The tests that'll help you keep track of your health during COVID-19 recovery, according to a doctor

India is possibly on the brink of another wave of COVID-19, with a spurt in active cases across the country and newer variants slowly creeping in. Vaccines are, of course, being rolled out, but given that none of them (including the ones available abroad) guarantee 100-per cent protection, we need to continue to keep our guard up and follow prescribed protocol. “With the opening up of public transport and people going back to ‘regular’ life and partying like before, cases are bound to go up. People seem to be exhibiting ‘COVID’ fatigue and throwing caution to the wind about basic precautions. We must accept reality and learn to live with the situation as long as required, else those ignoring it may end up paying a heavier price,” says Dr Vishakha Shivdasani.

In her recently launched e-book COVID and Post-COVID Recovery (HarperCollins India), the doctor, author and nutritionist who specialises in lifestyle ailments shares her six-point guide aimed to help one recover from the virus faster as well as prevent complications in post-COVID long haulers (defined by WHO as those who experience long-term effects of COVID-19, including fatigue, respiratory symptoms and neurological issues).

“The six-point plan covers various aspects of diet, sleep, stress, exercise, supplements and gut health, and how each of them impacts your health. More importantly, it tells you how you can enhance your immunity and health at large by addressing these six points,” says Shivdasani, who admits that this particular virus has been a learning curve for doctors, making it truly novel.

What is documented, though, in studies around the world, is that patients who have had serious outcomes (including those who have succumbed to the virus) are the ones with co-morbidities, like Type-2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and so on. “Most of these [illnesses] have inflammation as a common denominator. Take away the inflammation and you’ll find that recovery improves and chances of complications decrease. My protocol targets exactly this, as we need to get to the root of the problem instead of simply masking a symptom,” she says.

Shivdasani maintains that since most symptoms are manifestations of inflammation, as explained above, it is vital to do a blood test called CRP (C-Reactive Protein), which tells you the inflammatory status in the body—something that can be missed clinically. “I make my patients do a CRP test every few days. It is an inexpensive test that can save lives. It may not tell you where exactly the inflammation is, but it definitely gives you a trajectory so you know if the patient is improving or deteriorating and can take immediate action accordingly,” she explains.

The other test she insists all her patients do over the 14 days is the ‘six-minute walk test’ “Everyone has a pulse oximeter at home nowadays. If you check your baseline saturation, then walk six minutes and check your saturation again. If it drops more than three per cent, it means you are desaturating and need to see your doctor as soon as possible. For example, if your baseline saturation is 97 and it drops to 92 or 93 after a six-minute walk, you need to get it addressed. Doing this simple test can prevent major complications.”

Some of Shivdasani’s recommendations to prep for the vaccine and improve its efficacy include a high-protein diet, probiotics, sound sleep and supplementation with other minerals. “For example, vaccines work by stimulating the release of antibodies in the body. Since antibodies are made up of proteins, a protein deficiency can actually prevent the vaccine from functioning optimally. This is especially true for the elderly, whose protein intake tends to be lower,” she shares.

Shivdasani stresses that the only way to prevent COVID-19 is to wear a mask, keep a six-foot distance and sanitise your hands regularly. “My six-point plan—using an anti-inflammatory diet, taking care of gut health, using supplements to sleep well if required, the breathing technique  I have described in the book to lower stress and inflammation, and the addition of correct vitamins—should all help enhance immunity and fight not just this virus but any mutation of it that we may encounter going forward,” she says.

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