By now we have come largely to terms with COVID-19 symptoms lingering due to severe, lasting lung damage. And moreover the fact we may carry the psychological scars from intensive care for the rest of our lives. However, CNN Health cast a ray of hope on September 6, 2020, regarding COVID-19’s persistent shortness of breath.
Rehabilitation for COVID-19’s Persistent Shortness of Breath
Two breaking-news research reports currently feature at European Respiratory Society International Congress according to CNN News. Clinical PhD student Sabina Sahanic told reporter Jacqueline Howard pulmonary rehabilitation improved lung performance over time.
This suggests lungs have a mechanism for self-healing, she explained. And this can ameliorate COVID-19’s persistent shortness of breath if we are patient. Sabina Sahanic bases her conclusion on data concerning 86 seriously ill patients she evaluated, 6 and 12 weeks after their discharge.
What the Study of the 86 COVID Patients Revealed
Sabina Sahanic and her colleagues in Austria used a number of techniques to evaluate medical recovery. These included clinical examinations, laboratory testing, analysis of lung functions, CT scans of the chest, and echocardiograms of the heart.
Six weeks after their discharge, 65.9% of the sample displayed COVID-19’s persistent shortness of breath, and coughs. However, they displayed slight improvements at 12 weeks. But more excitingly, pathological findings from CT scans were down to 56% from the previous 88%.
The second study found pulmonary rehabilitation improved lung capacity, balance, muscle strength, and fatigue. And there were also improvements in certain risk factors for depression and anxiety. However, walking abilities did not show the same level of improvement.
But there were less signs of severe post-traumatic disorder receding, especially among patients who experienced intubation. The two projects have not been through the peer review process yet, and both need repeating. However, they do at least offer some hope of greater respiratory recovery in the medium term.
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Preview Image: Pulmonary Rehabilitation
