Many survivors of COVID-19 experience lingering effects weeks and even months after their recovery. The most common effects include chronic fatigue, brain fog, dizziness and increased heart rate, according to a report by Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Some symptoms are thought to be caused by postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or POTS, a blood circulation disorder, which usually occurs six months after the COVID-19 recovery, according to the report.
Some may wonder if they are imagining their lingering symptoms or if it’s “all in their head,” but Dr. Tae Chung, assistant professor of physical medicine, rehabilitation and neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of the Johns Hopkins POTS Program, reassures patients that “POTS is very real.”
According to Chung, POTS is related to autonomic nerve dysfunction, which is responsible for involuntary control of many bodily functions, such as sweating, pupil movement, bowel movement and blood flow. Many POTS symptoms are thought to be related to inadequate control of blood flow, causing brain fog and dizziness, he said.
SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Medicine December 29, 2020