According to the latest statistics (which are constantly in flux), approximately 10% or more of all Covid patients experience long term symptoms - defined as having symptoms for a minimum of one month to over a year. One third of patients who incur Long Covid experience symptoms after one year. As many as one-quarter to one-third of Americans who have had even mild Covid 19 may be suffering from unreported Long Covid symptoms. In response to the rising numbers, Congress has appropriated $1.15 billion for the National Institutes of Health to study Long Covid.
The elderly, particularly, are at high risk of contracting respiratory infections, such as Covid and Long COVID-19, which can cause significant physical and mental issues.Long Covid can affect any organ and/or system causing symptoms such as: shortness of breath, fatigue, tiredness after exercise, cognitive issues, GI issues, musculoskeletal pain, and declining mental health. Long Covid is also common in the young and middle aged populations.
When compared to active persons (at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to rigorous exercise), sedentary persons are twice as likely to be hospitalized or die from Covid-19. Yet another reason to become (if you are not already) and remain active throughout your life!
Tai Chi and Qigong (several thousand years old) have been shown to improve pulmonary function, relieve dyspnea and cough, regulate the body’s immune system and inflammatory marker response, improve quality of life and psychological well-being, reduce anxiety and depression, and shorten the length of hospital stays for patients with COVID-19. Because of this, in China, field hospitals are often used to isolate mild cases rather than sending patients home to quarantine. The patients in these field hospitals practice Qigong under the guidance of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors for both treatment and exercise.
A 2020 study (10.1016/j.jagp.2020.05.012) demonstrated Tai Chi and Qigong’s potential for treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation for Covid-19 infections in elderly adults, especially during the ongoing pandemic. This study was undertaken because no meta-analysis had been done to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tai Chi and/or Qigong on rehabilitation after COVID-19. The study was done using the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China Knowledge Network, China Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database and Wanfang Database from the inception of the database until November 2021.
A 2021 study published in Integrative Medicine Research on hospitalized patients (aged 20-80 years old) with severe Covid-19 compared, standard therapies to standard therapy plus Qigong (usually the Eight Brocades) and acupressure. When added to standard therapies, patients receiving Qigong and acupressure therapy showed marked improvement over the control group when it came to lung function, breathing, and cough. They also experienced shorter hospital stays.
The aim of a 2022 meta-analysis was to study the effects of Tai Chi and/or Qigong on COVID-19, to assess its safety and efficacy, and to provide a clinical treatment method as well as evidence for the rehabilitation of patients with Covid-19. Research indicated that Tai Chi helps improve recovery from Covid-19 and Long Covid by improving and increasing lung capacity, improving cognitive function, improving mental health, balancing the autonomic nervous system, regulating respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, and improving vitality, balance, and quality of life. It also improves strength, mobility, balance, and relaxation. Tai Chi also modulates the immune response which decreases lung scarring. Both exercises improve blood and energy flow and can potentially counteract fatigue, anxiety, depression, while improving cognitive function. By improving cardiovascular health, the risk of a Covid-19 related stroke is decreased.
Recent findings indicate that Tai Chi improves lung function by counteracting the fibrotic scar formation and may decrease chronic fatigue by balancing the autonomous nervous system. Diaphragmatic breathing in Qigong (and Tai Chi) encourages air into the lower lung lobes in order to counteract the inflammatory process. It was determined that diaphragmatic breathing can lead to a 125 - 145% increase in lung capacity.
Cool fact: Normally, your lung capacity decreases as you get older. However, a 70 year old Qigong practitioner has shown the SAME lung capacity as a 20 year old non-Qigong practitioner!!!
Last but not least, persons practicing Tai Chi would potentially decrease the burden on the health care system!
Recommendations: Even before you contract Covid (or even during and after a Covid infection), start an exercise program and avoid being sedentary. Tai Chi and/or Qigong increase immunity and may prevent (or at least lessen) Covid infection or symptoms.
If hospitalized, start rehabilitation once discharged. As indicated above, some hospitals in other countries teach patients Qigong exercises while in the hospital. Tai Chi and/or Qigong rehabilitation training should be undertaken at least twice a week for minimum of three months. Patients/students should be encouraged (as all students should be) to practice between formal class times.
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