The Role & Impact of H.E.L.P. Apheresis in Comprehensive Long Covid Care

If you’re one of the millions struggling with Long Covid symptoms like crushing fatigue, brain fog, and chest pain months after a COVID infection, you’re not alone. This bewildering condition has left previously healthy people bedridden, unable to think clearly or manage basic tasks of daily living. Needless to say, quality of life tanks for those afflicted. I’ve talked to many Long Haulers who say they “just want their old life back.”

Well, there’s new hope on the horizon. Emerging research shows that tiny blood clots left behind after COVID-19 may be robbing people of oxygen and vitality. The good news? A treatment called H.E.L.P. Apheresis is showing the potential to vacuum out these nasty micro clots and help people reclaim their energy.

Keep reading to learn what makes this unique blood filtration treatment so promising for Long Covid relief…

What is H.E.L.P. Apheresis for Long Covid?

H.E.L.P. Apheresis stands for Hemoperfusion Enhanced Lipoprotein Apheresis. It is an extracorporeal blood purification therapy that filters the blood to remove micro clots and other harmful particles.

Some key things to know about Help Apheresis for Long Covid:

• It uses a special filter to remove micro clots, lipoproteins like LDL cholesterol, cytokines, inflammatory mediators, and other particles between 15-40 microns in size from the blood.
• Blood is taken from the patient through an IV line, filtered through the H.E.L.P. Apheresis device, and then returned to the body.
• Treatments last 2-3 hours and are typically performed 1-2 times per week.
• It has been used safely for decades to treat severe hyperlipidemia but is now being applied to Long Covid as well.

H.E.L.P. Apheresis works by reducing inflammation and improving microcirculation. For Long Covid patients, this can translate to enhanced energy, stamina, breathing, cognitive function, and overall quality of life.

The Link Between Micro clots and Long Covid

Emerging research indicates that micro clots play a major role in the chronic symptoms and dysautonomia observed in Long Covid patients. For example:

• A study found elevated levels of fibrinogen – an indicator of micro clot formation – in the blood of Long Covid patients compared to healthy controls.
• Higher levels of D-dimers and thrombin generation, two byproducts indicating increased blood clot formation, have been found.
• Autopsies have revealed microthrombi in the lungs, heart, kidneys, and liver of deceased COVID-19 patients.

It is believed SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, triggers inflammatory and coagulation (clotting) pathways in the body. In some people these processes continue even after the active infection is gone, resulting in ongoing micro clot formation and circulation issues. The micro clots block small blood vessels and reduce tissue oxygenation. This leads to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, “brain fog,” headaches, and body aches characteristic of Long Covid.

Long Covid Apheresis Community Perspectives

In online Long Covid patient communities, stories abound of H.E.L.P. Apheresis dramatically improving quality of life after just a few sessions.

For example, Brianne D. shared:

• I’m coming up on the 5-month mark post-treatment and I’d say I’m at about 85%functioning capacity…I climbed several flights of stairs and hills recently while sightseeing without needing to stop for breath.

• After seven treatments spaced apart, I seemed to turn the corner…I bike 25 hilly miles now like it is nothing. My mind is clear enough to handle complex logical constructs and be witty in conversation again.

The key appears to be receiving enough treatments (at least 5-7 sessions) to sustainably “reset” the balance in the body – clearing micro clots and inflammation so healing can begin. Maintenance sessions may be needed every few months, especially if new triggers introduce more micro clots.

More research is still needed to optimize protocols. However, these real-world experiences demonstrate that H.E.L.P. Apheresis can successfully treat the root micro clot issue plaguing many with post-COVID symptoms.

Final Words

At the end of the day, we all just want to live vibrant, active lives on our terms. For those still struggling with Long Covid, the fogginess, exhaustion, and pain can make even basic daily tasks feel impossible. It’s beyond frustrating.

But there is hope. H.E.L.P. Apheresis from providers like LCA Community is giving people their lives back – the ability to think clearly, exercise, socialize, and enjoy family time again without limitation. Targeting the root micro clot causes behind so many post-COVID issues, empowers patients to heal and regain their sense of freedom.