Post-COVID-19 syndrome is an assembly of symptoms, following infection with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The syndrome is characterized by cognitive impairment, fatigue, sleep disorders, smell and taste disorders, pain, and more. This long-term sequela can last for months after recovering from the virus. There are cumulative case series reports on patients with mild to moderate disease, suffering from the long-standing post-COVID-19 syndrome. Taking into consideration, that this pandemic is worldwide and still spreading, there’s an urgent need for effective treatment for those patients who are suffering from the long-standing, life-debilitating, post-COVID-19 syndrome.
Neurologic signs and symptoms are common during hospitalization with COVID-19, with 42% of patients at the onset of the disease and 82% during the course of the disease. Patients report mainly myalgias, headaches, encephalopathy, dizziness, dysgeusia, and anosmia. After recovering from COVID-19, many patients continue to suffer from symptoms. Only 13% of the patients were completely free of symptoms after full resolution of the virus.
The main symptom, reported by more than half the patients included cognitive impairment, fatigue, and sleep disorders. A recent study analyzed data from 84,285 Individuals who recovered from suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and showed reduced cognitive performance. This deficit scales with symptom severity and is evident amongst those without hospital treatment.
Two main biological sequelae of COVID-19 might play a role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. The first is the hypercoagulability state that accompanies acute infection. This is characterized by the increased risk of small and large vessel occlusion and is associated with increased mortality. Neurologic complications might be a result of micro-infarcts in the central peripheral nervous system; The second is an uncontrolled inflammatory response, called cytokines storm. This cytokine release is characterized by an increase in interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and a change in the macrophage population. Thus, COVID-19 can cause neuroinflammation, that might be prolonged and lead to signs of the post-COVID-19 syndrome.
Micro-infarcts and neuroinflammation are important causes of local hypoxia and specifically neurological hypoxia. One of the options to reverse hypoxia, reduce neuroinflammation and induce neuroplasticity is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) includes the inhalation of 100% oxygen at pressures exceeding 1 atmosphere absolute, thus enhancing the amount of oxygen dissolved in the body tissues. During HBOT, the arterial O2 tension typically exceeds 2000 mmHg, and levels of 200-400 mmHg occur in tissues Even though many of the beneficial effects of HBOT can be explained by the improvement of tissue oxygenation, it is now understood that the combined action of hyperoxia and hyperbaric pressure, triggers both oxygen and pressure-sensitive genes, resulting in inducing regenerative processes including stem cells proliferation and mobilization with anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory factors.
Give us a call for more details about our HBOT protocol for post covid, and to book your first treatment. Our state-of-the-art clinic features knowledgeable staff, a relaxing environment, and comfortable hyperbaric chambers. We’d love to answer your questions and look forward to working with you.