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For many people infected with the COVID virus, illness comes and goes. Others develop what has long been known as his COVID. Symptoms last for weeks or months. The VA has developed what it calls a holistic health approach to his COVID over the long term. For more on how VA practitioners are coping with the long COVID, Tom Temin and Federal Drive I spoke with the Assistant Secretary of Health, Dr. Elizabeth Brill.

Tom Taemin: Nice to meet you, Dr. Brill.

Elizabeth Brill: Thank you very much. I am glad to be here today.

Tom Taemin: Let’s set the scene here. What exactly is the long COVID? I think it’s kind of self-explanatory. There’s a lot to it.

Elizabeth Brill: yes, I have. As such, there are several different definitions by different health authorities. But basically, long-term COVID is when symptoms persist or recur after her initial COVID infection occurred. So 4-12 weeks later. And there are many different symptoms. So not everyone will experience a prolonged COVID in exactly the same way. Many different body systems are involved.

Tom Taemin: And at this point in history, we have no idea how long that will really last?

Elizabeth Brill: exactly. we don’t know that

Tom Taemin: And how prevalent is this among the veteran population that veterans serve?

Elizabeth Brill: Now, studies to date show that about 4-7% of patients who have had COVID develop long-term COVID. However, these are initial numbers and may increase or decrease over time.

Tom Taemin: Were VA statisticians able to associate it with a particular demographic? Is it more common in women than men, age groups, or other assumptions that may exist?

Elizabeth Brill: Yes, it seems that there are more women. It is also possible that respiratory symptoms were the main complaint during the early course of COVID infection, more common in people, and even in those who had a worse early COVID course, such as those who ended up in the ICU. higher. rather than asymptomatic people. However, even in asymptomatic people, over time he can develop COVID.

Tom Taemin: Wow, I think we’re out of this, so there’s more reason to be scared.

Elizabeth Brill: So, initially, our community of practice, many clinicians from different disciplines in nature, began to recognize COVID, understand it, and try to share their knowledge across the VA system, so organically. We got together. As our researchers have been observing the long COVID, and VA has emerged as one of the first to notice this phenomenon, a very comprehensive guide that can be shared with all clinicians. Put together, long COVID and what to do. Therefore, we assembled a project team to evaluate, refer, and treat his COVID for the long term. And that’s the whole health guide we’re talking about today.

Tom Taemin: And what are the fields gathered here?

Elizabeth Brill: Oh, from respiratory to heart disease to mental health, there are so many. There are about 10 organ systems. As such, all of these experts were involved in the creation of this guide.

Tom Taemin: mental health. That’s also interesting. Sounds like maybe someone’s state of mind can affect their ability to fight this?

Elizabeth Brill: So, mental health — two factors. It’s part of the long COVID, the anxiety and depression, and the brain fog that can come with the long COVID. Moreover, our approach to treating his COVID in the long term is this holistic health approach that actually engages the veteran’s own care. As such, our ability to actually connect and focus can be affected by underlying mental health conditions.

Tom Taemin: And this is just a random question. Are there any prerequisites related to the service, such as exposure to burn pits, or are there long COVID-related things? Or is it a bit of a stretch?

Elizabeth Brill: It’s not something you’ve seen before.

Tom Taemin: I’m talking to Dr. Elizabeth Brill. She is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health and Clinical Services for the Veterans Administration. So what does a holistic health treatment consist of, and what are some of the elements that you are promulgating?

Elizabeth Brill: Overall health as a concept has veterans at its core. They think about what is important in relation to their goals and what they can do to participate in their health care. and alternative medicine approaches. And overall health encompasses all of them together.

Tom Taemin: What are the non-traditional effects or what you can take?

Elizabeth Brill: Well, we’ll look at biofeedback, acupuncture, breathing techniques, and exercises like Tai Chi and yoga. These are some of the non-traditional elements of his long-standing COVID veteran care. As you can see, they can affect themselves a lot in choosing their treatment.

Tom Taemin: MeI’m sure someone here is prescribing a cannabis or CBD type approach if you look hard enough somewhere. Is that possible within the VA system?

Elizabeth Brill: Not currently in the VA system itself.

Tom Taemin: all right. Does the VA itself administer things like acupuncture and tai chi, or does it just have local health care providers encourage patients to seek it out on their own?

Elizabeth Brill: In fact, veterans offer many, if not all, of these alternative therapies, depending on where they are located.

Tom Taemin: And one of the theories for this is that it probably does nothing, but if you believe it will, it’s kind of a placebo effect, and is it as good as if there were actually physical symptoms?

Elizabeth Brill: So the placebo effect is definitely well-documented in medicine. And much of this therapy has to do with general well-being. Therefore, if yoga, relaxation, and mindfulness increase well-being, it is considered a success.

Tom Taemin: And is the guide you just published strictly for use within the VA, or is it widespread in the medical field?

Elizabeth Brill: We are trying to promote it for veteran and non-veteran clinicians across the country. I think this is a great product, the little factsheets on each symptom are very easy to use for clinicians and even those who are not very familiar with long her COVID. VA wants to share it with all clinicians nationwide.

Tom Taemin: What are the most common conditions that can be treated with this approach? Do you know the hierarchy here?

Elizabeth Brill: The most common symptoms we commonly see are respiratory and cardiological symptoms such as a throbbing heart, some of which must be measured in the clinic. This should be measured by laboratory tests.

Tom Taemin: Therefore, an overall health approach may include a dietary component, especially when diabetes is mentioned.

Elizabeth Brill: absolutely. Both diet and exercise are important components of overall health.

Tom Taemin: But if you feel like you’ve been sick with COVID for too long, don’t live with it because you’re a veteran. There is some help you can really get right now.

Elizabeth Brill: yes. There is also a guide for veterans to ask veterans questions, take notes to themselves, take to clinicians, share what symptoms are, and point them in the right direction regarding professional referrals. can do.

Tom Taemin: Dr. Elizabeth Brill is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health and Clinical Services for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Thank you for joining me.

Elizabeth Brill: Thank you very much.