When most people get sick with COVID-19 today, they think of it as a brief illness, similar to a cold. However, for a large number of people, the illness doesn't end there. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls this condition long COVID, which is when a person's symptoms continue for at least three months after they first get sick. While much research has focused on the specific symptoms like fatigue and brain fog, a new study from the Australian Journal of Primary Health looks at how these symptoms affect people's daily lives.The study found that long COVID is far more than just a minor annoyance; it can seriously limit a person's ability to do normal daily tasks and participate in their community. The participants reported severe difficulties that could be compared to conditions like stroke, rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson's disease. So, it is not just more fatigue, but a serious health complication
How Does Long COVID Affect Your Quality Of Life?
The study involved 121 adults in Australia who were dealing with long COVID. Most were between 36 and 50 years old and didn't need to be hospitalized for their initial illness. But months or even years later, they were still struggling with activities that were once easy for them. To get a full picture of the impact, the participants answered two well-known health surveys that measure disability and quality of life. The results were quite powerful.
Does Long COVID Cause Disability?
People with long COVID reported a level of disability that was worse than 98% of the general Australian population. An overwhelming 86% of them met the standards for having a serious disability. On average, they had trouble with daily activities for about 27 days a month and were unable to function for about 18 days. While simple tasks like eating or getting dressed were less affected, more complex activities like doing housework and spending time with friends were severely impacted.
Long COVID and Quality of Life
The condition also had a major negative effect on their overall quality of life, which was 23% lower than the general population's. Their energy levels and social lives were the most affected, showing how fatigue and brain fog can strain relationships and a person's connection to their community.
Should Long COVID Be Taken More Seriously?
The results of this study are similar to what has been found in other countries, showing that long COVID often leads to high levels of disability. The research also highlights how important it is to listen to patients. Since there isn't a single test to diagnose long COVID, a person's own description of their health and recovery was found to be a strong and reliable way to measure their disability and quality of life. This proves that what patients say is not just a "story" but a valid health indicator that captures details medical tests can't.
The study points to an urgent need for better support. A 2023 government inquiry estimated that hundreds of thousands of Australians are living with long COVID. Ignoring this problem could worsen social inequality, as communities that are already struggling are often hit the hardest.
To move forward, we need to create comprehensive support services that go beyond basic medical care. This includes rehabilitation programs to help people manage their fatigue and workplaces that are flexible with hours and job duties. By listening to and respecting the experiences of people with long COVID, the healthcare system can help them regain not only their health but also their dignity and ability to fully participate in life.
News
Novel mRNA therapy curbs antibiotic-resistant infections in preclinical lung models
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and collaborators have reported early success with a novel mRNA-based therapy designed to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The findings, published in Nature Biotechnology, show that in [...]
New skin-permeable polymer delivers insulin without needles
A breakthrough zwitterionic polymer slips through the skin’s toughest barriers, carrying insulin deep into tissue and normalizing blood sugar, offering patients a painless alternative to daily injections. A recent study published in the journal Nature examines [...]
Multifunctional Nanogels: A Breakthrough in Antibacterial Strategies
Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern - from human health to crop survival. A new study successfully uses nanogels to target and almost entirely inhibit the bacteria P. Aeruginosa. Recently published in Angewandte Chemie, the study [...]
Nanoflowers rejuvenate old and damaged human cells by replacing their mitochondria
Biomedical researchers at Texas A&M University may have discovered a way to stop or even reverse the decline of cellular energy production—a finding that could have revolutionary effects across medicine. Dr. Akhilesh K. Gaharwar [...]
The Stunning New Push to Protect the Invisible 99% of Life
Scientists worldwide have joined forces to build the first-ever roadmap for conserving Earth’s vast invisible majority—microbes. Their new IUCN Specialist Group reframes conservation by elevating microbial life to the same urgency as plants and [...]
Scientists Find a Way to Help the Brain Clear Alzheimer’s Plaques Naturally
Scientists have discovered that the brain may have a built-in way to fight Alzheimer’s. By activating a protein called Sox9, researchers were able to switch on star-shaped brain cells known as astrocytes and turn them into [...]
Vision can be rebooted in adults with amblyopia, study suggests
Temporarily anesthetizing the retina briefly reverts the activity of the visual system to that observed in early development and enables growth of responses to the amblyopic eye, new research shows. In the common vision [...]
Ultrasound-activated Nanoparticles Kill Liver Cancer and Activate Immune System
A new ultrasound-guided nanotherapy wipes out liver tumors while training the immune system to keep them from coming back. The study, published in Nano Today, introduces a biodegradable nanoparticle system that combines sonodynamic therapy and cell [...]
Magnetic nanoparticles that successfully navigate complex blood vessels may be ready for clinical trials
Every year, 12 million people worldwide suffer a stroke; many die or are permanently impaired. Currently, drugs are administered to dissolve the thrombus that blocks the blood vessel. These drugs spread throughout the entire [...]
Reviving Exhausted T Cells Sparks Powerful Cancer Tumor Elimination
Scientists have discovered how tumors secretly drain the energy from T cells—the immune system’s main cancer fighters—and how blocking that process can bring them back to life. The team found that cancer cells use [...]
Very low LDL-cholesterol correlates to fewer heart problems after stroke
Brigham and Women's Hospital's TIMI Study Group reports that in patients with prior ischemic stroke, very low achieved LDL-cholesterol correlated with fewer major adverse cardiovascular events and fewer recurrent strokes, without an apparent increase [...]
“Great Unified Microscope” Reveals Hidden Micro and Nano Worlds Inside Living Cells
University of Tokyo researchers have created a powerful new microscope that captures both forward- and back-scattered light at once, letting scientists see everything from large cell structures to tiny nanoscale particles in a single shot. Researchers [...]
Breakthrough Alzheimer’s Drug Has a Hidden Problem
Researchers in Japan found that although the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab successfully removes amyloid plaques from the brain, it does not restore the brain’s waste-clearing system within the first few months of treatment. The study suggests that [...]
Concerning New Research Reveals Colon Cancer Is Skyrocketing in Adults Under 50
Colorectal cancer is striking younger adults at alarming rates, driven by lifestyle and genetic factors. Colorectal cancer (CRC) develops when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the colon or rectum, forming tumors that can eventually [...]
Scientists Discover a Natural, Non-Addictive Way To Block Pain That Could Replace Opioids
Scientists have discovered that the body can naturally dull pain through its own localized “benzodiazepine-like” peptides. A groundbreaking study led by a University of Leeds scientist has unveiled new insights into how the body manages pain, [...]
GLP-1 Drugs Like Ozempic Work, but New Research Reveals a Major Catch
Three new Cochrane reviews find evidence that GLP-1 drugs lead to clinically meaningful weight loss, though industry-funded studies raise concerns. Three new reviews from Cochrane have found that GLP-1 medications can lead to significant [...]
