Recent scientific discoveries have shed light on the root cause of the enduring fatigue experienced by individuals with long-Covid or post-Covid conditions.
Researchers have identified a biological factor contributing to persistent exhaustion: A decrease in energy production within the mitochondria of muscle cells.
Researchers from Amsterdam UMC and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) offered insight into the issue in a study published in the journal Nature Communications.
Results revealed that the cycling test induced a prolonged exacerbation of symptoms in the long-Covid patients, a phenomenon known as post-exertional malaise (PEM).
“In concrete terms, we advise these patients to guard their physical limits and not to exceed them.” said Brent Appelman a researcher at Amsterdam UMC.
“Most long Covid patients either get on with their life with the impairment. They don’t enter any records or journal publications. Many people suffer in silence,” shares Dr Jayadevan.
“With no specific cure in sight, WHO says the only method to avoid long Covid is to not get Covid. Hence the value for specific mitigation measures,” he said.