19 Comments

We can’t say it often enough Paddy!

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Thank you!!!

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Dear Paddy, great to read your latest post on fitness having had a good day on the bike with friends. So I don't have to get exercised about taking vitamins D3 and K2? Thanks.

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People with long Covid are no longer able to exercise, so this advice is frustrating. But I suppose you can’t address all populations

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Find a way to exercise

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Exercise has been shown to actually be destructive to muscle tissue and detrimental in long Covid and results in setbacks to recovery. So it’s far from simple to “find a way.”

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You misinterpreted this and it’s assuming people are healthy. I would suggest some form of exercise benefits all. We all have to adapt. I would not suggest sitting in a chair or bed all day is healthy- I sense your frustration but small steps

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Please educate yourself “By taking biopsies from long COVID patients before and after exercising, scientists in the Netherlands constructed a startling picture of widespread abnormalities in muscle tissue that may explain this severe reaction to physical activity.

Among the most striking findings were clear signs that the cellular power plants, the mitochondria, are compromised and the tissue starved for energy.

"We saw this immediately and it's very profound," says Braeden Charlton, one of the study's authors at Vrije University in Amsterdam.

The tissue samples from long COVID patients also revealed severe muscle damage, a disturbed immune response, and a buildup of microclots.” https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/09/1223077307/long-covid-exercise-post-exertional-malaise-mitochondria

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Yes again this article is not about this health issue but you’re correct and some claim it’s due to mitochondrial dysfunction. However patients should have some therapy and there are studies to support this comment. Again I don’t know your specifics but if we aren’t careful no exercise can lead to problems such as clots, loss of muscle mass, depression and so on.

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So you can’t exercise at all?

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Unfortunately this has no correlation with lung disease or amputations, which don’t have the same issue. Severe muscle damage doesn’t occur in exercise in things like that as it does in long Covid. It is imperative that all health care providers to understand that standard exercise and even graded exercise can be dangerous to those with long Covid. Perhaps you’ve seen this video of a young actor who can no longer do much of what he could and his case isn’t particularly severe. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBra_TSRhpz/?igsh=MXJkd3AweHl2dzZ0Zg==

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You are making a generalization about all covid patients I disagree with your comments

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Telling long Covid patients to exercise has been shown to be detrimental to most, so if anyone is making a generalization it is you. Also a judgement. I love to exercise, was extremely fit, own a rowing machine and home gym, and not being able to exercise is devastating for me. But I can’t.

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No one is telling long covid patients to exercise

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Everyone has different experiences but generally exercise is helpful. I’m a RN I’ve seen people who have amputations or severe lung disease and can’t exercise like walking and yes it severely impacts their lives. The article shows the benefits of exercise and does not specifically address covid But if you can’t then sadly you can’t. I am aware some long covid patients can’t exercise and that breaks my heart as I love exercising and know its benefits to body mind and spirit. I’ve had times when I could not exercise and was so frustrated but slowly I got back at it because it works. Yes I hear some are advised not to exercise at all. Am so sorry.

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I understand and am sorry you can’t exercise.

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Thanks Dr Paddy fir keep reminding us . When u say every MET increase is that holding that MET for a minute or longer ?

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Yes my Dad a #WWII veteran worked out lived to 93 Covid got him

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Wow!

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