Long Covid Tips

As we age and are bombarded with solar radiation, chemicals in our environment and natural biological processes, our bodies are exposed to free radicals.  Free radicals are unstable atoms or molecules that have an unpaired valence electron.  This imbalance makes them very reactive, and they tend to steal electrons from cells in our bodies which can damage cells and cause inflammation.  While free radicals have some uses, if your body has too many of them that electron stealing process subjects your body to oxidative stress which has degenerative effects such as accelerated aging.  Studies associate excess free radicals with aging, diminished health and with diseases of the central nervous system, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer and more. Recent studies suggest long-COVID is partly caused by oxidative stress and a shortage of antioxidants in the body . My long COVID recovery team suggested that I have a diet very high in antioxida...

I recently shared an introductory article on the benefits of sound and music therapy for Long Covid.  It occurs to me that it would be helpful to share some specific examples of methods and music and tips for how to enjoy it. Spotify Playlists for Relaxation and Sleep Here are some Spotify playlists featuring hours of Singing Bowls and Binaural Beats.  If you are not a subscriber, Spotify offers free ad-supported accounts.  If you choose not to sign up for an account, the links below will still allow you to see the names of songs and performers so you can search for them elsewhere.   Tibetan Singing Bowls for Sleep https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4lTadCehORo1j4XtjO6nki  Tibetan Bowls https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX3JNwc30ddaO   Binaural Beats: Sleep https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX8h3zQNo57xG Binaural Beats: Deeper Sleep https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWYILo9WhOOw6 YouTube Videos for Relaxation and Sleep While videos...

Acetyl-L-Carnitine Acetyl-L-Carnitine is an amino acid produced within your brain, liver and kidneys to help in the conversion of fat into energy.   It is necessary for many of your bodies processes, and is believed to improve mood, memory and learning.  It is used to help with a variety of issues, such as boosting mental function, fighting Alzheimer’s symptoms, decreasing depression, reducing nerve pain, and more. I first came across this for possible help with neurological issues related to low energy, low mood, and memory difficulties.  I mistakenly tried L-Carnitine (without the Acetyl) for my symptoms, but it did not seem to help as much as hoped and I was informed by my long COVID neurology team that Acetyl-L-Carnitine was the preferred formulation.  Since then, I have been taking it daily as part of my morning regimen with good results.  After trying it for about 6 weeks, I stopped it for a couple of days and noticed an immediate decline. While on it...

Music and Sound Therapy Has Real Benefits For thousands of years music and sound have been used in traditional healing and meditation practices across many cultures.  In the past few decades, modern scientific studies are confirming that there are legitimate therapeutic benefits to such practices.  This is a huge boon to patients because: music and sound are drug-free, so there is little concern about negative interactions sound is almost free as content is widely available on the internet benefits require minimal effort, mostly just finding some quiet time to relax and listen it is proven helpful for just about everyone with hearing, possibly even for some without For me, trying it was an obvious choice as I had nothing to lose and any benefits I received, however small, would stack on top of my other methods. Pleasing music and sounds have been shown to: lower cortisol, a stress hormone associated with depression, anxiety, binge eating, nausea and more lower blood flow to th...

After the first article and its terrible list of symptoms, it no doubt sounds a little strange for me to mention a humble vitamin as a big factor in managing my symptoms.  But Vitamin D is neuro-protective, meaning it helps protect the nervous system from damage. It is essential to our bodies for healthy nervous, musculoskeletal, and immune systems and more.  People with common nervous system diseases like Multiple Sclerosis often test as having an insufficiency for Vitamin D, as do many Long COVID, migraine and asthma patients. Some studies have speculated that low levels of Vitamin D during a COVID infection might possibly contribute to the development of Long COVID after the acute infection  is over. Significant shortfalls in Vitamin D Can Cause: Fatigue Bone pain Muscle aches, weakness and cramps Intense “pins and needles” stinging or tingling in hands or feet Muscle spasms (i.e. twitching) Depression Cognitive impairment in older adults Severe asthma in children Incr...