Written By Are you one of the many people who have been struggling with long COVID symptoms for months? If so, you’re not alone. Long COVID can be a challenging condition to live with, and it’s still not entirely clear what causes it or how to treat it effectively. However, some researchers are exploring a promising new approach: blood cleaning. By removing certain elements from your bloodstream, blood cleaning may help alleviate some of the most common long COVID symptoms. But does this technique really work? In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what science says about the effectiveness of blood cleaning for long COVID.
What is long COVID?
Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is a condition where individuals who have recovered from acute COVID-19 continue to experience symptoms for an extended period. Reports suggest that long COVID affects up to one in ten people who contracted the virus.
Symptoms of long COVID can vary widely but often include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, brain fog, and depression. These symptoms can persist for months after the initial illness and may affect an individual’s ability to carry out everyday activities.
While research on long COVID is still ongoing, it’s thought that some patients may continue to harbor low levels of the virus or its remnants in their bodies even after they’ve cleared the acute phase of the illness. Other theories point towards immune dysfunction or inflammation as potential contributors.
Regardless of its cause, there’s no doubt that long COVID presents significant challenges for those affected by it. That’s why researchers are exploring new treatment options such as blood cleaning to help relieve some of these persistent symptoms and improve quality-of-life outcomes for affected individuals.
What is blood cleaning?
Blood cleaning, also known as blood purification or detoxification, is a medical procedure that involves removing harmful substances from the bloodstream. This process aims to improve the overall health of an individual by removing toxins and other waste materials that can cause harm to different organs in the body.
There are several methods used for blood cleaning such as hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, and immunoadsorption. Hemodialysis is commonly used for patients with kidney failure while plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption are often used in cases where there’s an excess of antibodies present in the bloodstream.
During the procedure, a machine separates blood cells from plasma (the fluid part of blood) and removes any unwanted substances before returning it back into circulation. Blood cleaning can help alleviate symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, joint pains among others – especially in those suffering from long COVID.
While this procedure has proven effective in certain conditions like poisoning or kidney-related ailments – more research needs to be conducted on how effective it is against long COVID specifically.
The science behind blood cleaning for long COVID
Blood cleaning, also known as plasmapheresis or therapeutic plasma exchange, is a medical procedure that involves removing plasma (the liquid part of blood) from the body and replacing it with fresh plasma or a substitute solution. The idea behind this treatment for long COVID is to remove any harmful antibodies that could be causing damage to the body’s organs and tissues.
Researchers have found that in some cases of long COVID, patients continue to produce high levels of antibodies even after they have recovered from the initial infection. These lingering antibodies can cause inflammation and damage in various parts of the body, including the lungs, heart, and brain.
The science behind blood cleaning for long COVID suggests that by removing these problematic antibodies from the bloodstream, patients may experience relief from their symptoms and potentially prevent further complications down the line.
One study published in October 2021 looked at five patients who underwent plasmapheresis treatment for persistent symptoms related to COVID-19. All five patients reported improvements in their symptoms following treatment, ranging from decreased fatigue to improved breathing capacity.
While more research is needed to fully understand how effective blood cleaning may be for long COVID patients overall, early studies suggest it could be a promising option for those struggling with ongoing health issues post-COVID-19 infection.
How effective is blood cleaning for long COVID?
There is still much to learn about Long COVID and how best to treat it. One potential treatment that has gained some attention is blood cleaning, also known as plasmapheresis or plasma exchange.
The idea behind blood cleaning for Long COVID is that by removing certain proteins or antibodies from the patient’s bloodstream, it may reduce symptoms of inflammation and other complications associated with the disease.
However, while there have been anecdotal reports of success with this method, there is currently not enough scientific evidence to fully support its effectiveness. The few studies conducted so far have either yielded mixed results or are limited in their scope and sample size.
Additionally, the process itself can be invasive and carries some risks such as infection or allergic reactions. It also requires specialized equipment and trained medical professionals to carry out safely.
While blood cleaning may hold promise as a potential treatment for Long COVID, further research is needed before it can be recommended as a standard practice.
Are there any risks associated with blood cleaning for long COVID?
While blood cleaning has shown promising results in treating long COVID, it’s important to note that there are potential risks associated with the procedure.
One risk is infection. Whenever a foreign object or substance is introduced into the body, there’s a chance of infection. This could happen if the equipment used during the procedure isn’t properly sterilized or if bacteria enters the bloodstream during treatment.
Another risk is bleeding. Blood cleaning involves removing some of the patient’s blood and processing it before returning it to their body. If too much blood is removed at once or if there are issues with clotting factors, excessive bleeding can occur.
There’s also a possibility of allergic reactions to anticoagulants used during blood cleaning. These medications help prevent clots from forming in the machine but can cause side effects such as breathing difficulties and hives in some patients.
It’s essential for healthcare providers to carefully monitor patients undergoing blood cleaning treatments for any signs of complications or adverse reactions. However, despite these risks, many experts believe that when performed by experienced professionals using proper protocols and safety measures, blood cleaning can be an effective tool in treating long COVID symptoms.
Conclusion
Long COVID is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While there is no cure for this condition, blood cleaning therapy has shown promising results in alleviating the symptoms associated with long COVID.
The science behind blood cleaning therapy for long COVID suggests that it can help remove harmful antibodies and cytokines from the bloodstream, thereby reducing inflammation and improving overall health. However, more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness and potential risks.
If you are considering blood cleaning therapy for long COVID, it’s essential to consult your doctor first. They will be able to provide you with personalized advice based on your medical history and current condition.
While we wait for a definitive treatment or cure for long COVID, exploring alternative therapies like blood cleaning could prove beneficial in managing its symptoms.
