Managing Long COVID with Functional Medicine: Personalized Lab Testing & Treatment Approaches

If you are someone who has struggled to return to your “normal” self after a COVID-19 infection, you are not alone. Long COVID, also known as long-haul COVID, is a chronic illness that can affect multiple organ systems. While many individuals recover from COVID-19 without complications, a portion of the population experiences persistent symptoms or develops complications following the initial infection.

Although there is currently no standardized treatment for long COVID, research is ongoing and steadily progressing. Evaluation for long COVID may include basic blood work, functional lab testing, advanced panels, imaging studies, or referrals to specialists as part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary care approach. Treatment will vary based on lab findings, contributing factors, and each individual’s unique experience with long COVID.

Functional medicine approaches the management of long COVID by starting with thorough lab assessments. Commonly ordered tests include chronic infection panels, autoimmune and immune system screenings, gut health analyses, and inflammatory markers. These assessments help rule out coexisting conditions that may be weakening the immune system. Identifying a chronic viral illness, autoimmune disease, or pathogenic agents in the gastrointestinal tract—among other comorbidities—can provide a more targeted and thoughtful strategy to support immune function. This, in turn, helps providers understand why a person may have been unable to fully clear the COVID-19 virus.

Understanding how each individual’s immune system is functioning also allows for a more personalized treatment plan, focusing on both managing long COVID and addressing any pathogens or immune dysregulation.

While long COVID can be frustrating and challenging to navigate, there are actionable steps that can help alleviate symptoms and treat co-infections or underlying conditions. In the meantime, it is crucial to validate and support those suffering from the long-term effects of COVID-19 through proper diagnostic workups and individualized care.

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Author: Dr. Caitlan Readhead

Disclaimer:

This information is generalized and intended for educational purposes only. Due to potential individual contraindications, please see your primary care provider before implementing any strategies in these posts.