There's another long-term effect for some COVID-19 long haulers.
A study out of the School of Public Health at Indiana University Bloomington suggests that COVID-19 can cause trouble for some patients that like to work out, particularly women.
The researchers say the long-term fatigue that hits some people after recovering from COVID-19 means that some women may not be able to exercise like they used to, with longer recovery times after exercise compared to women who have not been sick with COVID-19.
The study looked at how long it took women to return to their resting heart rate after walking for six minutes, and found that there was a delay after exertion for women who had recovered from mild to moderate COVID-19.
Additionally, researchers found that a greater number of days where patients experienced shortness of breath upon getting sick was associated with more abnormal heart rate responses.
Physiologist Dr. Stephen J. Carter, one of the study's authors, said in a press release that “given the greater prevalence of age-related physical disability in women, as compared to men, our findings show that a targeted rehab programme might be especially useful to women and other groups affected by persistent COVID-19 symptoms – thus promoting recovery and minimizing susceptibility for deteriorating physical condition.”
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign up and follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram