ERJ: physical weakness after COVID-19 is associated with tissue oxygen deficiency

A study by scientists from Yale University in the USA has shown that the inability to exercise after COVID-19 is associated with impaired oxygen uptake by body tissues. The results of the study are published in the European Respiratory Society (ERJ).

Exercise intolerance or inability to exercise at expected or desired levels is one of the symptoms of prolonged COVID-19. When a patient reports difficulty breathing or inability to exercise, physicians typically perform a CT scan, echocardiogram, or pulmonary function testing (PFT). These exams can determine if there are malfunctions in the heart and lungs. However, physical weakness may have another cause.

American scientists, in a study involving 55 volunteers, found that the inability to exercise after COVID-19 is due to impaired oxygen uptake by body tissues. Despite the absence of heart problems and a sufficient level of oxygen saturation in the blood, in many subjects the body tissues were unable to utilize it.

It is noted that in case of complaints of physical weakness, doctors often recommend patients to move more and engage in fitness. However, the fulfillment of such prescriptions is impossible for some people. The authors of the study note that drugs for the treatment of muscle weakness, in particular those containing pyridostigmine, can improve well-being. The ability to exercise may also be improved by taking vitamin and mineral complexes under the supervision of a doctor.

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