b'CODING Update ComplianceLEGAL NUTRITION UpdateANJC News ANJC Leadership ANJC News! LEGAL EASE NUTRITIONThe Guts Rolein Long COVIDBy Dr. Robert G. SilvermanREHAB Updatemisguided response to the virus may underlie or worsen some As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the number of patients experiencing lingering symptoms and slow recoveryalsocases of long COVID.Member Scholarships called long COVID or long-hauler syndromecontinues toThe most commonly reported symptoms of long COVID rise.Current data suggests that somewhere between 10 toinclude lingering pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and brain 25 percent of adults infected with SARs-CoV-2 might developfog.Gastrointestinal symptoms are frequently reported, long COVID, defined by the CDC as a wide range of healthand these symptoms are an essential key to resolving the consequences present four or more weeks after infection with CHIRO Assist other issues.Patients with long COVID often have ongoing the virus.Recent studies delineate the numbers of those at(but often undiagnosed) dysbiosis that is causing persistent risk more specifically: 50 percent of those hospitalized; 27.5 LEGAL Q&A percent of those who were symptomatic but not hospitalized;immune activation and prolongs the inflammation. Patients who were hospitalized for COVID show significant Executive Directors Update and 19 percent of those who tested positive but were asymp- changes in their gut microbiomes even after they have tomatic. 1 Even if the symptoms are mild, patients with more 2020 ANJC AWARDS cleared the virus from their bloodstreams.Not surprisingly, than five symptoms during the first week of infection are at higher risk of developing long COVID. 2 these patients also show ongoing high levels of cytokines and inflammatory markers.In addition, many hospitalized The Role of Inflammation COVID patients were given antibiotics, causing the expected Helping patients recover from long COVID is a complex anddamage to the gut microbiome.A recent study in the journal Legislative Update still-evolving process, but its clear that systemic inflammationGut concluded that gut dysbiosis could be a major contributor is a primary underlying cause of the problem.to the persistent symptoms of long COVID. Gut microbiota INSURANCE Update INSURANCE Update At the start of the pandemic, the COVID patients most likelycomposition reflects disease severity and dysfunctional TECHNIQUE Updateimmune responses in patients with COVID-19. 5In hospital-to experience severe illness and slow recovery were generallyized patients, the gut microbiota showed reduced bacterial older, or had chronic diseases, or were obeseor all three.Indiversity, increased pathogens, and decreased presence other words, before they become ill, the sickest patients were also the most likely to have elevated inflammation markersof butyrate-producing bacteria.The more the primary from disturbances of the gut microbiome/immune system link. butyrate-producing bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii But as the current trend in COVID cases shows, younger adultswas reduced, the higher was the likelihood that the patient are equally vulnerablebecause they are similarly inflamed. became more severely ill.Patients who werent hospitalized MedicareQ&AMedicare Update A study of 395 young adults aged 18 to 35 hospitalized formay not have received antibiotics, but the effect of COVID on OUR HEALTH the composition of their gut microbiomes is similar. 6COVID-19 in New York City found that 57 percent had atleast one significant comorbidity, including diabetes and hypertension. 3Reducing Inflammation, Reducing SymptomsAccording to the CDC, 40 percent of young adults aged 20Restoring a healthier gut microbiome reduces the stress on the to 39 years are obese, not much behind the 43 percent ofimmune system by decreasing the release of toxic metabolites adults aged 60 and older who are obese.At the same time,from the gut.Systemic inflammation, including in the lungs nearly 1 in 4 young adults aged 19 to 34 years are living withand heart, goes down, and the immune system now responds prediabetes. 4more actively to any remaining viral load and clear lingering Young and old patients with obesity, diabetes, and otherfragments of virus RNA proteins. chronic conditions are already inflamed.Infection with COVIDAs the gut bacteria are restored to a healthier balance, the creates high levels of inflammatory markers such as IL-2, IL-6,neurological effects of long COVID, including brain fog, IL-7, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and C-reactive protein. memory issues, and depression, are improved.The gut micro-The SARs-CoV-2 virus doesnt make people sick and kill them;biome profoundly influences the cross-talk between the brain the bodys immune response to the virus does.When theand the gut.When the gut bacteria are once again producing body is already inflamed, the immune response is suppressed. healthy amounts of metabolites and neurotransmitters such The virus sheds more slowly, viral particles and debris stay inas serotonin and no longer leaking toxins into the circulation, the body longer, and antibodies arent produced as efficiently. neurological symptoms diminish. Add the impaired immune response to a dangerous virusTo treat gut dysbiosis subsequent to COVID infection, dietary to the preexisting inflammation in these patients, and thechanges are essential.Patients should be encouraged to stage is set for long COVIDand possibly for autoimmunitymodify their diet to remove gluten, dairy, processed foods, as well.Infection with coronavirus also causes an elevationand added sugar and increase consumption of fiber-rich in biomarkers that directly correlate with autoimmunity.Thisvegetables and fruits. 14 I Fall 2021 www.anjc.info'