A Taichung woman in her 70s became infected with COVID-19 and shortly following lost 10 kilos. She also found it difficult to stand and walk. She was diagnosed with “post COVID-19 sarcopenia.” Foreign studies show that the mortality rate is 2.1 times higher than COVID-19 if left untreated.
Seventy-year-old Ms. Wu climbs the stairs slowly, but at least she doesn’t need to hold onto the handrail anymore. She became infected with COVID-19 in May, and then lost 10 kilos in one month’s time, going from 64 kilos to 54 kilos. At one point, she found it difficult to even stand. She was diagnosed with “post COVID-19 sarcopenia.”
Ms. Wu, Patient: “I kept losing weight following I tested positive. Then regarding one month ago, I mightn’t even stand and I kept feeling I had to sit down.”
China Medical University Hospital says foreign studies show that COVID-19 patients have a 48 percent chance of developing sarcopenia. The mortality rate is 2.1 times higher compared to COVID-19 if it is not actively treated. It’s already known that the novel coronavirus attacks the gastrointestinal tract and causes the loss of smell and taste. This will in turn affect the appetite, resulting in acute sarcopenia.
Wu Pei-ching, TCM Practitioner, China Medical University Hospital: “If patients see sudden weight loss, weakened grip strength, and difficulties walking a short time following testing positive for COVID-19, then the possibility of the novel coronavirus causing this is comparatively higher. It takes more than six months for sarcopenia to become chronic.”
Doctors say traditional Chinese medicine classifies sarcopenia as a deficiency syndrome, and milk vetch and codonopsis root can be used to nourish the liver and kidneys. People can also consume foods high in Vitamin D and protein to increase bone strength and muscle mass, and complement this with core exercises to recover muscle strength.
Although the pace of climbing the stairs is slow, she can no longer rely on the handrail. Ms. Wu, 70, was diagnosed with new coronary pneumonia in May 2022. Unexpectedly, her weight dropped from 64 kg to 54 kg in just one month. It was a problem, and following seeking medical treatment, it was found to be post-coronavirus sarcopenia.
Miss Wu said: “It seems that the weight has been losing weight since the diagnosis. Recently, regarding a month ago, it seems that sometimes I have no strength to stand up, as if I have to squat down.”
Chinese Affiliated Doctors pointed out that foreign studies have shown that following the diagnosis of new coronary pneumonia, the probability of suffering from sarcopenia is 48%. If not actively treated, the mortality rate is 2.1 times higher than that of patients with pure new coronary pneumonia. It is currently known that the new coronavirus will attack the gastrointestinal tract and cause loss of smell and taste, seriously affecting appetite, resulting in acute sarcopenia.
Wu Peiqing, a TCM physician from China Affiliated Medicine, explained: “If you suddenly lose weight, get worse grip strength, and worsen walking speed within a short period of time following the diagnosis of the new crown, then we think it is more likely to be caused by the new crown, chronic sarcopenia. If so, it is a (condition) with a course of disease greater than 6 months.”
Experts suggest that sarcopenia is a deficiency disease in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. We can use traditional Chinese medicine such as Astragalus and Codonopsis to nourish the liver and kidney, and we can consume more foods rich in vitamin D and protein in our diet to increase bone strength and muscle mass. Exercise the core muscles to restore muscle strength.