The peculiarity of this virus is that, even if you have had a mild form of it, you can still feel its destructive consequences for a long time. Experts will tell you which organs and systems the virus affects and how to recover from the disease.
Vitaly Fomenko
, rehabilitation doctor, cardiologist, head of the inpatient department of the EMC rehabilitation center
Kirill Masliev
, rehabilitation doctor, traumatologist-orthopedist, head of preventive medicine at the EMC rehabilitation center
Rehabilitation is the most important stage on the path to recovery, especially after serious illnesses. The recovery from the new coronavirus infection turned out to be very relevant in this regard. We visited the Rehabilitation Center in Zhukovka near Moscow to talk with rehabilitation specialists and find out what methods are effective after severe, moderate and mild illness and what equipment is used. This center was intended as a rehabilitation center after strokes, injuries and orthopedic surgeries, but today people are turning here for help after COVID-19.
Work plan
“We accept patients after treatment for severe Covid in the hospital, with a large volume of lung damage, who still need oxygen support after discharge,” says Vitaly Fomenko. — The team of doctors prescribes drug therapy (if necessary), the level of oxygen support and selects a rehabilitation program aimed at restoring motor functions if they are impaired, preventing fibrosis after pneumonia, as well as restoring the nervous system, since this virus also affects the nervous system. textile.
Often, after Covid, people experience certain problems with memory, thinking, and remembering information; often such problems require the involvement of a psychiatrist. In general, having specialists such as a psychologist and a psychiatrist in the rehabilitation team is a big plus. A patient who has suffered any serious illness and has functional impairments (that is, he used to be like everyone else, but now has limitations) undoubtedly receives serious psychological trauma at the same time. With the right approach, he gains confidence, and this is extremely important.”
Disruptions after COVID-19
“One of the most common symptoms that persist for several months after a mild to moderate form of Covid is memory impairment and a feeling of weakness,” says Kirill Masliev. “In addition, many patients complain of distortion of the sense of smell and taste, hair loss, problems with potency and libido, and disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.
The peculiarity of the new virus is that it “hits the weak point,” that is, it intensifies those basic disorders or chronic diseases that a person already has. For example, memory problems can be caused by dysfunction of neurotransmitters, the thyroid gland, hormonal and other problems that the virus aggravates. Therefore, rehabilitation is always individual.
Also, for example, there is a non-standard symptom of COVID-19, when the disease manifests itself as poisoning or rotavirus infection. After recovery, similar disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract may occur for a long time. Of course, we must take into account that it is not only the coronavirus itself that causes damage to the body, but also aggressive treatment (we know that in the first protocols they used powerful drugs that carry risks of negative consequences). But such symptoms may also be associated with existing problems: with the intestinal microbiota, with nervous modulation of the gastrointestinal tract.
The virus is able to penetrate through special receptors that are located in many systems, including the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, such issues cannot be resolved in five minutes; they require an integrated approach. First you need to carry out a diagnosis, establish what is the cause of certain complaints, then build an individual rehabilitation scheme. It includes sessions with various specialists and necessarily involves a psychotherapist. There are many methods: oxygen therapy, hyperboric oxygenation, physical exercise and even nutraceutical therapy, since, according to observations, in 30-40% of cases after suffering from covid, a change in the microelement composition occurs, including a sharp decrease in B vitamins. It is these vitamins that have an effect on cognitive function and muscle strength.”
Foods Rich in Copper
Macro- and microelements in full are contained in seafood. Seafood also contains large amounts of copper.
Squid, fish, shrimp, mussels and edible algae, when regularly present in the diet, can provide the body with a sufficient supply of this element.
Copper is also present in plants and “regular” animal foods. It accumulates in plant products mainly because copper microfertilizers are used to improve the yield of many crops.
Therefore, the mineral is present in vegetables, fruits, and cereals. They contain copper along with molybdenum, and this increases their value as sources of microelements, because these two minerals “work in pairs” in the body.
Some plants “purposefully” accumulate copper. Thus, ginseng, known for its numerous beneficial effects, is distinguished by its high content.
Raw egg yolks also contain high dosages of copper, but due to their specific taste and the risk of salmonella infection, raw eggs should not be eaten.
Liver, fermented milk products, and meat are rich in copper from animal sources.
Attention to everything
If you have health problems after suffering from a coronavirus infection, you should not attribute everything to complications from this disease. It is necessary to undergo an extended medical examination, diagnosis and treat the problem without letting it take its course. Any condition that bothers you requires internal diagnosis and therapy. Therefore, the main task of rehabilitation is to ensure that the patient fully recovers.
It is also worth noting that now people have begun to undergo more examinations and pay attention to their health. The pandemic has led us to the understanding that the more carefully we monitor and maintain our health, the stronger the body will be and the easier it will be for it to cope with dangerous conditions. In a word, if existing diseases are compensated in time and they are not in the acute stage, a person has a chance.
Research before rehabilitation
“To rehabilitate safely, a cardiopulmonary stress test should be performed,” says Vitaly Fomenko. “It allows you to assess the reserve of the cardiovascular system, whether there is ischemia, risks of arrhythmia, and so on. Based on the data from this test, we can understand what safe load we can give the patient for rehabilitation, how much oxygen he consumes as part of the workout, and how detrained the patient is. After rehabilitation, we can evaluate the result and give recommendations for subsequent training: with what frequency, intervals and maximum load he can train.
This testing is important not for severe patients, but for moderate and mild ones. There are many cases when, having recovered from a mild illness, people return to their usual “pre-Covid” fitness training, but it turns out that this load is no longer suitable for them. It only seems to them that they will quickly return to their original state. Therefore, you first need to check the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and evaluate their performance. Only after such an assessment and consultation can you continue to engage in aerobic exercise, both in the pool and on cardio equipment. This is the essence of cardiorespiratory rehabilitation.”
Signs of copper deficiency
Humans are much less sensitive to copper deficiency than plants or farm animals. However, a situation with an element deficiency may arise. In rare cases, people experience symptoms of copper deficiency: premature graying, hair loss, anemia, liver problems, digestive disorders, fatigue, decreased mood, skin rashes, etc. It usually takes a long time to identify their cause, because copper deficiency is rare, and its symptoms are similar to other diseases.
There is evidence that with a long-term lack of copper in the body, the walls of blood vessels become less durable, which can lead to hemorrhages and even the formation of aneurysms - protrusions of the walls of blood vessels that can become damaged and rupture. Copper deficiency also accelerates the aging process in the body.
Main consequences after COVID-19
- shortness of breath, tachycardia
- weakness, fatigue
- decreased or distorted taste and smell
- decreased cognitive function (deterioration of memory, ability to concentrate)
- gastrointestinal disorders
- depressive state
Equipment and devices for rehabilitation
Various equipment is used to rehabilitate patients. For example, for those who experience problems with motor function after a severe illness, classes are conducted on the Vector Bioness system to restore gait and daily activity, on the Nirvana interactive virtual reality system, and on the ReoAmbulator robotic rehabilitation complex. The patient can virtually walk on the coast or in the forest, performing simple but important actions. With the help of the monitor, biological feedback is built - for example, you need to hit the footprint, training a confident step. There are also various strength, isokinetic, proprioceptive, cardio equipment: exercise bikes, stair simulators, and so on.
“Many of these rehabilitation systems allow weakened patients to cope with the fear or risk of falling,” continues Vitaly Fomenko. — Simulators unload weight, create certain obstacles, real and virtual, in order to connect more muscles to work and activate cognitive functions. Many systems provide rehabilitation through play and this is very important. Play is motivation. It is difficult to force a person, especially after a serious illness, to perform the necessary exercises, but in a playful form this can be done with greater motivation.
Today there are many effective simulators and equipment, but the device is always an assistant. Successful rehabilitation is still the coordinated work of a team of highly qualified specialists.
Often, after suffering from COVID-19, the volume of lung tissue decreases and the person is in a state of chronic hypoxia. To adapt the patient to this condition and breathing training, the ReOxy hypoxic therapy device is used. In interval mode, it supplies either an enriched oxygen mixture or a lean one. At the same time, it analyzes exactly how much oxygen is needed in each specific case for successful adaptation.
Also, for the purpose of rehabilitation after Covid, as well as for pain syndromes, a relatively new technique is interesting - xenon therapy. It relieves pain well, relaxes, and cures chronic depression faster in complex therapy. Xenon is a gas that is essentially an anesthetic. It was discovered a long time ago, like nitrous oxide, but it is much more difficult to obtain. In terms of analgesic activity, xenon is not inferior to nitrous oxide, and it has much fewer side effects. It is good at eliminating long-standing pain, anxiety, insomnia and similar symptoms.”
Biological role
- is a component of many enzymes with redox activity
- participates in iron metabolism
- increases the absorption of proteins and carbohydrates
- takes part in providing tissues with oxygen
- participates in the formation of connective tissue, bone growth
- supports the structure of bones, cartilage, tendons
- maintains the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, alveoli, skin
- has a pronounced anti-inflammatory property, incl. for autoimmune diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis)
- participates in the formation of hemoglobin and maturation of red blood cells
Features of rehabilitation after COVID-19
“There is no specific post-coronavirus rehabilitation,” explains Vitaly Fomenko. — There is a restoration of those functions that have suffered the most, so everything is individual. The main rehabilitation consists of physical exercises, the help of a psychologist, breathing exercises and the use of various techniques.
By and large, it makes no difference what disease you recover from. Rehabilitation is always working with some kind of impairment, and as a result of what they occurred: after a stroke, unsuccessful surgery or severe Covid, it becomes less important. Rehabilitation is the restoration of lost functions. And today there is no need to go to foreign countries to restore the body; it can be done effectively here too.”
Absorption of copper from food
The body absorbs about a tenth of copper from food. Despite this, it is usually absorbed in sufficient quantities in the intestines, and additional copper is not required. Absorption occurs better if the element enters the body together with molybdenum; in pairs they work much more efficiently than individually, since they are integrated into the same biochemical reactions when they participate in the exchange of protein and sulfur. However, it is not necessary to worry about the supply of molybdenum; most products containing copper already include molybdenum in their composition.
Cereal phytins bind copper in the intestines. If there is an excess of dietary fiber in the diet (this happens when deliberately consuming large doses of bran), copper molecules can also bind and be excreted from the body.
Weak and brittle bones
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by weak and brittle bones. It becomes more common with age and is associated with copper deficiency. For example, an analysis of eight studies including more than 2,100 people found that patients with osteoporosis have lower copper levels than healthy adults ().
Copper is involved in the processes that create the crisscrossing beams inside your bones. These criss-crossing beams keep your bones healthy and strong (, ,). Moreover, copper stimulates the body to produce more osteoblasts, which are cells that help reshape and strengthen bone tissue (,).
Conclusion:
Copper is involved in processes that help strengthen bone tissue. Copper deficiency can contribute to osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become hollow and porous.
