We're closer to learning how to treat and prevent Long COVID

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The race to figure out how to treat and prevent Long COVID By Jamie Ducharme Health Correspondent Last year, I wrote about the startling number of people with Long COVID who experience suicidal thoughts. In multiple interviews for that story, people told me that any amount of hope for the future would make living with Long COVID easier. Since then, I’ve tried to spotlight positive news on Long COVID when I can. It isn’t always easy, since there is still no proven way to treat or prevent Long COVID, and the number of people diagnosed with the often-debilitating condition continues to grow. But over the past few weeks, I noticed a few studies on promising therapies that may either help prevent Long COVID from developing or treat its symptoms. The most intriguing was on metformin, a Type 2 diabetes drug that slashed the risk of getting Long COVID by up to 60% in the trial. It’s important to note that this finding is preliminary, and much more research is needed before we can get anywhere close to saying there’s a way to prevent or cure Long COVID. But in a field that can seem bleak, it's worth highlighting some cautious optimism. READ MORE   Share the story

What else to read Every Day as a Doctor I Ask Myself If a Puppy Would Do More for Patients Than I Can By Farzon A. Nahvi Many of my patients know the limit of modern medicine. They need care and comfort. Read More » The Challenge of Removing Toxic PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' from Drinking Water By Jeffrey Kluger The government is at last cracking down on PFAS chemicals coming out of your tap. Read More » U.S. Maternal Mortality Rate Soared 40% During the Pandemic By Kelsey Butler/Bloomberg COVID-19 was partly responsible. But little progress has been made on other factors adding to the uniquely high rate. Read More » Medical Residents Are in an Uproar Over the ‘Ethics’ of The Last of Us Finale By Laura Zornosa On Reddit, medical residents had some issues with episode 9. Read More » What to Know About the Latest Advances in Managing Severe Asthma By Markham Heid New innovations in biologics and phenotyping excite doctors. Read More »

AN EXPERT VOICE "I like to use somatic hugs when I'm having a bad day. Start by crossing your dominant arm over your chest and placing your hand near your opposite armpit. Then, cross your other arm and place your hand on your opposite shoulder. It creates a sense of containment and safety, and you can do it at any time and for as long as you need." —Sarah Rollins, clinical social worker in Michigan

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