From the Guidelines
Long COVID patients in the Chicagoland area should seek care at specialized clinics such as Northwestern Medicine's Comprehensive COVID-19 Center, University of Chicago Medicine's Post-COVID Clinic, Rush University Medical Center's Post-COVID Care Clinic, or Advocate Aurora Health's Post-COVID Clinic, which offer multidisciplinary approaches to managing symptoms. These clinics provide comprehensive evaluations, including bloodwork, pulmonary function tests, and cardiac assessments, and offer treatments tailored to specific symptoms, such as pulmonary rehabilitation, physical therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and medications to manage symptoms like headaches or dysautonomia 1. Some patients may benefit from low-dose naltrexone or antihistamines like famotidine for inflammation, as suggested by recent studies 1.
When seeking care, patients should bring documentation of their COVID-19 diagnosis and a complete list of ongoing symptoms to their first appointment, and most clinics require a referral from a primary care physician. Treatment approaches focus on symptom management rather than cures, as long COVID remains poorly understood, with therapies targeting the body's inflammatory response and autonomic nervous system dysfunction that often underlie persistent symptoms 1.
Key considerations for long COVID treatment include:
- Multidisciplinary approach to managing symptoms
- Comprehensive evaluations, including bloodwork, pulmonary function tests, and cardiac assessments
- Treatments tailored to specific symptoms, such as pulmonary rehabilitation, physical therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and medications to manage symptoms like headaches or dysautonomia
- Potential benefits of low-dose naltrexone or antihistamines like famotidine for inflammation
- Importance of patient engagement and representation in research and clinical trials 1.
Overall, while there is no cure for long COVID, specialized clinics in the Chicagoland area offer hope for managing symptoms and improving quality of life for patients with this debilitating condition.
From the Research
Long COVID Clinics in Chicagoland
- There are several long COVID clinics in the Chicagoland area that provide multidisciplinary care for patients with long COVID symptoms 2.
- These clinics offer a range of services, including pulmonary rehabilitation, which has been shown to be effective in improving symptoms and quality of life for patients with long COVID 3, 4, 5.
- The University of Chicago Medicine, for example, has a comprehensive COVID-19 center that provides care for patients with long COVID symptoms, including those with respiratory, cardiac, and neurological symptoms 2.
- Other hospitals and healthcare systems in the Chicagoland area, such as Northwestern Medicine and Rush University Medical Center, also offer long COVID clinics and programs that provide multidisciplinary care and pulmonary rehabilitation 2.
Treatment Options
- Treatment for long COVID typically involves a symptom-based approach, with a focus on managing symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, and cognitive impairment 6.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation is a key component of long COVID treatment, and has been shown to improve exercise capacity, functional status, dyspnea, fatigue, and quality of life 3, 4, 5.
- Other treatment options may include medication, occupational therapy, and counseling, depending on the individual patient's needs and symptoms 6.
- It's essential to note that there is no single treatment approach that works for all patients with long COVID, and treatment should be tailored to the individual patient's needs and symptoms 6.
Recommendations
- Patients with long COVID symptoms should seek care from a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers, including pulmonologists, cardiologists, neurologists, and other specialists as needed 6, 2.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation should be considered as a key component of long COVID treatment, and patients should be referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation program as soon as possible 3, 4, 5.
- Patients should also be encouraged to participate in self-management activities, such as exercise and stress reduction, to help manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life 6.