COVID-19 “long carriers” cope with the symptoms of lasting viruses

Millions of Americans struggle persistently symptoms of COVID-19 – months after the disease is diagnosed. It is estimated that between 5 and 10% of patients with COVID are “long carriers” who feel trapped non-stop from catching the virus.

After holding the COVID-19 in December, Camille Hlavka, 38, a dedicated marathon runner, now often breathes to breathe. Her most beloved activities are a fight, including the story with her 2-year-old son Reid.

“This happens a lot when I try to speak for longer sentences,” Hlavka said of shortness of breath.

She said the hardest thing for her is to feel that she is not herself. “I never realized what a gift it was just to be able to talk,” he said.

Dr. Diana Kirke, an ear, nose, and throat doctor at Mount Sinai Hospital, found that vocal cord weakness impaired Hlavka’s speech and breathing, a likely nerve injury to COVID-19. .

“What you can see right away is that the right side is weaker than the left side,” Kirke said.

It is a startling addition to what is known as long-term syndrome. Other symptoms include fatigue, headache, brain fog, depression, and anxiety. National Institutes of Health is spending $ 1.15 billion to study the problem.

“Many of the patients don’t understand why they have breathing problems when lung function tests are normal,” Kirke said.

Hlavka is receiving therapy to relearn the most natural thing in the world: breathing.