Consequences of COVID-19: what to do if it is difficult to work and do not want to live
Miscellaneous / / August 04, 2021
Coronavirus affects the brain. And no one is immune from this.
What is going on
Researchers from the UK analyzed 236 thousand cases of covid and found outMaxime Taquet, PhD, Prof John R Geddes, MD, Prof Masud Husain, FRCP, Sierra Luciano, BA, Prof Paul J Harrison, FRCPsych. 6-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes in 236 379 survivors of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records / The Lancet:
Every third of those who have been ill with COVID-19 in a mild form, are faced with mental or neurological disorders within six months after recovery.
Among those who were hospitalized, the nervous system suffers in almost every second.
How exactly COVID-19 affects the nervous system
The mental and neurological consequences of covid are generally complex. This is how they might look in a specific example.Study: Many COVID-19 'Long-Haulers' Unable To Return To Work After 6 Months / Verywell Health.
The husband contracted COVID-19 in March. In April he was hospitalized. Since June, he cannot drive a car at all, as he often loses sensitivity in his legs. Because of this, he had to work from home until he started brain fog in October.
This is the name for problems with concentration, memory, the ability to process information, which are often recorded in people with chronic COVID-19. . The husband was always a workaholic, and everyone understood that there was a problem that we had never encountered before. However, the company is now sending him on unpaid leave.Linda Bennett
for Verywell Health
Below are the most common and significant symptoms of coronavirus damage to the nervous system.
Increased anxiety
She meetsMaxime Taquet, PhD, Prof John R Geddes, MD, Prof Masud Husain, FRCP, Sierra Luciano, BA, Prof Paul J Harrison, FRCPsych. 6-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes in 236 379 survivors of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records / The Lancet in 17% of those who recovered from COVID-19. That is, almost every fifth.
Even having conquered the disease, a person fears that it will return. Occasional shortness of breath, chest discomfort, pain in the arms or legs are all perceived as symptoms. It constantly seems to a person who has fallen ill that his health and life are hanging by a thread.
Extreme fatigue
Even simple actions become exhausting. Due to constant fatigue, people cannot return to work for several months.Long haulers: Why some people experience long-term coronavirus symptoms / UC Davis Health.
Decreased intelligence
And significant. This is evidenced by the results of a study published in July.Adam Hampshire, William Trender, Samuel R Chamberlain, Amy E. Jolly, Jon E. Grant, Fiona Patrick et al. Cognitive deficits in people who have recovered from COVID-19 / The Lancet, in which scientists tested the cognitive functions of over 80 thousand patients.
Particularly affected are those who have been hospitalized and survived artificial lung ventilation. Their IQ is reduced by an average of 7 points. This is even more than in people who have suffered a stroke and have reported a loss of learning ability.
But the level of intelligence falls even in those who have had covid disease easily or without symptoms at all.
Lingering insomnia
Sleep disorders, according to a study published in The LancetMaxime Taquet, PhD, Prof John R Geddes, MD, Prof Masud Husain, FRCP, Sierra Luciano, BA, Prof Paul J Harrison, FRCPsych. 6-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes in 236 379 survivors of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records / The Lancet, 5% of those who have suffered from COVID-19 are affected.
But this figure could be much higher: for example, Chinese scientists statedFei Xu, Xixin Wang, Yanguo Yang, Kai Zhang, Yudong Shi, Lei Xia, Xiaowen Hu, and Huanzhong Liu. Depression and insomnia in COVID-19 survivors: a cross-sectional survey from Chinese rehabilitation centers in Anhui province / Sleep Medicine that insomnia is present in 26% of those who have recovered, that is, in every fourth.
Mood disorders
Every seventhMaxime Taquet, PhD, Prof John R Geddes, MD, Prof Masud Husain, FRCP, Sierra Luciano, BA, Prof Paul J Harrison, FRCPsych. 6-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes in 236 379 survivors of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records / The Lancet who recovered from illness within six months after recovery, there are periods of melancholy and apathy.
Anxiety, cognitive difficulties, accumulated fatigue sometimes lead to the fact that a person falls into depression and ceases to understand why he needs to live on. It increases the risk of suicide.Sher L. Post-COVID syndrome and suicide risk / QJM: An International Journal of Medicine.
Psychosis
Some people who have had COVID-19 develop a real mental disorder. Such cases are called covid psychosis.Stephen J. Ferrando, M.D., Lidia Klepacz, M.D., Sean Lynch, B.A., Mohammad Tavakkoli, M.D., Rhea Dornbush, Ph. D., Reena Baharani, M.D., Yvette Smolin, M.D., and Abraham Bartell, M.D. COVID-19 Psychosis: A Potential New Neuropsychiatric Condition Triggered by Novel Coronavirus Infection and the Inflammatory Response? / Psychosomatics.
It manifests itselfSmall Number of Covid Patients Develop Severe Psychotic Symptoms / The New York Times as hallucinations, persecution mania, severe depression and other psychotic problems. FixedMaxime Taquet, PhD, Sierra Luciano, BA, Prof John R Geddes, FRCPsych, Prof Paul J Harrison, FRCPsych. Bidirectional associations between COVID-19 and psychiatric disorder: retrospective cohort studies of 62,354 COVID-19 cases in the USA / The Lancet and cases of dementia.
When disorders in the functioning of the nervous system appear
This is individual. Many people are lucky: they only experience a brief period of weakness during illness, and then feel healthy again.
But for some, symptoms last for weeks or even months. So, a major studyHannah E. Davis, Gina S. Assaf, Lisa McCorkell, Hannah Wei, Ryan J. Low, Yochai Re'em, et al. Characterizing long COVID in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impact / The Lancet long-term effects of COVID-19 shows that people with chronic COVID-19 (the so-called postcoid syndrome) often cannot return to work at full strength even six months after starting diseases.
It also happens otherwise. A person recovers from COVID-19, starts working again and leads a normal life, but after a while they are still catching upLong covid: How to define it and how to manage it / The BMJ the consequences of coronavirus infection.
Where do mental disorders come from?
There is a single and generally accepted answer: the neurotropen virusStephen J. Ferrando, M.D., Lidia Klepacz, M.D., Sean Lynch, B.A., Mohammad Tavakkoli, M.D., Rhea Dornbush, Ph. D., Reena Baharani, M.D., Yvette Smolin, M.D., and Abraham Bartell, M.D. COVID-19 Psychosis: A Potential New Neuropsychiatric Condition Triggered by Novel Coronavirus Infection and the Inflammatory Response? / Psychosomatics.. It also affects the cells of the nervous system - both peripheral (hence, for example, cases of loss of sensitivity in the limbs) and central.
Scientists have not yet figured out exactly what mechanisms lead to the development of neurological disorders after infection with coronavirus. But they admitMaxime Taquet, PhD, Prof John R Geddes, MD, Prof Masud Husain, FRCP, Sierra Luciano, BA, Prof Paul J Harrison, FRCPsych. 6-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes in 236 379 survivors of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records / The Lancetthat this topic requires urgent research.
Does the nervous system recover after covid
In general, yes. Many people who have experienced neurological and mental impairment after suffering from COVID-19 regain their strength and ability to work and study.
However, with regard to recovery intelligenceScientists have no idea how quickly cognitive abilities can return to normal. The authors of the work on the postcoid decrease in IQ shrug their shoulders and insistTwitter on the need for additional research.
There is one more perplexing nuance. The link between COVID-19 and mental health problems is two-wayMaxime Taquet, PhD, Sierra Luciano, BA, Prof John R Geddes, FRCPsych, Prof Paul J Harrison, FRCPsych. Bidirectional associations between COVID-19 and psychiatric disorder: retrospective cohort studies of 62,354 COVID-19 cases in the USA / The Lancet. Here's one simple example.
People with schizophrenia get infected with COVID-19 almost 10 times more oftenOne Year In: COVID-19 and Mental Health / The National Institute of Mental Healththan those without mental illness.
That is, mental problems lead to an increased risk of contracting coronavirus. And that, in turn, aggravates mental problems. It looks like a vicious circle.
How all this will turn out in the near future, scientists do not yet know. But already sureOne Year In: COVID-19 and Mental Health / The National Institute of Mental Healththat massive mental health problems will continue even after the pandemic is over.
What to do about it
Science does not yet know how to treat postcoid anxiety, depression and decreased intelligence. Scientists have not yet figured out exactly which mechanisms lead to the development of such disorders. So today, doctors only offer symptomatic treatment. It hurts - pain relievers are prescribed. No strength to cope with anxiety - psychotherapy is recommended.
Therefore, for those who are faced with the consequences of COVID-19, only a few tips can be given.
Realize that what happens to you is expected.
If everything falls out of hand, there is not enough strength to work, apathy overcame - the problem is not in you. This is how the residual manifestations of the disease look.
Unfortunately, you cannot insure yourself against them. One can only know about such a probable effect and try to survive it. With the help of relatives and, if possible, a psychotherapist.
Give yourself time to recover
Recovery is needed after any viral infection - even a common cold. After COVID-19, getting back to your daily routine can be more difficult. Don't blame yourself.
Try to negotiate a schedule that is comfortable for you with your employer. Sleep at least 8 hours a day, eat well, walk more and breathe fresh air. It will gradually become easier for you.
See a therapist
If you understand that you cannot cope with anxiety, apathy, depression, cognitive difficulties on your own, be sure to see your doctor. The therapist will advise on how to alleviate the condition, prescribe the necessary medications. Or refer you to a specialist, such as a neurologist or psychotherapist.
Do everything to avoid getting COVID-19 again
Re-infection can cause an even more devastating blow to the nervous system. Try to protect yourself: avoid crowded poorly ventilated rooms, wash your hands more often, keep your distance when dealing with other people in person.
And get vaccinated. This is the most effective way to protect against COVID-19 and its consequences today.
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