You At Your Best

By kAren riCe you At your Best It comes as no surprise that a global pandemic would increase feelings of stress, fear, depression and other mental health concerns. Limited social interactions, tensions among families in lockdown together, economic strife and fear of illness have had a marked effect on people's mental health around the globe. Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data confirming a rise in fatal overdoses during the pandemic, and increases in calls to helplines across the country in the past year. "When we are faced with a crisis like this that threatens our health, safety, and life, experiencing fear and anxiety can be unavoidable, as they are the mind and body's natural response to danger and uncertainty," says Dr. Elizabeth Reichert of Stanford University. "Similarly, feelings of sadness, loneliness and grief are natural responses to loss and isolation." More than 42% of people surveyed by the US Census Bureau in December reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in December, an increase from 11% the previous year. In addition, new research shows that depression may be linked to COVID-19 infections. Among more than 3,900 people who had COVID-19 surveyed between May 2020 and January 2021, 52% suffered symptoms of major depression, researchers found. The study could not prove cause and effect. It's possible that those who said they were suffering from depression had their symptoms before they had COVID-19, or that they were slower to recover from depression after being sick or were more at risk for COVID-19 in the first place, the researchers stressed. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you are feeling overwhelmed, especially if you have pre- existing mental health conditions. COVID-19 MANA offers Post COVID Recovery Program MANA Medical Associates is offering a Post COVID Recovery Program for people in Northwest Arkansas who are experiencing symptoms weeks after their initial COVID illness. Some people who have had COVID-19 continue to experience symptoms from the virus several weeks or months after their diagnosis like shortness of breath, anxiety, pain, joint pain, or difficulty concentrating. These are symptoms they did not have prior to having the virus. People have begun to call the lingering symptoms from the COVID-19 virus, Long COVID. The coronavirus can cause damage to the lungs, heart, and brain and increase the risk for long-term health problems. Even patients who had mild symptoms can develop other symptoms later on that may be related to the COVID-19 virus. "We want to let people know the symptoms are real and we are here to help them manage those symptoms and provide support," said Dr. Allen Moseley, a Pulmonary and Critical Care physician at MANA's Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic. Dr. Moseley cared for patients in the COVID unit at Washington Regional Medical Center for the past year and is now seeing some of those patients back at Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic with lingering symptoms of COVID-19. "We are seeing patients who have lung damage and patients who have medical issues like depression," explained Dr. Moseley. "We are learning more about the novel coronavirus and its long-term effects." In the MANA program, post COVID-19 patients can connect with a primary care doctor who will evaluate their symptoms and coordinate any specialty medical care and diagnostic testing. MANA pulmonologists, neurologists, sleep doctors, and psychiatrists will provide expert evaluation as needed and work with the primary care doctor to manage the patient's symptoms. People who tested positive for COVID-19 60 or more days ago, that have lingering symptoms can complete a Post COVID interest form at www.mana.md or call 479-435-2444. MANA has 22 locations across Northwest Arkansas. & mental health ■ Before pandemic ■ during pandemic us adults reporting symptoms of depression source: Centers for disease Control and Prevention (us data). Covid's mental stress The percentage of people experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety has surged amid the COVID-19 pandemic, data from nationally representative surveys show. June 2020: 42% July 2019- March 2020: 11% 6 | YOu At YOuR Best | YOuAtYOuRBest.nWAOnline.cOM June - Active Minds | sundAY, MAY 30, 2021

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