15/07/2025
💙 Battling Long COVID? You’re Not Alone 💙
Most people recover from COVID-19 within two weeks—but Long COVID can linger for months or even years, affecting millions worldwide.
📊 What is Long COVID?
Over 200 symptoms have been documented, impacting many body systems
Common symptoms:
Fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, headaches, muscle/joint pain, palpitations, sleep issues, digestive problems .
Fluctuating symptoms, classic post-exertional malaise, memory troubles, and emotional challenges are common
🌍 How Common Is It?
Affects roughly 6–7% of adults, with higher rates in unvaccinated people .
Between 10–20% of people have persistent symptoms beyond 12 weeks
Global estimates suggest 400+ million people have experienced Long COVID, with healthcare, emotional, and economic consequences (OECD: $1 trillion yearly)
Recovery is most likely within 4–9 months, but around 15% still report symptoms after a year
🔬 Causes & Risk Factors
📌 What causes it?
Damage to organs/blood vessels, immune dysregulation, autoimmunity, persistent virus fragments, microclots, and neurological issues
📌 Who’s more at risk?
Women, older adults, those with severe acute infection, chronic illness, unvaccinated status, high BMI, asthma, or diabetes
🛠️ Testing & Managing Long COVID
According to CDC, WHO, and BMJ Best Practice:
Clinical diagnosis based on medical history and physical exam—no single lab test exists yet
BMJ Best Practice
Rule out other illnesses with routine tests (blood panels, imaging, pulmonary & heart function tests) .
Individualized symptom management:
Pace yourself to prevent fatigue crashes 💤
Respiratory therapy for breathlessness
Cognitive rehabilitation for “brain fog”
Sleep hygiene, mental health care, pain management, nutrition 🧠
Rehabilitation plans, via multidisciplinary teams, improve outcomes
Preventive measures: Vaccination significantly lowers Long COVID risk (3 doses ≈ 69 % protection)
🩺 How Dr Pascale Henquin Schmitt Can Help
Dr Pascale is a dedicated functional medicine doctor in Somerset West with expertise in:
Thyroid disorders (Hashimoto’s, Graves’, hypo-/hyperthyroidism)
Bio-identical hormone therapy (menopause & andropause)
Autoimmune conditions
Long COVID recovery
Family medicine
She offers:
Thorough assessments tailored to root causes
Coordinated care plans with specialists, rehab, and supportive therapies
Symptom-specific strategies (fatigue, brain fog, breathlessness, palpitations)
Hormonal and immune balance for whole-body healing
📍 Clinic & Booking Info
New address:
13 Bright Street, Audas Estate, Somerset West, South Africa 📌
View on Google Maps
Contact:
📞 Call: +27 11 027 1600
✉️ Email: info@fimc.co.za
🛍️ Visit our eCommerce Health Store: http://fimc.co.za
✅ Why Choose Us
Evidence-based, holistic approach
Collaborative diagnostics and care
Early intervention leads to better outcomes
📢 You don’t have to go through Long COVID alone. Support and recovery are possible—with the right care.
Share this post if you or a loved one is dealing with lingering symptoms.
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