Is it Long COVID or Chronic Fatigue?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Long COVID (LC) are very prevalent and can often be debilitating. They share numerous symptoms which makes it challenging to distinguish one from another.

For Long COVID alone over 200 symptoms have been reported with varying severity from mild and reversible to severe and chronic.

Some shared symptoms between CFS and LC include chronic fatigue, malaise, brain fog, memory impairment, difficulty concentrating, body aches and pain, exercise intolerance or low endurance, etc. Some notable differences include changes to smell and taste, rash, hair loss, persistent cough, and difficult breathing.

Lab testing to distinguish CFS and LC is also not straightforward. There are no specific biomarkers to detect either of these conditions. However, various biomarkers including immune inflammatory, and infectious markers have been proposed.

Additionally, routine lab studies assessing general inflammation, white blood cell count, thyroid function, cortisol production, hormones levels, and many others are often abnormal in both CFS and LC.

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID can be debilitating to its sufferers and negatively affect their loved ones.

Considering both of these conditions are without identifiable biomarkers and validated treatment there is an urgent need to support these patients. Treatments that are are safe, accessible and have been shown to reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and restore functionality should be utilized in patients suffering from these conditions.

Learn more at Valley Integrative Health

Valley Integrative Health in Ashland, Oregon offers comprehensive treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long COVID and other conditions with shared symptoms. Dr. Devin Wilson, ND uses evidence based medicine and cutting edge therapies that have been clinically shown to be effective. He combines scientific data, clinical studies and published protocols along with over 10 years of clinical experience into a therapeutic model to support individuals suffering from a variety of chronic symptoms.