Women’s health has often been marginalized in medical research and healthcare practices, historically. For many years, clinical studies primarily focused on male participants, leading to a significant gap in understanding and addressing the unique health needs of women. This oversight has resulted in delayed diagnoses, inadequate treatment protocols, and a general lack of awareness about conditions that disproportionately or exclusively affect women. The repercussions of this neglect are evident in various health outcomes, including the management of chronic illnesses, reproductive health, and more recently, the differentiated impact of conditions like long COVID.
A recent study has revealed that women with long COVID exhibit a broader range of symptoms compared to men. Long Covid, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is a condition where symptoms persist for weeks or months after recovering from the acute phase of COVID-19. Common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive issues (“brain fog”), muscle and joint pain, and sleep disturbances.
The exact cause is unclear, but it may involve ongoing inflammation and immune system issues. It can affect people of all ages, even those with mild initial infections. This finding is crucial for understanding the gender-specific impacts of long COVID and addressing the unique challenges faced by women in their daily lives, workplaces, and educational environments.
Let’s dive deeper;
The study analyzed data from thousands of long COVID patients and discovered that women reported a wider variety of symptoms than their male counterparts. These symptoms include chronic fatigue, brain fog, sleep disturbances, joint pain, heart palpitations, and anxiety, among others. While both men and women suffer from long COVID, the multiplicity and intensity of symptoms in women appear more pronounced.
My friend’s mother, who was a teacher for over 15 years, has quit her job because she feels “too weak and flushed during the day” to continue working. She retired early, explaining, “It was a task to keep up with the students as I would constantly feel drained. Checking answer sheets, attending back-to-back lectures, and the general job stress became too hard to cope with.” Since contracting Covid, she has been falling sick constantly and finds life difficult overall. Now, she stays at home and holds a passion for gardening.
These array of symptoms that women experience can significantly disrupt daily routines and activities. Chronic fatigue and brain fog hinder their ability to perform household tasks, manage family responsibilities, and engage in social activities. Sleep disturbances can lead to further exhaustion and decreased cognitive function, worsening the struggle to maintain a normal lifestyle. Joint pain and heart palpitations can limit physical activity, reducing overall mobility and independence.
Women with long COVID face substantial challenges in the workplace as well. The symptoms can impede their productivity and reliability, making it difficult to meet job expectations. Chronic fatigue and cognitive impairments affect their ability to focus, remember details, and make decisions, which are crucial for most job functions. The workplace is already skewed against women, with persistent gender biases, wage gaps, and underrepresentation in leadership roles creating a challenging environment. Long COVID adds another layer of difficulty, worsening these existing inequalities and making it even harder for women to navigate their professional lives.
This situation necessitates negotiations with employers for accommodations such as flexible work hours, remote work options, and extended sick leave. However, workplaces are often dismissive of women’s health concerns, frequently undermining the seriousness of their symptoms and the need for appropriate accommodations. This dismissive attitude can make it particularly challenging for women with long COVID to secure the necessary support, further complicating their ability to manage their health while meeting job expectations.
Physical symptoms of long COVID, such as chronic fatigue, pain, and breathlessness, can significantly impact the mental health of women. Studies have shown that persistent physical health issues are closely linked with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. For instance, a study published in The Lancet reported that patients with long COVID frequently experience psychological symptoms, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as a result of their ongoing health struggles.
This psychological burden is often compounded by the frustration and helplessness of dealing with unpredictable and debilitating physical symptoms, further worsening mental health issues. The interplay between physical and mental health challenges creates a vicious cycle that can be particularly severe for women, who may already face additional stressors related to gender-based disparities in healthcare and societal expectations.
My friend, who is a UPSC aspirant, is suffering from long Covid, which has significantly affected her mental health. She constantly struggles with brain fog and fatigue which is making it difficult to retain information like she used to. Preparing for such a competitive exam has become a major challenge. She says, “No amount of coffee can keep me awake for more than a couple of hours. I’ve started taking some vitamin supplements, which have helped with the weakness a bit, but I’m still far from how I used to be and it’s disheartening”.
For women pursuing education, long COVID symptoms can derail their academic progress. Brain fog and fatigue make it hard to concentrate during lectures, complete assignments, or prepare for exams. Sleep disturbances can lead to inconsistent attendance and participation. The necessity for extended deadlines or medical leave may arise, requiring negotiations with educational institutions. However, the variability in institutional support can result in uneven academic experiences and potential delays in educational attainment. This inconsistency arises because not all educational institutions have standardized policies or sufficient resources to accommodate students with long COVID.
Some may offer flexible deadlines, remote learning options, and mental health support, while others may lack such provisions, leaving students to navigate their challenges with minimal assistance. This disparity can lead to significant setbacks for students, such as falling behind in coursework, struggling to keep up with peers, and even facing the possibility of extended graduation timelines.
Additionally, the stress of managing a chronic illness without adequate institutional support can worsen both physical and mental health issues, further hindering academic performance. For women, who often shoulder additional responsibilities and face unique societal pressures, these challenges are even more pronounced, potentially affecting their long-term career prospects and financial stability.
A significant issue that worsens long COVID is the lack of discussion about nutrition and diet, which are crucial for managing chronic illnesses. According to a YKA survey on nutrition, 64.2% of respondents reported that diet and nutrition were not discussed with them when they were between 10-19 years of age. Among those who did receive this information, only 26.68% received it from their parents or caregivers.
This lack of early nutritional education leaves many women ill-equipped to manage their long COVID symptoms effectively through dietary adjustments. Understanding the importance of nutrition could help alleviate some of the symptoms and improve overall health, but the absence of such discussions hinders this potential benefit.
The broader range of symptoms experienced by women highlights the need for gender-specific healthcare approaches. Women may require more comprehensive and multidisciplinary care strategies to manage their symptoms effectively. Additionally, healthcare providers need to be aware of the gender differences in symptom presentation to avoid misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of long COVID in women.
What Can Be Done?
Supporting women with long COVID requires a multifaceted approach, beginning with raising awareness and education. Employers and educational institutions need to be informed about the gender-specific impacts of long COVID to promote an environment of understanding and support. These gender-specific impacts include a broader range of symptoms that women tend to experience more intensely, such as chronic fatigue, brain fog, sleep disturbances, joint pain, heart palpitations, and anxiety.
Women may also face additional societal and familial pressures, such as caregiving responsibilities, which can compound the difficulties of managing long COVID. By recognizing the unique challenges that women face, these entities can better accommodate their needs, helping them balance their health and responsibilities effectively.
Implementing flexible work and study policies is another critical measure. Such policies allow women to manage their symptoms without compromising their professional or academic responsibilities. Flexible hours, remote work options, and lenient deadlines can significantly alleviate the pressures that worsens long COVID symptoms, promoting a healthier and more productive lifestyle.
Access to comprehensive healthcare services tailored to women’s specific needs is essential for effective symptom management. Healthcare providers should offer personalized care plans that address the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of long COVID. Ensuring that women have access to these resources can lead to better health outcomes and an improved quality of life.
NIH in their initiative stated how specialized long COVID clinics should be established. Creating dedicated clinics that offer a multidisciplinary approach can help manage the diverse symptoms associated with long COVID. The study suggests that there should be efficient collaboration between primary care providers, pulmonologists, cardiologists, neurologists, and mental health professionals for the treatment of diverse long COVID symptoms.
According to a study, there should be an increased awareness among healthcare providers as educating healthcare providers about the prevalence and impact of long COVID in women will ensure timely recognition and treatment. Additionally, providing women with resources and information about long COVID will also help them to advocate for their health needs.
The findings of the study underscore the complex and multifaceted challenges women with long COVID face. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort from healthcare providers, employers, educational institutions, and policymakers. By recognizing the broader range of symptoms in women and implementing supportive measures, we can better assist women in managing long COVID and maintaining their quality of life.