronavirus can have a long-term effect on some people, experts said. And these complications can take months to overcome. 

Even after recovering from Covid-19, about one-third of the patients are suffering from physical or mental complications, said medicine expert Nawsaba Noor. 

In medical parlance, this is called post-Covid syndromes.



Reasons:

After being infected with the coronavirus, the body's immune system begins to fight the virus.

This immune system becomes uncontrollably active at one stage, causing inflammation in other parts of the body. As a result, various physical complications arise.

The virus can do more harm than good if the body's immune system works uncontrollably.

Which hurts various parts of the body including lungs. Dr Noor referred to it as a multi-system disorder.

Problems such as weakness and shortness of breath usually remain. There is a feeling of body aches, pain in the joints and muscles, tiredness and fatigue.

Depending on the patient's health status, gender and age, the symptoms may vary from person to person.

However, those who are already suffering from various complex diseases at the time are at risk.

Lungs:

Dr Noor said the coronavirus had the most negative effect on the lungs. Even though many people have coronavirus negative, their cough and shortness of breath can last for a long time.

She has found many patients who have suffered from shortness of breath or frequent coughing problems for three months in a row, Dr Noor said.

Due to this weakness of the lungs, patients are seen to be very short of breath.

Many people have trouble breathing and coughing for a long time.

Again, those who already suffer from asthma, shortness of breath or pneumonia have a higher risk of developing a rapid lung infection with coronavirus.

Again, many of the patients who had to undergo ICU or emergency oxygen may have pulmonary fibrosis in their lungs.

When the immune system becomes uncontrollably active, it causes inflammation in the walls of the lungs, causing water to build up in the lungs.

As a result, the patient has great difficulty in breathing normally. Chest pain. It feels heavy.

Once fibrosis is present, it is less likely to be completely cured, said Dr Noor.

Heart:

Although Covid-19 is said to be a disease of the lungs, it has an adverse effect on the heart.

Citing a recent study, Dr Noor said that 8% of the covid patients who took part in the study later developed various heart complications.

Many people have myocarditis with chest pain, palpitations or inflammatory heart problems.

The risk of coronavirus coagulopathy increases the risk of heart attack.

For this reason, the patients who are admitted to the hospital are given blood thinners by the doctors to keep the blood thin.

Kidney:

People who have been suffering from kidney complications for a long time and have to undergo regular dialysis are at greater risk even after recovering from the coronavirus.

Although coronavirus does not cause kidney problems, dialysis and high-potency medications naturally weaken the patient's immune system.

This can lead to complications such as sodium and potassium imbalance in the blood or electrolyte imbalance, acid-based disorders, etc., which further aggravate the complication.

However, those who do not have kidney complications have nothing to worry about, experts said.

Liver:

When infected with a viral disease, the liver becomes more active than usual.

Dr Noor has also seen such a trend in the health check-ups of patients who have come in with coronavirus.

If the condition of a patient infected with coronavirus reaches a critical stage, they may be at risk of jaundice and liver failure later on, he said.

Pancreas:

Dr Noor also said from her experience that many of the patients who come to her have suffered from acute pancreatitis or pancreatic complications. This results in severe abdominal pain in patients.

People who already have problems with high blood pressure, low blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes are also at risk later in life.

Even after recovering from Covid 19, many people lost their appetite and lost weight very fast. As a result, the pressure becomes low.

Again, those who suffer from hypertension are also at risk of a sudden rise in blood pressure.

People with diabetes have very low blood sugar levels.

Patients whose oxygen levels fall below 90 have to be rushed to the hospital for oxygen. When the situation is complicated, doctors give steroids to the patient.

Although steroids play an immediate role in saving lives, they can also lead to uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure.

Mental problems:

Even after recovering from the coronavirus, many patients have been suffering from chronic anxiety and depression for a long time. Many are not able to concentrate on work.

Forgetting small things, losing patience.

Especially those who have been hospitalized for a long time get post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD after returning home healthy. Many cannot get out of the horrible memory of being in a hospital or ICU.

In this case, she thinks it is important to meditate as well as seek the advice of a psychiatrist.

Meanwhile, many people lose their hair at an unusual rate after covid. There have also been complaints of eye pressure or various inflammatory problems in the eye.

Things to do:

The National Policy of the Government of Bangladesh states that if a person is hospitalized with coronavirus, he or she must undergo regular health check-ups even after recovery.

Follow-up should be done after getting discharge from the hospital or even after the report of coronavirus is negative.

According to Dr Noor, it is important to get a health check-up 48 hours after recovering from Covid, then 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after consulting a doctor.

It is also important to get enough rest day and night.

Dr Noor asked those who are already suffering from hypertension, heart complications, diabetes, cancer and kidney complications to seek medical advice.

Insulin or medication levels can be adjusted on the advice of a doctor.

In addition, you have to pay close attention to the food. It is important to have a balanced diet in your daily diet. He suggested eating vegetables as well as eggs.

As well as plenty of water, fruit juice to eat Dr Nur said.

"Drinking is the best way to overcome the weakness of any viral disease. If you do not have kidney or heart problems, you should drink two to three liters of water a day," she said.

If necessary, diet chart can be taken on the advice of a nutritionist.

Muscle weakness can be caused by lying in bed day and night in the hospital or at home while being infected with Covid-19.

To improve muscle structure, Dr Noor advised to exercise regularly.

"If you feel weak, start with 10 minutes, do light exercise, walk. Then increase the time to 15 minutes and then half an hour."

However, if there is a lot of pain in the muscles of the body, consult a physiotherapist.

Vitamin D plays a role in boosting immunity and the source of this vitamin D is the sun.

According to Miss Noor, it is very important to apply direct sunlight on the skin of the body between 9 am and 11 am.

Even if you have a vitamin D supplement, the sun's rays work better.

Again Dr Noor advised to meditate, meditate or pray to keep the mental state right after Covid.

Although it is not possible to meet family, relatives, friends, it is important to keep in mind by keeping in touch with them, reading books, listening to music or practicing one's hobbies.

Even then, if it has a devastating effect on your mental health, you need to take the necessary action on the advice of an expert.

Telemedicine services can be consulted by calling the government's hotline.

 

(This report is taken and translated from BBC Bangla)

 

Subscribe Shampratik Deshkal Youtube Channel

Comments

Shampratik Deshkal Epaper

Logo

Address: 10/22 Iqbal Road, Block A, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207

© 2024 Shampratik Deshkal All Rights Reserved. Design & Developed By Root Soft Bangladesh