Already Had COVID? Here’s Why You May Still Feel Sick — Eat This Not That

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By Ghuman

Introduction

If you’ve already had COVID-19, you may be feeling the lingering effects of the virus. Even after you’ve recovered, you may still be experiencing fatigue, body aches, and other symptoms. While it’s normal to feel this way, there are some things you can do to help your body heal and get back to feeling like yourself. Eating the right foods can help your body recover and give you the energy you need to get through the day. In this article, we’ll discuss why you may still feel sick after having COVID-19 and the foods you should be eating to help your body heal.

Already Had COVID? Here’s Why You May Still Feel Sick

If you’ve already had COVID-19, you may be wondering why you’re still feeling sick. The answer is that the virus can have long-term effects on your body, even after you’ve recovered from the initial infection. Here’s what you need to know about why you may still be feeling sick after having COVID-19.

Long-Term Effects of COVID-19

COVID-19 can cause a range of long-term effects, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms can last for weeks or even months after the initial infection. In some cases, people may experience more serious long-term effects, such as heart and lung damage, or neurological problems.

Eat This, Not That

If you’re still feeling sick after having COVID-19, it’s important to take care of your body. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help you recover and reduce the risk of long-term effects. Here are some tips for eating well after having COVID-19:

  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These are packed with vitamins and minerals that can help your body heal.
  • Choose lean proteins, such as fish, chicken, and beans. These can help your body build and repair muscle.
  • Limit processed and sugary foods. These can cause inflammation and make it harder for your body to heal.
  • Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated can help your body flush out toxins and fight infection.

By eating the right foods, you can help your body recover from COVID-19 and reduce the risk of long-term effects. For more tips on eating well after having COVID-19, talk to your doctor.

Are you suffering from COVID-19 symptoms weeks, months, even years after recovery? “Long COVID or what’s now, through the National Institutes of Health, being referred to as ‘post-acute sequelae of COVID-19,’ is persistent symptoms or new symptoms that develop, generally speaking, at least four to eight weeks after the initial infection with COVID-19,” says Jason Maley, MD, MS. “It can include the continuation of symptoms that happened when a person was first sick, like shortness of breath, or fatigue, or it can be new symptoms where a patient feels like they’ve improved and they’re recovering and then a month after being infected, they have worsening chest discomfort and brain fog and difficulty thinking, and all sorts of symptoms from head to toe that can either persist or develop somewhat newly after they’re infected.” Here is why you may still feel sick after getting COVID, according to experts. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.

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Doctors and virus experts are still unsure as to what exactly is driving long COVID, and why it affects some people but not others. “There are a few current theories related to the immune system and the manifestations of long COVID that we’re seeing,” says Dr. Maley. “All are unproven at this point, and I think ultimately there may be several explanations for the different constellations of symptoms. We’re seeing long COVID most often in people who did not have severe COVID initially, and there may be clues that the robustness of the immune response and subsequent persistent immune activation could drive symptoms.”

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Research shows long COVID can cause long-term inflammation of the heart muscle. “One study showed that 60% of people who recovered from COVID-19 had signs of ongoing heart inflammation, which could lead to the common symptoms of shortness of breath, palpitations and rapid heartbeat,” says Cleveland Clinic. “This inflammation appeared even in those who had had a mild case of COVID-19 and who had no medical issues before they got sick.”

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Crushing, chronic fatigue is a commonly reported symptom of long COVID. “This is what destroys people’s lives,” says David Putrino, director of rehabilitation innovation at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. “If they put in one day of work they need two days to recover. If they go to a party they can’t go to work the next day.”

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Studies show Omicron is less likely to result in long COVID than previous variants, experts say. “The Omicron variant appears substantially less likely to cause Long-COVID than previous variants but still 1 in 23 people who catch COVID-19 go on to have symptoms for more than four weeks,” says Dr. Claire Steves from King’s College London. “Given the numbers of people affected it’s important that we continue to support them at work, at home and within the NHS.”

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Long Covid appears to disproportionately affect women, experts warn. “The vast majority of people that we see in our clinic for long COVID symptoms are women who are experiencing this, what we call dysautonomia,” says Dr. Salim Hayek, co-director of the University of Michigan post COVID-19 clinic. “So essentially they’re experiencing lightheadedness when standing. They’re experiencing rapid heart rate palpitations and shortness of breath. And it is clearly predominant in women. … I can safely say that at least 75% of patients coming in with long COVID symptoms have been women rather than men.”

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Follow the public health fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live—get vaccinated or boosted ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don’t travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don’t go indoors with people you’re not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.

Ferozan Mast

Ferozan Mast is a science, health and wellness writer with a passion for making science and research-backed information accessible to a general audience. Read more

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