Actress Alyssa Milano developed long COVID-19, and according to her has struggled with "every symptom imaginable." Brandon Sutter, who played hockey for the Vancouver Canucks, had to retire after long COVID-19 knocked him out of the 2022 season.

And they're not alone: 14% of Americans had long COVID by the end of 2022, according to a study in PLOS ONE.

It's been a challenge for researchers to untangle what's going on when fatigue, achiness, anxiety, depression, and/or cognition problems plague a person for weeks or months after they recover from COVID-19.

But we may be getting closer to figuring it out, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. They cite research that has found that COVID-19 infection lowers levels of the hormone-neurotransmitter serotonin, which is essential for regulation of emotions and the quality of your sleep, digestion, wound healing, bone health, blood clotting, and sexual desire.

And they say that research shows a diet rich in carbohydrates (unrefined and not too starchy) can boost sagging serotonin levels. This correlates with a meta-study that found plant-based diets can improve anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and body pain, all of which are symptoms associated with long COVID.

If you're struggling with long COVID-19, check out the unrefined carb recipes in the "What to Eat When Cookbook" and at LongevityPlaybook.com. And explore ways to get serotonin-boosting physical activity.

If that doesn't work, see your doctor. Getting the vaccine, if you haven't had one, plus a combination of colchicine and atorvastatin, along with good diet and progressive exercise, has been anecdotally reported to help.