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

Millions of Americans are fighting persistently symptoms of COVID-19 – a few months after being diagnosed with the disease. It is estimated that 5 to 10% of COVID patients are “long distance carriers” who feel endlessly caught in the flu.

After enduring COVID-19 in December, 38-year-old Camille Hlavka, a dedicated marathon runner, often breathes today. Her most cherished activities are a struggle, including the story of her 2-year-old son, Reid.

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

The hardest thing for her, she said, is to feel that she is not herself. “I never realized what it was but I could just talk,” she said.

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

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

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

“Many of the patients do not understand why they have these breathing problems when their lung function tests are normal,” Kirke said.

Hlavka receives therapy to learn again the most natural thing in the world – breathing.