South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Reader had mild COVID-19, still struggles with confusion
Q: I had COVID-19 in January and quarantined myself for 10 days after testing positive. My doctor prescribed a short-term antibiotic and a steroid. The obvious symptoms (slight fever, fatigue, cough, etc.) were mild and didn’t last long.
I have noticed increasing confusion, distraction and forgetfulness. This is very disturbing to me. At this point, I have not contacted any doctors about these changes after COVID-19. Do you have any suggestions to reverse these symptoms?
A: We are surprised that your doctor prescribed an antibiotic for this viral infection. Moreover, we are sorry that you seem to have developed long
COVID-19. Even people who experience a mild case sometimes end up with symptoms that last for months or longer. Young or middle-aged people as well as seniors may have cognitive complaints as part of their long-lasting problems. In addition to severe fatigue, patients have described brain fog with impaired attention, memory and executive function (JAMA Network Open, Oct. 22,
2021). We wish we could tell you about a treatment that is effective against this problem, but so far we have not seen one.
Q: Thank you for alerting your readers to the findings in a Consumer Reports article about high levels of lead, arsenic and cadmium in many major brands of spices. Since all brands of thyme and oregano, spices we use regularly, were contaminated,
I wonder about oil of oregano. Our family doctor suggests it to combat colds and infections at times. I reached out to two brands that make oil of oregano. Impressively, Natural Factors got back to me immediately, detailing extensive testing. But this brand is hard to find, so we have used one from Whole Foods more regularly. I have sent numerous emails and calls to Whole Foods in an attempt to try and get information about any testing the company does on its oil of oregano. My messages have all been ignored. A:
We agree that all organizations, no matter how much power they have, should answer quality-control questions about their products. Based on our understanding of how oil of oregano is prepared from the leaves through steam distillation, we think heavy metal contamination is unlikely. But it surely would be good to confirm that!
Q: I am so confused about the best diet for people with diabetes. I have read that it is important to avoid fat as much as possible. But then I have
read in your column that a low-carb approach is better. I do eat a lot of carbs in the form of vegetables like Swiss chard, kale, squash and collard greens. Did you mean simple carbs like white bread, cookies, crackers and cake? Or are you including vegetables as well? A:
A diet low in processed carbohydrates can help reduce insulin resistance (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2022). Some vegetables, including the ones you are so fond of, are a great addition to a blood-sugar-controlling diet. Starchy vegetables and fruit can pose problems for some people, however. These include potatoes, winter squash, carrots and corn. Occasionally, individuals will react to onions or tomatoes, or find that certain fruits do not elevate blood sugar. The best way to figure out how diet affects your blood sugar is to keep records of your blood sugar measurements and your meals.