Research shows Long COVID flare-ups can happen after non-COVID infections. (written 07/21/2024)

A few weeks ago, we found the article below. It notes that people who have had Long COVID have experienced a flare-up in their symptoms after a subsequent infection with other viruses, like a cold or flu. This points to the underlying impacts of Long COVID on the body and immune system, and the need to focus effort on improving resilience and functioning of these systems in your body. Even when you are starting to feel better day-to-day, a future strain on your immune system from a virus or other factors, like food poisoning or pregnancy, can cause a “relapse” if your system is not functioning well enough to manage the additional strain. 

Cold, Flu Viruses Can Trigger Long COVID Relapses

This can feel like devastating news for people who are struggling to feel better and functional. The implications that the sometimes slow and hard won progress they have made may be impacted by non-COVID stressors in the world can be hard to face.    

It is mentioned that these flare-ups occur more commonly in patients with long COVID with autonomic dysfunction — severe dizziness when standing up — and other symptoms of ME/CFS. 

While this is important to be aware of, our question is always: So what does this mean, and what can people do to solve it? For us, the experiences reported mean that it is even more important for people impacted by Long COVID to have tools and strategies that support symptom management, and improved system functioning, over their lifetime. 

But does that condemn people to lengthy rehab or medication regimens? The good news is that simple exercises like our three free tools have helped our clients (and Katie) to see sustained improvement. They have allowed them to build a strong foundation for resilience. By taking a few minutes each day, these tools help align your nervous system, reduce inflammation, support the immune system function, reduce Long COVID symptoms, and keep you feeling better and better as you move through your recovery journey. Importantly, this supports a stronger immune system and more flexibility in the body. This helps you avoid major setbacks caused by a mild trigger that would not normally be difficult for your body to manage, like a cold. 

This means you can use the same tools to support recovery and, at the same time, build resilience and prevent future flare-ups. They go hand in hand. The trick is finding the right tools that allow you to make progress with your symptoms and support your body to be able to manage future stresses and strains. 

Our program is grounded in evidence and structured to support symptom management in the near term and build longer term resilience. We share tools that cover a whole-body approach through our 5 Pillars PEDAL™ approach, mentioned in our newsletter and blog post from last week. We also feel it is important to share information and research to help educate clients about how Long COVID and post-infection conditions impact their bodies, management options, and why those tools are impactful. Understanding the tools makes them even more powerful, and understanding what happens in the body when experiencing Long COVID has power in itself, giving people the ability to understand symptom triggers and what helps the body work better. This empowers people to make informed choices throughout their day that help them feel better. It puts the power back in their hands. 

Regardless of the trusted support you turn to, it is important to rely on evidence-based solutions to pace yourself, eat well, exercise carefully (embracing pacing), support brain-body function and those of your nervous and immune systems, do gentle movements, and open connective tissue. 

Warmly, 
Katie & Andrea

PS. Once you experience Long COVID, it is vital to stay on top of symptom management and continue to use tools you used to feel better and build continued resilience. This can be simple, energy giving, and fit easily into your day. The important thing is to find the right, effective tool kit to support your recovery. The good news is that evidence-based support is at hand that can help you in the near term, and your future-self will thank you for it!