Even though COVID-19 disease is caused by the SARS-COV 2 virus entering the human body mainly through the respiratory system, it is not a respiratory disease. The virus also proliferates in the sinuses, and thus enters our neurological system, causing a lot of damage. Any system in the body with a rich capillary network for blood supply is heavily prone to clotting, and thus ischemia, and ultimately the death of tissues/cells in that ischemic penumbra/area.
Systems in the body that are detrimentally damaged by this microvascular clotting are mainly; the neurological/psychological system resulting in central nervous system injury with subsequent peripheral nerve damage, the respiratory system with extensive lung scarring, the cardiac system with resultant arrhythmias, the renal system with chronic renal failure and the gastrointestinal system. These systemic sequela thus can morph into chronic or long haul COVID-19, which can effect 50-75% of COVID-19 disease survivors.
Long haul/chronic COVID-19 disease
Chronic COVID-19 disease is very debilitating and is normally multi-systemic. The bone crushing fatigue alone leads to such functional impairment, that there will a population of seriously disabled patients applying for disability and early retirement in the next 6-12 months. Treatment for chronic COVID-19 disease is currently supportive. I recommend optimization of thyroid/parathyroid function, meaning levels above the 50th percentile, which includes hemoglobin level, and Vitamin D/B12 levels. I also recommend high doses of Vitamin C with rose hips/bioflavonoids, dose of 2,000-3,000 mg daily, as well as, Magnesium Citrate 800 mg to 1,200 mg daily. All doses should be adjusted if renal failure is present.
Prevention of microvascular clotting
If the patient is not on Lovenox subcutaneously after discharge from the hospital or was never hospitalized, then keep the blood thin with herbs such as Red Panax Ginseng and Gingko Biloba should be adequate. Avoid Vitamin K in vitamins/supplements, and foods rich in Vitamin K.
No cure for COVID-19
Currently there is no cure for COVID-19 disease. The cure is actually in the prevention of the disease or being an unavailable host, by wearing masks in public areas, physical distancing and excellent hand hygiene with 20 seconds hand washing. Remdesivir shows promise as a therapeutic agent and convalescent plasma is also helpful. Hydroxychloroquine treatment remains controversial, more robust academic studies need to be performed for the role of Hydroxychloroquine as a therapeutic agent.