Post-covid & post-viral pots, ME/CFS, and long-haul symptoms
Have the affects of your COVID-19 or virus exposure not subsided?
The link between exposure to COVID-19 and an onset of symptoms of brain fog, tachycardia (increased heart rate) and severe chronic fatigue is beginning to develop as healthcare providers treat increasing numbers of coronavirus patients.
According to Tae Chung, M.D., from Johns Hopkins Medicine, viral infections can attack the autonomic nervous system in some individuals, which regulates functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, sweating and body temperature. Since these functions are not something we cannot necessarily control, malfunction in any of these areas can produce symptoms that can be shared by numerous conditions. Consequently, healthcare professionals who are not familiar with POTS may dismiss these symptoms as lingering effects of COVID-19 or even psychological symptoms. This can be especially problematic since POTS can be extremely debilitating and require specialized treatment and care, meaning an accurate diagnosis is of the utmost importance.
While the correlation and evidence continues to develop, many people are left coping with what are being deemed "long haulers covid symptoms" of their virus exposure. In some cases, this may be affecting their ability to continue to work at a persistent and ongoing pace as they had before. From a vocational standpoint, this would render them disabled and may constitute a legitimate claim for long-term disability.
Our Vocational Experts have been on the forefront of this novel exposure relationship and their experience with covid-19 long haulers could prove vital to you or your clients as they progress in their disability claims process or attempt to return-to-work with this obstacle.