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Today's Takeaway with Florine Mark


Jul 12, 2021

With Dr. Jonathan Fellows, Board Certified Neurology Specialist

 

Now that the worst of the pandemic is hopefully behind us, things are definitely changing for the better compared to just a year ago. For most of us, although our lives may be forever changed by the events of the past year, we can resume our (nearly) normal lifestyle. But for a number of COVID-19 patients who are still experiencing lingering symptoms, their lives feel anything but normal. Long after recovering from the virus itself, these COVID-19 patients are experiencing ongoing neurological symptoms such as mental fog, fatigue, dizziness, loss of smell or taste, muscle weakness, and numbness in their hands and feet. Or, in severe cases, seizures, strokes, and delirium. Why do some patients recover quickly while others develop these ongoing and lingering symptoms? And once these symptoms appear, can someone fully recover?

 

My guest today, Dr. Jon Fellows, is a board-certified neurology specialist here to answer our questions along with other tips for neurological health.

 

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

  • What are the most common neurological symptoms that COVID-19 patients are experiencing?
  • What does “brain fog” mean?
  • Can you have “brain fog” without having had COVID-19?
  • Does the vaccine help with long-hauler COVID-19 symptoms?
  • Why do only certain COVID-19 patients experience severe neurological symptoms?
  • How much does obesity factor into developing neurological diseases and conditions?
  • Should people who have had COVID-19 still get the vaccine?
  • Are diabetic people more at risk for COVID-19?
  • What, if anything, can help these symptoms disappear?
  • Dr. Fellows mentions other common neurological diseases.
  • What are movement disorders?
  • What danger does the new variant present?
  • What are Dr. Fellows’ thoughts on those who are hesitant to vaccinate?
  • Why hasn’t the FDA fully approved the vaccine?
  • Important stroke warning signs and symptoms to look out for.

 

Today’s Takeaway:

With many of us returning to work, socializing with friends and family, eating at restaurants, and attending sporting events, life is feeling very different from a year ago. But not all of us are so fortunate. For those COVID-19 patients who are experiencing ongoing symptoms, they feel like they’re still in the thick of the pandemic. As we’ve heard, most of these symptoms will disappear or improve over time, but there are things we can do to minimize them. For example, you can maintain a healthy diet, engage in some kind of exercise (even small changes make a difference!), control stress, and get enough sleep. If you’re one of the lucky ones who stayed healthy during the pandemic and didn’t have COVID-19, that doesn’t mean you weren’t affected. Perhaps the lack of social interaction affected our minds and well-being. Do you feel as if you lack energy and focus? It’s easy to drift into a sort of malaise when you are not being stimulated by work and social activities. So how can we re-engage and strengthen our cognitive abilities? Reading, playing games, assembling puzzles, or whatever you can do to stimulate the brain or sharpen critical thinking is so beneficial. Something as simple as talking on the phone or video chatting daily with friends and family really improves how you feel and function. Remember, every day is a gift and your brain needs exercise just like other muscles in your body! So get out there, try new things, stimulate your mind, make new memories and just enjoy every moment! I’m Florine Mark and that’s “Today’s Takeaway.”

 

Quotes:

“Brain fog, by and large, is one of the most common complaints that patients who have had COVID-19 complain of.” — Dr. Fellows

 

“In general patients are getting better about a month after COVID-19.” — Dr. Fellows

 

“About 10% of all patients who get COVID-19 will go on to develop long-hauler syndrome.” — Dr. Fellows

Brought to You By:

Florine Mark

Mentioned in This Episode: 

Dr. Jonathan Fellows at Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders (MIND)