Patients are experiencing long-term sequelae of a COVID-19 infection. Since we live in a digitally driven world here are some digital health technologies that could help manage long-term COVID-19 symptoms from the comfort of our home.
1. Extreme fatigue:
If you are fatigued you won’t be motivated to exercise. But regular exercise boosts energy and reduces fatigue. To begin exercising, you need motivation. Fitness trackers and smartwatches can help as they notify you to nudge to walk. But, avoid full blown physical activity after recovering as it can do more harm.
2. Inability to concentrate:
One symptom of long COVID is “brain-fog.” It is the inability to concentrate as the virus causes brain cell damage or brain inflammation. There are specially designed games to improve cognitive functions. Researchers from the University of Cambridge created Decoder; games to improve concentration. Lumosity is an app made by neuroscientists based on principles of neuroplasticity to boost brain function.
3. Mental health issues:
COVID-19 takes a toll on mental health. Some people experience mood changes, depression, and anxiety.
Meditation does improve our mental health. There are dedicated meditation headbands like Muse S or BrainLink Pro to begin one to practice.
4. Diabetes and hypertension:
mySugar app helps diabetics to reinterpret their health conditions so that they can manage better and live alongside with it.
Diabetes management app utilizes gamification to encourage patients to maintain a desirable glucose level. iHealth Clear measures systolic, diastolic blood pressure and heart rates in mere 30 seconds.
It connects with a smartphone so that results can be shared with physician remotely.
5. Shortness of breath:
Wearables like WHOOP measure respiratory rate, or number of breaths per minute. It is an accurate and non-invasive method to do so.
Oura Ring measures respiratory rate and patients collecting this data can share it remotely to caregivers for the purpose of monitoring.
6. Low grade fever:
This symptom can leave someone bedridden for hours with side effects like headaches and muscle aches. Taking medical care and medication on time can avoid such complications. Oura Ring measures body temperature continuously. It monitors sleep pattern, activity level and heart rate.
7. Sleep problems:
Exercises and meditation improve sleep and sleep tracker gives added insights into our sleep quality. Sleep tracking apps and devices like Philips SmartSleep provide such analysis. Thus, you can adjust your routine to get optimal sleep.
8. Skin rash:
A.I. based skin checker apps like Cureskin help to monitor progression in skin rashes. After taking pictures from smartphone camera, these apps analyse skin lesions, send recommendations and give reminders to help you keep track.
They connect you with dermatologists remotely to help with expert assessments thus, appropriate ointments can be prescribed.