Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 9, 1 September 2023 — Shortening Long-COVID [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Shortening Long-COVID

V MALAMA I KOU KINO K > CARE FOR YOUR BODY " m _ ■ —

ByJodi Leslie Matsuo, DrPH In 2023, about 35% of people in Hawai'i experienced "longCOVID" - lingering long-term health effects following a COVID-19

infection. Common symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, brain fog, headache, joint and chest pain, and loss of taste and smell. Other reported symptoms include dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, heart palpitations, changes in sexual desire, loss or change in sense of thirst, and feeling a relapse of infection symptoms immediately after physical or mental exertion. Symptoms ean range from mild to severe and last from weeks to months. Long-COVID is a term that was created by a patient, who was summarizing her experience after being infected in early 2020. As time went on, numerous doctors recognized this happening in some of their patients, wherein it appeared their bodies were still fighting the virus, even after getting negative test results. People more likely to get long-COVID include those who have had COVID-19 infections more than onee. Researchers believe some people have "viral reservoirs" where their bodies never fully eliminated the virus after their initial infection. Since the viruse continues to survive in the body, symptoms do not resolve. Those with long-COVID may also have more widespread viral reservoirs, as the virus has been found in over 30 different areas throughout the body. Long-COVID is also eommon among those who have chronic health conditions prior to being infected. COVID-19 infections cause injuries to muhiple organs in the body, including those affecting the heart, kidneys, brain, eyes, lungs, skin, and digestive system.

These damages affect the ability for these organs to function properly resulting in people developing new health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, dementia, lung dysfunction, and more. This in itself ean make it challenging for a person to recover, especially those who already had another chronic condition or a weak immune system to begin with. There are certain nutrients that ean help the body overcome long-COVID faster. Probiotics help restore not only gut and digestive heahh, but also lung function. Foods high in probiotics include sour poi, natto, kim ehee, and yogurt. Pineapple and papaya contain natural anti-virals that ean attack those viral reservoirs and restore immune strength. To increase its fighting power, include olena (turmeric) at the same time. Add a pieee of olena to your pineapple or papaya smoothie. Or make olena tea to have with a meal that includes pineapple or papaya. Mamaki tea is also a powerful antioxidant. Among its many benefits, it eontains a ehemieal specifically shown to fight against COVID-19. Fish, avocado, tofu, and nuts provide the amino acids and minerals needed to restore physical and mental strength and ability. Leafy greens, such as Chinese cabbages and spinach, limu, and citrus fruits help improve heart and circulatory function, increasing blood flow and ensuring nutrients get distributed throughout your body. While eaeh of these foods have their specific benefits, all of them work together toward boosting your immune system and putting you on the path to quicker recovery. ■ Born and raised in Kona, Hawai'i, Dr. Jodi Leslie Matsuo is a Native Hawaiian registered dietician and certijied diabetes educator, with training in integrative and functional nutrition. Follow her on Paeehook @DrJodiLeslieMatsuo, lnstagram @drlesliematsuo and on Twitter @DrLeslieMatsuo.