Medically reviewed by Dr. Lauren Weber
Did you know that phototherapy was used in Ancient Greece? Known as Heliotherapy, it involves exposing the sick to sunlight. The advancements in modern technology have significantly enhanced the effectiveness of phototherapy, shedding new light on its numerous benefits. Red Light Therapy, which harnesses the power of Red and Near-Infrared Light, is an effective treatment option with a broad reach for health advantages. Whether you’re trying to relieve muscle and joint pain or want to enhance your immune system and its effectiveness, this non-invasive therapy offers diverse benefits.
Even though it might seem that the COVID-19 pandemic is long gone, it is not so. Unfortunately, some people may still get sick or experience Long COVID or have developed chronic fatigue syndrome due to the viral infection they have endured. Inflammation is one of the main drivers of Long COVID symptoms. Inflammation causes pain, is associated with many diseases, and rapidly ages us.
Keep reading to learn more about what Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome are and why Red Light Therapy might be an effective complementary treatment.
What Is Long COVID?
Long COVID is an umbrella term for symptoms related to an initial COVID-19 infection. Symptoms that persist four weeks past clearing the infection. These symptoms can continue for weeks, months, or years. While it is important to not self-diagnose and always seek an expert opinion from a healthcare provider, being familiar with some of the symptoms of Long COVID can be helpful. They include:
- Fatigue
- Headaches, memory issues
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Symptoms get worse after physical or mental effort
- Cardiac Issues (tachycardia, palpitations, pericarditis)
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Depression or anxiety
- Diarrhea
- Joint or muscle pain
- Blood clots (DVT/deep vein thrombosis)
- Changes in menstrual cycle
There’s also the possibility that it can contribute to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or exacerbate auto-immune conditions.
To get diagnosed, before seeing your healthcare provider, you should prepare a description of when your post-COVID symptoms started, what they are, and how often they occur, as well as take note of all your current medications and supplements.
Reasons for Long COVID
Because of how COVID spreads within the body, a severe form of COVID that may or may not require hospitalization may cause organ damage that can affect the heart, kidneys, skin, and brain, with the main driver being inflammation. Fatigue is the most prevalent complaint of Long COVID. Chronic inflammation exacerbates this fatigue.
What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is a complex and debilitating medical condition characterized by persistent fatigue (six months or longer) that is not alleviated by rest and is not caused by any other underlying medical condition. Unfortunately, ME/CFS is a poorly understood condition, the reasons for which need to be clarified.
Some of the symptoms of CFS are like those of Long COVID; in some cases, this condition could be triggered by the infection. Fatigue that does not get better with rest, memory problems, dizziness, and muscle and joint pain are common symptoms of CFS.
See your healthcare provider if you experience excessive fatigue to get evaluated for a potential cause.
How Red Light Therapy Helps COVID, Long COVID, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Research has shown that Red Light Therapy may effectively manage some COVID, Long COVID, and CFS symptoms. Let’s explore how Red Light Therapy works and why it may alleviate symptoms such as inflammation, fatigue, tissue and organ damage, and muscle pain and stiffness.
Red Light Therapy and COVID-19 and Long COVID
RLT restores the energy and fuel the cell has to utilize to function and heal itself. Complications due to COVID-19 may be caused by a low immune system response, which releases pro-inflammatory cytokines that can damage organs. Research shows that Red Light Therapy improves mitochondrial health and immune function, promotes healing and tissue repair, and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines. Red and Near-Infrared Light have been shown to decrease inflammation and pain effectively, promote lung tissue regeneration, and enhance circulation, driving more oxygen and nutrients to the organs and tissues. RLT improves cell health and effectively restores and improves overall energy safely without UV Light.
Red Light Therapy and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Red Light Therapy is also beneficial for helping individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome replenish their energy. RLT enhances the quality of life by improving fatigue and mood, decreasing muscle pain and spasms, and reducing joint stiffness. At Deeply Vital Medical, we have whole-body panels to treat you from head to toe to help eliminate systemic inflammation.
Living with Long COVID/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
It may be challenging to navigate the symptoms of Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome, so we would like to share several suggestions to do alongside whole-body Red Light Therapy.
Joining a support group may help you decrease feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Making small changes to your lifestyle, such as following an anti-inflammatory diet, spending time outdoors, and attending complimentary therapies such as yoga, acupuncture, tai chi, and gentle massages, could also be helpful. Try to follow a set sleep routine by going to bed at the same time every night and limiting how much caffeine you have in the evening to ease insomnia. It is also always a good idea to avoid drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Furthermore, seeking the help of a therapist can be invaluable for managing symptoms of depression or social isolation.
While extensive research shows how safe, beneficial, and effective Red Light Therapy is, this complementary treatment is still being studied. We would also like to remind you that if you are pregnant, we need more data to determine safety.
At Deeply Vital Medical, a leading whole-body Light Therapy medical practice, we proudly sell quality supplements and offer Health consultations to help you begin your journey toward regaining your energy and restoring and optimizing your health. Set up a complimentary phone consultation with Dr. Lauren Weber to see how whole-body Light Therapy can help you and your Long COVID or chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms improve. Get in touch with us to discover the healing power of Red Light Therapy and set off on your path to restoring your quality of life.
