Nadja Atwal (Journalist, PR-Expert, TV Host, Serial Entrepreneur)
Nadja Atwal
Globally, 65 million people suffer from the long-term effects of COVID-19, also known as Long COVID. These are just the official figures; the actual number is likely higher. Sufferers experience a range of debilitating symptoms including shortness of breath, persistent coughing, muscle weakness or pain, concentration, sleep disturbances, and mental health problems such as depressive symptoms and anxiety. These conditions can severely impact one’s life.
Scientists discovered that Long COVID causes brain damage. “This is such an important study. I like longitudinal studies – this UK one demonstrates convincingly that #COVID19 causes brain damage,” states Dr. Gabriel Scally, Former President of the Section of Epidemiology & Public Health, Royal Society of Medicine, London, UK, on Twitter.
Economic Impact for Businesses
A worldwide study on Long COVID also reveals that numerous people remain unable to fully resume work six months afterward. That does not only affect employees. Executives and entrepreneurs face the challenges of Long COVID too. High stress and big responsibilities don’t shield them from symptoms like tiredness, thinking problems, and breathing difficulties.
In the UK around 3 million people of working age have had, or still have, Long COVID since the start of the pandemic. Over 80,000 people have left employment due to Long COVID. Also notable are effects like the reduced working hours which are further exacerbating financial strain, especially for vulnerable populations. Add to that reduced productivity and increased healthcare costs placing additional strain on individuals, employers, and healthcare systems.
The Hunt for Solutions
Understanding the long-term impacts of Long COVID is crucial for developing effective strategies to support affected individuals and mitigate its broader societal and economic consequences. This may involve implementing workplace accommodations, providing access to certain healthcare / rehabilitation services, and addressing systemic inequalities that exacerbate the vulnerabilities of marginalized populations.
Additionally, investing in research to better understand the mechanisms and implications of Long COVID is essential for informing public health interventions and policy decisions.
Today the aftermath of the Covidpandemic continues to challenge healthcare systems worldwide. The good news is, help in one the way, albeit too spotty and slow. The US has at least one Long Covid Clinic in each state. However, the waiting lists are long and the majority only treat specific conditions.
The Texas Medical Association’s Council on Legislation called on state legislators to utilize funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act for two critical initiatives: supporting primary care training in long COVID care and funding clinics specializing in these treatments.
The UK is facing similar challenges. The National Center for Biotechnology Information has published a report that states that 1.5 million people reported symptoms of long Covid (as of March 2022) and that the waiting lists to see specialist clinics were long and that “General practitioners—who claim chronic underfunding, understaffing and task-shifting from secondary care—feel unable to cope with a new condition affecting large numbers of patients, especially in the absence of clear guidance and referral pathways.”
The Holistic Perspective and Patient-Centric Approach
Understanding that a disease cannot be isolated from the rest of the body or the individual’s psychological state, lifestyle, habits, work environment, and external surroundings, more and more healthcare facilities are adopting a comprehensive approach to health. This perspective is increasingly recognized as vital, not just in medical circles but also among groups without a medical background, such as those in wellness and sports, who offer medical devices for profit.
A therapy center in Mallorca offers support to individuals from all over the world, dealing with Long COVID and various chronic illnesses. The traditional medical paradigm has primarily focused on pathogenesis, the development of diseases, often leaving the underlying causes unaddressed.
Their team, composed of specialists in conventional medicine who have ventured into the realm of complementary biological therapies, is dedicated to uncovering and treating the underlying causes of chronic conditions. The medical team conducts extensive diagnostics to uncover precisely why some individuals have not recovered from the virus, explains Ruth Biallowons, a specialist in general medicine and naturopathy at Cell4Care.
“To find out exactly what is affecting these people, the cause of why they have not recovered from the virus, we then have the ability to apply individually tailored concepts. This naturally includes the whole topic of nutrition, gut health, nutrients, inflammation, and so forth. Thus, with the individual concept, we can precisely say, okay, this person needs this approach.”
Experts found in a research study that holistic care could significantly impact the mental health, recovery speed, and overall satisfaction of COVID-19 patients. With minimal investment, these methods could be expanded to benefit patients in both public and private healthcare settings.
This fundamental shift from merely managing symptoms to addressing the root cause of ;illnesses represents a ground breaking paradigm in healthcare.
Final Thoughts
Unless we address Long Covid there will be continue to be pressure on medical services in many countries including the UK – and with worldwide aging problems and low birth rates in the developed countries – then a lack of a work force will start to become a problem too. Only if the problem is sufficiently highlighted, will we get to grips with this problem…