Formula 1 champion, Lewis Hamilton, says he suspects he still suffers from long COVID.
On Sunday, after a gruelling fight to the second place in the Hungarian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton complained of fatigue and dizziness, and even blurred vision, all of which are classic symptoms of the illness.
"Everything got a bit blurry on the podium," he was quotes as saying by Reuters.
The British racer had tested positive for COVID-19 back in December 2020 and was forced to sit out Sakhir Grand Prix.
He was however back behind the wheel within a couple of weeks, competing at Abu Dhabi GP ion 13 December and finishing 3rd.
The reigning F1 champion, however, says that although he's tested negative, he feels the after effects of the illness is still lingering, saying 'training’s been different since then, the levels of fatigue that you get, it’s different.'
"I've been fighting all year, really, with staying healthy after what happened at the end of last year.. .It’s still a battle."Lewis Hamilton, F1 champion, quoted by Reuters
What is Long COVID?
COVID-19 doesn't quite leave the body even as the RT-PCR test turns negative, of this we know.
Over the course of the year and a half, the list of symptoms that linger on called 'long COVID' or 'post COVID' has only got longer.
These can range from the more common symptoms like Chronic fatigue and brain fog to less common ones of hair loss, diabetes, tremors, and even phantom smell.
Speaking to FIT for a previous article, Dr Avindra Nath, Chief of the Section of Infections of the Nervous System, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US, spoke of how COVID affects the brain function of patients.
"They have word-finding difficulties, difficulty remembering things, and they may have depression or anxiety,"Dr Avindra Nath, Chief of the Section of Infections of the Nervous System, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to FIT
This mental and physical strain on the body of COVID recovered patients can be amplified when put in strenuous situations like that of a Grand Prix race.
Autoracing is a physically and mentally demanding sport in itself, but experts point to how the 4.3 Kilometre Hungarioring racetrack is an especially difficult one.
Are You Ready to Exercise?
When should you start exercising after recovering from COVID?
(Photo: FIT)
In yet another article, FIT spoke of how the road to COVID recovery can be a slow one, and how getting back to exercise and physical activity must be done in a measured manner.
If you have just recovered from COVID (mild, moderate or severe) here are some things to keep in mind if you are thinking of getting back to sweating it out.
Realise and accept that your body is not what it was pre-COVID. Accept that you will be slowe. Be Kind to it, and give it time to heel.
Monitor your saturation level at all times.
Start slow and gradually build up: Start by walking around your house, and increasing the number of steps you walk each day.
Have protein rich, 'body building' diet.
Breating exercises can help build back lung strength and stamina too.
(Written with inputs from Reuters.)
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