A multi-system condition in which symptoms persist weeks to months after COVID-19 infection. Treated at Prince Health with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, functional medicine, IV ozone, IV infusion therapy, and halotherapy to address the biological mechanisms that keep symptoms cycling.
Long COVID affects far more than one organ system. The condition, formally called post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), creates overlapping disruptions in the nervous system, immune system, cardiovascular system, and cellular energy production. That is why patients experience such a wide range of symptoms, from brain fog and fatigue to heart palpitations and exercise intolerance.
Autonomic nervous system dysregulation sits at the center of many cases. COVID-19 can lock the sympathetic "fight or flight" branch into overdrive while suppressing the parasympathetic "rest and digest" side. This imbalance disrupts heart rate regulation, blood pressure control, digestion, and sleep architecture. The body gets stuck in a stress state it cannot exit on its own. Functional medicine evaluation identifies these patterns through advanced testing that standard panels miss. Many of the same patients meet criteria for POTS or dysautonomia.
Mitochondrial damage explains the fatigue. COVID-19 impairs the mitochondria's ability to produce ATP, the energy currency of every cell. Patients feel wiped out after minimal physical or cognitive effort. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers oxygen under increased pressure, reaching tissues that normal circulation cannot adequately supply and supporting the mitochondrial repair process.
Microclots and lingering inflammation compound the problem. Tiny blood clots form in the smallest vessels, restricting oxygen delivery to tissues throughout the body. Viral fragments persist in organs and trigger ongoing immune activation. IV ozone therapy and IV infusion therapy support immune modulation and replenish the nutrients that chronic illness depletes. Patients often present alongside reactivated Epstein-Barr virus, which our protocol assesses in parallel.