Exercise could treat symptoms of long-COVID, researchers say

Exercise could treat symptoms of long-COVID, researchers say “Exercise can help. Exercise takes care of the inflammation that leads to elevated blood glucose and the development and progression of diabetes and clinical depression,” said Candida Rebello, a Adam Barnes TheHill

A new study suggests a link between exercise and a reduced risk of developing depression and type 2 diabetes caused by inflammation-inducing bouts with long COVID-19.  

“We know that Long COVID causes depression, and we know that it can increase blood glucose levels to the point where people develop diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition common among people with type 1 diabetes,” Candida Rebello, a research scientist at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, said in a news release.  

“Exercise can help. Exercise takes care of the inflammation that leads to elevated blood glucose and the development and progression of diabetes and clinical depression,” Rebello added.  

Estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest between 15 percent and 80 percent of people who initially contract the virus suffer from long-term symptoms, and previous research has indicated that inactive persons are more likely to experience severe outcomes than are normally associated with chronic diseases.  

Researchers also cited a separate study which found in an analysis of 62,354 patients that 5.8 percent developed a new psychiatric condition, such as anxiety and mood disorders, within 90 days of a COVID-19 diagnosis. 

The new report “Exercise as a Moderator of Persistent Neuroendocrine Symptoms of COVID-19,” was published in the journal Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews  ...