How to relieve COVID-19 fatigue symptoms?
(Baonghean.vn) - Fatigue has been one of the five most common COVID-19 symptoms since the start of the pandemic, even as other symptoms such as fever and loss of taste and smell have become less prominent with the rise of delta and omicron variants.
What causes fatigue symptoms?
Fatigue is linked to many illnesses, says R. Scott McClelland, professor of medicine, epidemiology, global health and clinical associate in infectious diseases at the University of Medicine in Seattle. What's particularly concerning isCovid-19causes significant fatigue in a large proportion of the population, it may be a combination of several factors.
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| Photo illustration By Juanma Hache / Getty. |
One of those factors is the body's immune response, says Tania Mucci-Elliott, an infectious disease specialist and instructor of medicine at NYU Langone Health Medical Center in New York City: “With COVID, the immune system goes into overdrive, releasing chemicals called cytokines that cause inflammation, fever, and tissue death.
After this type of stress response, your body needs to go into rest and recovery mode, which causes fatigue. It's similar to what happens after you overexert yourself with exercise or running a marathon.
How to beat COVID-19 fatigue from an expert
To help you recover from COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following: Take over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce fever and muscle aches; drink plenty of fluids or get intravenous fluids to stay hydrated; get plenty of rest.
Additionally, there are three principles you should practice to control fatigue:
Speed:Give yourself a pat on the back and don't push yourself to the point of exhaustion. Build balance into your activities, even if it's something as small as walking up the stairs.
Plan:Plan your activities for the day and week. If you find that your energy or ability to concentrate dips at certain times, strategize accordingly.
Prioritize: Figure out which items on your to-do list are essential and which ones can be done wrong. When you get tired, cross off unnecessary items or ask someone for help.
