As the COVID-19 pandemic starts to recede, and vaccinations roll out, many people who were infected with the COVID-19 virus find that they are not recovering as expected. Even our nation’s president has recognized “long COVID” as a potentially disabling condition, one that can come with ongoing fatigue, shortness of breath, and brain fog. While medical professionals and virus experts are still investigating the nature and cause of this lingering condition, occupational therapists in NJ are already at work helping these unfortunate survivors to regain their independence and quality life. Keep reading to find out how!
Memory and Concentration
One of the biggest complaints that sufferers of “long COVID” report is “brain fog,” that feeling you get when you don’t get enough sleep, or when you’ve taken cold medication and your brain feels fuzzy. But with brain fog, you haven’t taken meds, and you’ve had more than enough sleep! Occupational therapists in NJ can help you to devise new tools to boost your memory and improve concentration, helping you to get things done almost like you used to.
Fatigue and Day Planning
On top of brain fog, many sufferers of long COVID report that they just feel tired, all the time. While some people get checked out for chronic fatigue syndrome, others try naps, coffee, and other tools to boost that energy. An occupational therapist can’t give you a magic energy boost, but we can help you to plan your day to maximize your accomplishments, and to learn new ways to do tasks that don’t wear you out as much.
Shortness of Breath
A final challenge suffered by many with long COVID is shortness of breath. Again, an occupational therapist probably can’t get more oxygen to your brain, but we can help you manage these limitations and live your life to its fullest. Sometimes, this can involve working with your medical team to improve breathing, but often it involves helping you work around your limitations to get the things done that are important to you, and maximizing your enjoyment in life.
There is still much more work to be done for the medical field to understand and address long COVID, but in the meantime, occupational therapy can be an important tool toward feeling better.
Home Rehab Consultants is located in Englewood NJ and serves clients from Paramus, Parsippany, Newark, Maywood, Rochelle Park, Paramus, Hackensack, Englewood, Morristown, Mountain Lakes, Cresskill, Montclair, Bloomfield, Elmwood Park, and Ridgewood.
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