How to cope with the cognitive effects of COVID-19? | COVID-19 Special

Covid-19 is complex. It can affect the nervous system, leading to language disorders, strokes and seizures. Scientists are still trying to understand why. 75% of people hospitalised with the virus continue to suffer from secondary symptoms at least six months after they recover.
Many find it hard to function in their daily lives. Researchers hope understanding Covid's impact on the brain could pave a way for treatment.

Follow DW on social media:
#Longcovid #COVID19 #Symptoms

[dwnews]

As always, we'd love to include your questions in our upcoming shows! What would you like to know about the coronavirus pandemic? #askDerrick

[piousl]

I'm a chap under 40 w no underlying conditions who caught it, and lemme tell you, the long covid is no joke: brain fog, shortness of breath, vertigo, weakness, fatigue, and even speech issues for at least 2-3 months. Stay safe!

[asicshot]

We may never know how many people are being affected by this. People who are not hospitalized and/or misdiagnosed etc.

[jacqi]

The confusion was my first symptom. And lowered word finding skills persist even now, 9 months later.

[dipenpandya]

My mother was infected last year in November. When recovered quickly but later problem were very difficult. She could not sleep, felt week and mentally unstable. This requires much patience. It took 5-6 month to recover from these symptoms. Physical activity helps a lot.

[davidhall]

Even a mild case of Covid-19 can lead to brain fog.

[kaileenunn]

Covid destroyed me cognitively. I already had focus issues but I caught it back in november and still can not function as I did with my already struggling issue with focus. I now am seeking therapy help to help fix this as for once I cognitively can't function in work as I did before. Please be as safe as you can.

[chrisganesha]

After all of these years, we must know through the research exactly what kinds of cognitive impairment arise from depression and anxiety. They are *not* like the cognitive impairment that arises in post viral fatigue syndromes or post COVID. Word finding difficulties, memory difficulties, and planning difficulties of people who are motivated to conduct these functions, but cannot, just doesn’t compare.

[silvialogan]

Even if people survive COVID-19, they still get long coronavirus symptoms which almost never go away. It is quite traumatic for them.

[naochasj]

My nervous system was not functioning well at the time of infection...i had a long problem with my back but the pain was gone....the fatigue level was so high i couldn't even carry a bag a walk for a kilometre or so...

[RDRF_SB]

I do physical and occupational therapy with post covid patients. The effects on the lungs are one thing, but to see with a resting heart rate of 95bpm go to 140bpm after a few steps is scary. I've witnessed one heart attack after a patient climbed 3 steps.
The cognitive impairments I've seen tend to be memory related, both short and long term, patients describe it as being "foggy" in their head.

[ginays]

Im a 32 year old woman, was extremely healthy, after covid I have been experiencing vertigo!! Insomnia!!! Diziness!! Confusion, headaches, feel lost and weird, i have felt my bed shaken, my phone moving, can not even describe it I just know my brain has been messed

[prudiceflc]

2 months after lightish disease i still need like sleep in middle of day m forgoting etc..

[chantalwalcott]

I've just recovered from the virus a month ago. In the beginning, tiredness and wow lots of stress cramps on y chest. So glad seeing this clips.

[quickdraw]

It was a battle for me Feb of 2020 . Just now over a year later am I finally feeling like I have a life to live again. Now my lungs are bad but nothing as before copd etc.

[IKEMENOsakaman]

Wow scary that it can affect the nervous system...

[gigistoner]

I wonder if even the asymptomatic people can get brain fog and fail to remember words. I find days where I can't remember the most simple of words. I'm in my early 40s with an education and for example can stare at a fork and not tell you what it is at times.

[eelkeaptroot]

I've heard from some case reports that an SSRI called fluvoxamine had some benefits for people with post covid brain fog, but I've seen the list of potential side effects I personally wouldn't use that stuff if they paid me, so I wouldn't recommend it. I think a 3 day water fast might be a safer option and heals more than just the mind.

[miahopkins]

*I think this pandemic has taught people. the importance of multiple streams of income, unfortunately having a good job doesn't mean security rather having different investment is the real deal*

[philipsbarahona]

Link for the study please. This information is very interesting.