Long COVID: New research, common symptoms, long-term effects and treatments with Akiko Iwasaki, PhD

Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, returns to AMA Update to share the latest science behind long COVID, including how many people are still suffering, most common symptoms and what we know about treatments like Paxlovid. She also shares guidance for physicians on diagnosing long COVID, treating post-COVID patients and new research to watch. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

00:00 AMA Update for May 22, 2023
00:58 How many people have long COVID?
01:47 Long COVID symptoms
02:28 Can Paxlovid treat or prevent long COVID?
03:32 What causes long COVID?
03:54 Four possible causes of long COVID (autoimmunity, reactivation of Epstein-Barr or herpes virus)
05:15 How to diagnose long COVID (acute COVID symptoms, post-acute COVID-19)
06:25 Guidance for physicians on long COVID (treatments, therapeutics)
08:17 Specialty centers for long COVID patients
08:58 New research on long COVID
10:41 What is the Yale LISTEN Study
12:02 Long COVID clinical trials
13:50 What's needed to best treat long COVID patients?

[Deborah-dgni]

Only long covid sufferers understand and believe how serious this is.

[diannespalding]

My previously incredibly healthy 50 year old daughter has been suffering from long Covid for over a year. She is now on disability. The fatigue is bone crushing. It breaks my heart to watch this formerly physically active person go so far down. It has been life changing. As a respiratory therapist, she has a good handle on what she needs to do and can discuss with her doctors. She’s luckier than most.

[sdkfrhg]

Fifty years ago at the age of 14 I had a bad virus...it was not identified. I have really battled since then with severe fatigue and brain fog. So many weird symptoms. Doctors never believed that there was anything wrong so I am delighted with the recognition and research that is finally happening. A very simple life with rest when needed has been my main help.

[Hdshalom]

I’ve had long covid 2x, this second time I’m on month 12. I have chronic fatigue, really bad anxiety and panic attacks, migraines. I cannot work as a dental hygienist anymore and now just got hyperacusis. I need more advanced medical help. I’m thankful for doctors like this.

[skogen]

Many people in my state think both COVID and Long COVID are a big joke. They discount what is happening to us and essentially say it is all in our head. That certainly doesn’t make it easy on this of us who have it. Too few doctors understand it here either. I am over 2 years into this with no sign of it letting up.

[Jolie.jglucky]

My heart goes out to ALL LONG COVID SUFFERERS ❤❤❤

[marcbrown]

3 years of this i just want to feel whole again😢

[andreameason]

Finally a intelligent, calm talk about long Covid. I’ve been treating myself by listening to my body, keeping inflammation down and letting my body find its way slowly back to health or its new normal of health . Keep up your excellent work / research . Good to hear that you listen to your patients and get into the gray areas of the multi symptoms that is long Covid and not just the text book black and white.

[katiedid]

Glad the medical community is finally looking into LC. So many of us are struggling with little support from physicians. After 2 yrs my LC symptoms finally seemed to disappear ( initial GI symptoms/ fever/ fatigue) but then I was exposed to the latest strain in 2022 ( sinus infection, conjunctivitis, fatigue, short period of low grade temp— cultured Covid) which triggered LC symptoms plus intermittent upper respiratory( Inflamation) symptoms. Mostly treating symptoms myself as MDs don’t seem to know how to help or are unwilling to treat. Thanks to the politics. Good information, thank you.

[BrianJones-wkcx]

Thank you for posting this interview, and thanks to Dr. Iwasaki and the team at Yale for all their work on this. Of all the interviews I’ve heard on the topic, this is one of the rare interviews that references the holistic impact of this disease—the financial and social implications for sufferers—thank you for helping to inform the community while finding ways to treat this condition! I’ve been disabled now for three years with the condition (infected on the early end of the pandemic), and have lost my ability to work, my ability to play, and all of what defined me as a person prior to illness. I am lucky to remain grateful and perseverant, and to have family that assists me in the season of life when I should be the one assisting them. The burden is not one to be taken lightly. Much love and strength to all those survivors still hanging tough!

[Turtledove]

Thank you to Dr. Iwasaki for her work and this channel for keeping everyone aware that this second pandemic exists and continues.

[ark]

Can't appreciate this woman enough! TY AMA for this video update. I wish there were support groups, and we definitely need help financially. I made $2, 000 this year so far.

[James-kesx]

The biggest problem is we are constantly adding more people to the list of long covid suffers and when we get to a certain percentage it will cause havoc in the workforce throughout the world. The chance of going from birth to old age without getting long covid seems virtually impossible from now on

[yomamabaker]

Thank you Dr. Iwasaki for all of this information and for all your work. A nonprofit for Long Covid needs to be started!

[lindakelley]

I thought I had long covid, my symptoms lasted almost 11 months, but seem to be getting better doctors cant say what the normal time is so I hope for those suffering they get relief. Its not easy feeling like a worthless lump of flesh, sick all the time. Ive already got fibro and M/E so the bar was low to begin with, any additional pain and suffering is unbearable. Its a fatigue you cant power through and impossible to have quality of life. Our medical system is useless with chronic pain and fatigue and doesnt seem to care, and we are too tired to fight the system. A torturous existance .

[rtrouthouse]

Why aren't doctors talking about the severe joint and muscle pain!!

[danielgormley]

Wow, it's excellent to see that there is some good research going into LC. Hopefully it helps us sufferers get closer to a treatment soon

[thetruth]

i appreciate how she explained there is investigation on 4 root causes ... this was one of the highlights of the talk

[fanatla]

Dr. Iwasaki is one of the best things that happened in this pandemic: a real doctor full of wisdom.

[caroa]

Excellent thank you so much I'm really grateful for this. I'm living with long covid and a heart condition after catching covid. This was a thoroughly professional interview and so many people will appreciate this compassionate approach Dr Iwasaki.