Simultaneously with the growing number of patients who "recovered" from COVID-19, more and more medical professionals and ordinary citizens in social networks are discussing such a phenomenon as "post-covid". What it is? Quite simply, this is a condition in which a person who has been ill, no longer infectious to others, cannot return to normal life for some time, continuing to experience painful symptoms, sometimes quite unusual ones that have never bothered him before: sudden temperature jumps, severe weakness, impaired sense of smell, profuse hair loss, skin rash, "incomprehensible" allergic reactions. Often, the mental state of former patients is disturbed, they become whiny, suffer from depression and even suicidal thoughts, functional disorders occur in the gastrointestinal tract. One of the most dangerous consequences of covid, according to doctors - rehabilitation therapists, may be a stroke (due to increased blood clotting in COVID-19).
According to immunologists from the UK, which were recently announced at a WHO conference, today at least 10 million people in the world have already faced post-covid. But despite the fact that postcoid syndrome is recognized as a separate disease, it is not yet clear how to treat it, there are still no uniform treatment protocols. It is believed that in most cases the symptoms of the postcovid go away on their own 6-12 weeks after the onset of the infection, but not everyone is so lucky and the strange, extremely uncomfortable state "not healthy, not sick" sometimes lasts for many months, or even more than a year.
- During an illness, the virus attacks almost all systems of the body, naturally, the immune system suffers (as from any viral disease). And the suffering of the immune system is "mirrored" on the skin. The skin is generally a mirror of the whole organism. By the skin, you can determine whether a person is sick or healthy, whether he has chronic diseases or not,”said Stanislav Arkannikov, a dermatologist and cosmetologist, on the air.
Also, among the possible causes of skin problems with COVID-19, not the last place is taken by a strong, lasting the entire period of the disease, stress. “During stress, all organ systems suffer, including the skin. Manifestations can be very diverse, starting with a dull complexion and dryness, and ending with various rashes. - comments our expert, dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist of the EPILAS network of medical centers Aigul Zakhirova. - To help the skin recover, you need proper rest and care. Good sleep, healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. A professional cosmetologist will help to cope with undesirable manifestations on the skin. Its task is not only to renew the skin, but also to start the metabolism. For this purpose, clinics use light non-aggressive peels, for example, with fruit acids, mesotherapy cocktails, enriched with vitamins, and other modern techniques."
In addition to a noticeable deterioration in the quality of the skin and rashes in those who had had covid, specialists in beauty salons and clinics also faced such a problem as profuse hair loss (up to baldness!), "Hair creeps well, just like after childbirth - in bunches!" “I have lost about 55 percent of my hair, and every day they are falling out even more,” former patient Grace Dudley, who noticed the problem about a month after being discharged from the hospital, quoted the English media. She was supported by the founder of the English support group for patients with COVID-19, Louise Barnes, noting that more than a third of the members of the group began to suffer from partial baldness, including herself.
“In case of illness, the body throws all its strength into maintaining its vital functions, and the resources necessary for hair growth are sharply limited,” the deputy explained this strange phenomenon. Natalya Pshenichnaya, director for clinical and analytical work, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Rospotrebnadzor.
However, over time, the hair can recover on its own. “The hair began to fall out very much a month and a half after the onset of the disease, it was scary that everything would remain so, but no - they are recovering. And this funny bang, which now eternally stands on end and does not lend itself to any means of styling - this is a completely new growth! " - Vera R. shares her joy on Facebook. - I didn’t do anything for this purpose, all by itself. Although I heard that, unfortunately, not everyone has it, someone was unlucky and the hair remained sparse "…
The fast-growing Facebook group Atypical Covid recently published the results of a survey of Russian rehabilitation therapists, who named the most effective non-drug ways to recover from Covid-19. Among them, full-fledged sleep was in the first place - both as a prevention of illness, and as a way to fight it, and as a way to restore health. “Scientifically speaking,” explain the authors of the recommendations, “healthy sleep promotes the response of T-helper cells of type 1 (Th1). Th1 cells secrete interferon gamma, which supports the antiviral immune response."
In second place is the recommendation, if possible, to avoid nervous overload and stress, since the chemical composition of stress is inflammatory in nature. “It is worth studying the issue of correct breathing (exhalation is longer than inhalation, abdominal breathing). For example, the breathing system according to Buteyko or Frolov may be useful,”the researchers advise.
The first few months after the illness (doctors say even up to 6 months), while maintaining post-like symptoms, it is necessary to avoid sports activities. Saunas, baths, open sunlight and high temperatures are also risk factors. At the same time, moderate and feasible activity, the simplest recovery exercises at a progressive pace are just needed. But it is also important to dose them, focusing on the body.
Eating and drinking is also critical to recovery. Drinking plenty of fluids during the acute period and in the postcovid is a guarantee of well-being and prevention of thrombosis. Spring or mineral water, herbal, teas, fruit drinks, compotes are not sweet, natural juices - all this must be remembered to drink during the day between meals. And in the diet, it is best to adhere to anti-inflammatory diets, rich in plant fibers, vitamins and minerals, excluding trans fats, individual allergens, etc. - remind the authors of the recommendations.
However, the main and most effective way to prevent covid-19, and, accordingly, to reduce the likelihood of experiencing all the "delights" of postcoid complications was and remains vaccination. What do experts think you need to remember before getting vaccinated against COVID-19?
- In our country, a person should be consulted by a doctor before vaccination. He also determines, after consultation, the indications and contraindications for vaccination, - recalls the family doctor, therapist Alena Ivanovna Glushakova. - Weakened immunity, a weakened body can contribute to a weaker immune response or the attachment of any other viral infection during vaccination against coronavirus infection. If a person feels good, if all his chronic diseases are in remission, then the person will tolerate vaccination more easily, and the immune response will be sufficient.
But what if now in the off-season, before the planned vaccination against COVID-19, there are signs of a cold?
- In patients with ARVI, in my practice, I prescribe inducers of internal endogenous interferon, - says Glushakova. - I will explain what it is connected with. First, of course, this is due to the regulatory documents in the Russian Federation. Inductors are included in the clinical guidelines of the Russian Federation, they are recommended to be prescribed and used by the Ministry of Health of Russia. If we talk about personal experience and the mechanism of action of inductors, then I would like to say that these drugs help in the treatment of patients with viral infections, if the human immunity has not coped with the viral attack on the human body in full. Endogenous internal interferon inducers help keep your internal balance of the immune response at the proper level. That is, during the action of a viral infection on a person, interferons begin to be produced in the human body, which help the body to cope with any viral infection. As a result of any factors - stress, lack of sleep, high intensive work mode - the immune system does not have enough of its own strength in order to cope with its work. And inducers of endogenous interferon help our immunity to keep the response at the proper level. Therefore, in my practice, for example, I use "Kagocel". It is approved in practice in children and adults and has confirmed the safety and efficacy of this drug.