Many COVID-19 long-haulers, including myself, suffer from lung damage and prolonged lung issues after the virus.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a lung condition characterized by breathing difficulty, coughing, and excess mucus production. It’s caused by long-term exposure to irritants, such as tobacco smoke but is also triggered by respiratory infections such as COVID-19.
Another potential complication of COVID-19 is the development of lung scarring (pulmonary fibrosis). COVID-19 can trigger an immune response that leads to inflammation in the lungs, which can cause scarring. Like any scar on our body, there’s a thickening of the tissue and a reduction in flexibility. When breathing, it’s harder for the tissue to expand and contract, leading to less oxygen in the bloodstream. More energy is required to breathe, and this additional energy demand leads to shortness of breath and fatigue….