PASC is an acronym for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. People who have been infected with the COVID-19 virus and continue to exhibit symptoms for 28 days or longer are considered to have PASC.

A COVID-19 “long-hauler” is someone who has symptoms of the infection for at least 28 days or longer. “Long-hauler” is the common name for those with PASC.

Research from the CDC showed that 35% of people with a COVID-19 infection experience symptoms for at least two or three weeks, so anyone continuing to have symptoms past that time is looked at as a long-hauler. Many PASC patients still struggle with symptoms 6 to 8 months, or longer, after their initial infection.

As far as researchers know now, there is no one type of person who is more likely to suffer from long-term COVID-19 symptoms and issues, though some doctors say they are seeing far more females showing such symptoms.

According to research by the Mayo Clinic, older people and those with other serious medical conditions are the most likely to experience lingering COVID-19 symptoms. However, the research shows that young, otherwise healthy people have also reported feeling ill for weeks to months after infection.

We are finding common threads in PASC patients of specific genetic defects (including the MTHFR gene and AO1C3 gene), other underlying infections, and a history of autoimmunity.

The most commonly reported long-term symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Joint pain
• Chest pain
• POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)

Other reported long-term symptoms include:

• Difficulty with thinking and concentration (sometimes referred to as “brain fog” or “COVID brain”)
• Depression
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Intermittent fever
• Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)

While there are more serious symptoms and complications reported in long-haulers, they appear to be rare. The most serious complications seen so far include:

• Cardiovascular: inflammation of the heart muscle, longer lasting episodes of POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)
• Respiratory: lung function abnormalities
• Renal: acute kidney injury
• Dermatologic: rash, hair loss
• Neurological: smell and taste problems, sleep issues, difficulty with concentration, memory problems
• Psychiatric: depression, anxiety, changes in mood

We are supporting long-haulers as we always do: identifying and correcting what we believe to be the root cause. Following our Infinity Wellness way, we:

• Repair the gut
• Complete Genetic Testing and nutrigenomic support where needed
• Detoxify the liver
• Restore Alkaline pH to the tissue to ensure your body has the basic sources of fuel
• Repair the endocrine system (thyroid, adrenals, hormones)
• Eliminate chronic infections
• Address each organ system one at a time in the right order to heal

We are seeing our long-hauler patients improve and return back to “normal.”

We also run functional medicine tests and see other ailments that have popped up since contracting COVID, like autoimmunity and infections such as Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Lyme Disease.  

We do not claim to be experts on PASC and post-COVID symptoms for long-haulers (no one can be at this time), but we are experts in how to reveal healing in the body.

Well, that depends on what we find in your lab testing. Here’s what we recommend when appropriate for post-COVID symptoms and to boost immunity to inhibit infection. Do not take these without the supervision and testing of your natural health care practitioner.

*Please note, this is NOT medical advice. If you think you have an illness including COVID-19, please get tested and see your doctor for treatment. The treatment may include staying at home and isolating or going to the hospital for severe symptoms.

Antiviral herbs to boost the immune system and allow the body to attack viral pathogens, like:

• Pau D’ Arco
• Garlic – highly effective helping rid some of the most common and rarest infections, including tuberculosis, pneumonia, thrush and herpes.
• Astragalus
• Beta glucans 
• Oregano 
• Nitric Oxide (NO) NO inhibits viral protein and RNA synthesis. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that NO generated by inducible nitric oxide synthase, an enzyme that produces NO, inhibits the SARS CoV replication cycle.(10)

Supplements for lung support and/or to reduce inflammation in the lungs:

• Quercetin – It thins mucus in the lungs, reduces lung inflammation and improves lung function.
• NAC – n-acetyl cysteine can relieve symptoms of respiratory conditions by acting as an antioxidant and expectorant, loosening mucus in your air passageways. NAC helps reduce inflammation in your bronchial tubes and lung tissue. (3)

Probiotics and gut repair supplements to support your immunity (80% of your immune system is in the gut):

• Probiotics
• L-glutamine – for Gut Repair / Restore

Adrenal support to fight fatigue and anxiety and maintain emotional balance:

• Rhodiola – this is a great herb if you are in fight or flight and in panic, can’t sleep, etc
• Ginseng – For exhaustion and lethargy

Antioxidants to support your immune system, such as:

• Vitamin D – Vitamin D appears capable of inhibiting pulmonary inflammatory responses while enhancing innate defense mechanisms against respiratory pathogens. Population-based studies showing an association between circulating vitamin D levels and lung function. (13)
• Vitamin C – vitamin C shows in vivo antiviral immune responses at the early time of infection, especially against influenza virus, through increased production.  Overall, reported flu and cold symptoms in the test group decreased 85% compared with the control group after the administration of megadose Vitamin C. (14) (15)
• Zinc
• Glutathione
• Reishi Immune – Reishi contains unique, rare polysaccharides which have been proven to increase the RNA and DNA in the bone marrow, where the body makes B cells. Studies show that it promotes both B cells and T cells, specialized cells that are a critical part of the immune system. 

Post-COVID syndrome research is adapting at a fast rate. We reference these health institutions for science-based data.

• CDC
• Mount Sinai
• Cleveland Clinic
• Mayo Clinic

We highly recommend following CDC guidelines by wearing a mask, distancing, and gathering outdoors. We also suggest:

• Wash hands with warm soap and water for at least 30 seconds, often.
• Stay home when you’re sick, unless you need urgent medical attention.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough with your elbow – we call this the vampire cough in our house (try it and you’ll see why).
• Use a Netipot to irrigate your nose.
• Stay away from and keep your distance from sick people the best you can.
• Use this COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool to evaluate your interactions and make smart choices.

Several studies have found a link between COVID and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). The results are showing a pattern of EBV reactivation caused by a COVID infection.

Stress levels have also been linked to the duration and intensity of reactivated EBV infections, and may contribute the the symptoms experienced during a COVID infection.

Long COVID (or Post-COVID Syndrome or “PASC” post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2) is characterized by symptoms from an initial COVID infection lasting longer than 28 days. Also known as “long-haulers”, the 30% of people report ongoing symptoms after a primary COVID infection. Symptoms can range from fatigue and joint pain to POTS and brain fog, and even more severe symptoms present as dysfunction in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological systems, and more.

If your COVID symptoms seem worse than expected, or lingering symptoms are causing distress to your daily life, we should consider testing for EBV reactivation and treating EBV.

Learn more about our support for EBV here.