Long COVID Affects Women More, but They Shouldn’t Despair

Long COVID Affects Women More, but They Shouldn’t Despair
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Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), can range in severity from mild to severe. In some cases, it may cause prolonged and debilitating symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and brain fog, that can last for months or even longer.

In more severe cases, it can result in organ damage and long-term health problems. However, it is important to note that the majority of people who have been infected with COVID-19 recover without developing long COVID. The WHO defines long COVID as “the continuation or development of new symptoms three months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least two months with no other explanation.” It is important to seek medical attention if you experience persistent symptoms after having COVID-19.

Women are more affected by long COVID, but there is a solution

A recent study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health shows that women who adopt a healthy lifestyle can reduce their risk of long COVID by half, although they can usually be more affected by the condition compared to men, as Fox News reveals. Long COVID is defined by symptoms that persist for three months or longer after infection.

The study considered six factors to determine a woman’s health-related lifestyle: physical activity, body mass index (BMI), nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep patterns. Women who were healthy in most of these areas were about half as likely to suffer from long COVID compared to those who were unhealthy in all six areas. The study also showed that unhealthy lifestyle factors contribute to chronic inflammation, blood clots, and disruptions to the immune system, which have all been associated with long COVID. Despite this finding, people with healthy lifestyles can still develop long COVID, and treatment for long COVID often includes rehabilitation and physical therapy.


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Even since he was a child, Cristian was staring curiously at the stars, wondering about the Universe and our place in it. Today he's seeing his dream come true by writing about the latest news in astronomy. Cristian is also glad to be covering health and other science topics, having significant experience in writing about such fields.

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