Why is it that when infected with F0, the body is "healthy" but after recovering, the body becomes weak?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most patients recover completely after contracting Covid-19, but 10-20% are affected long-term, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, known as post-Covid-19.

Post-Covid-19 is a pathological condition that appears in F0s who have recovered from the disease, usually appearing within 3 months after the onset with symptoms that affect the body and last for at least 2 months.

Post-Covid-19 symptoms are mainly related to the respiratory system (cough, hoarseness, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain), or the whole body (fatigue, decreased energy, brain fog, difficulty concentrating), or psychological symptoms (anxiety, tension, stress, insomnia)...

Why does the post-Covid-19 situation happen?

According to doctors, the symptoms after recovering from Covid-19 may be the result of systemic inflammation caused by Covid-19 after testing negative, combined with post-Covid-19 autonomic nervous system disorder. At first, the inflammation did not spread throughout the body but was still localized in some organs of the body. Later, the inflammation, although mild, spread throughout the body, combined with blood clotting disorders in small blood vessels, causing the body to have the above symptoms, even though the patient tested negative.

In addition, in the acute phase when attacked by a virus, the immune system must work hard to fight the virus, leading to the body being exhausted of energy.

Generalized inflammation causes the body's metabolism to decline. Coagulation disorders in large blood vessels and hypercoagulability can also cause risks such as stroke, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, limb embolism, etc. In small blood vessels, hypercoagulability reduces the supply of blood and oxygen to organs and tissues.

Two problems of systemic inflammation and blood clotting disorders affect nerve cells, causing autonomic nervous system disorders and cerebral anemia. At this time, the ability to regulate blood sugar and electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium, etc.) decreases, causing muscle contractility and nerve conduction to decrease, so the patient feels weak in the limbs, reduced strength, and no longer energetic.

What do F0 need to supplement after recovering from the disease?

The complications of Covid-19 and the post-Covid-19 situation are very serious. Therefore, people should absolutely not be subjective, should not have the mentality of getting sick to finish or being subjective after recovering from the disease.

F0 patients after recovering from the disease need to have a suitable diet, exercise and rest regimen to quickly recover their health.

- Regarding nutrition: Build a diverse menu, with enough of the four groups of starch - sugar - protein - fat; supplement vitamins C, D for the body; should divide meals into small portions, should not eat too much in one meal; should eat soft, liquid foods; prioritize steaming, boiling, and cooking; limit frying, grilling, and grilling with a lot of oil that causes bloating, indigestion, loss of appetite...

- Regarding exercise regimen: Breathing exercises and muscle-building exercises are very good for patients after recovering from Covid-19.

- Be aware of the possibility of reinfection by always following the 5K rule.

Faculty of Nursing, Dai Nam University