Coronavirus symptoms: Signs COVID-19 has impacted your digestion

Respiratory symptoms are the classic marker of COVID-19. But they are not the only indicators.

From the lungs to the heart, COVID-19 impacts our vital functioning in a profound manner, the effects of which, doctors worry can be experienced by patients long after the virus has vanished from the body.

One such devastating impact can be felt on core digestion and gastrointestinal functioning.

As per statistics, 53% of patients with COVID-19 go on to develop at least one gastrointestinal symptom during the course of their illness. There's also increasing evidence which does suggest that gastrointestinal symptoms or signs may point at a higher likelihood of COVID-19 severity and related complications.

For some, GI symptoms can be a standalone sign of infection, while for some, it can act as an indicator of how the virus is taking a severe toll. The symptoms, whatsoever, can be difficult to deal with. We tell you some of the most common signs SARS-COV-2 has impacted your gut:

Some people with COVID-19 complain of suffering from a loss of appetite during the preliminary stage. While viral illness is known to cause malaise, fatigue and appetite loss, COVID-19 can impair the digestive process in a major way.

In fact, unusual appetite loss is now being characterized as a warning sign of infection to look out for.

Loss of appetite may mean that a person doesn't have the same desire they used to have earlier. While eating nutritious, healthy food is key to faster recovery, decreased appetite may cause unintentional weight loss, make a person feel nauseous and not feel like eating, no matter what time of the day it is. To combat this, experts recommend patients to have a nutritive diet that's rich in energy and proteins and helps strengthen the immune response.

As COVID-19 disrupts your digestion, experiencing abdominal pain and cramps can commonly happen.

In fact, in a lot of cases, patients admit to experiencing stabbing abdominal and stomach pain during the course of infection. Abdominal pain can be caused by any active inflammation, intestinal infection or as the virus enters the sensitive digestive tract and can be terrible to deal with.

Nausea and vomiting are now being looked at as signs of infection present in the early days.

Nausea, a presentation of gastrointestinal infection can occur chronically through the infection, or sometimes resolve on its own. While these two aren't uncommon signs of the illness in kids and adults, rapid viral spread, systematic inflammation, side-effects of the treatment drugs or psychological distress can result in nausea. In cases of severe infection, some patients can also vomit up blood and need acute medical attention.

Diarrhoea and loose stools can also be an indicator of moderate or severe infection.

Loss of taste, which affects over 60% of COVID-19 patients can be a lingering, confusing sign of symptom. It can also be an indicator of gastrointestinal distress caused by the virus.

Diminished, or impaired sense of smell, taste, or experiencing a metallic taste in the mouth can make a person lose out appetite, dismiss routine eating patterns, which can further impact digestion and well-being. Since loss of taste is also a common sign of GERD (Gastroesophegal reflux disease), doctors are warning patients to be careful about spotting these signs and get medical attention at the right time.

If an impaired sense of smell and taste is making you stay away from healthy foods, smoothies and juices can be tried as well. Smell training can also help people regain their olfactory senses and ease recovery.

Yet another unusual side-effect or strange symptom of a growing COVID-19 infection can be weight fluctuations and metabolic loss.

While a lot of people experience losing weight as a side-effect of fighting COVID-19, metabolism, which is key to good immunity can also be impacted heavily by the SARS-COV-2 virus.

Even though research is underway to establish a proper link between the viral infection and metabolic impairment, bad metabolism can badly impact digestion and make a person prone to worse outcomes. Bad metabolism can lower the immune defences, and prolong recovery timeline as well.

Studies have also found that patients who have underlying metabolic issues, or metabolic syndrome can have a higher likelihood of COVID severity and ventilation support.

Apart from the above-listed symptoms, growing case studies are emerging which point out some unusual symptoms of gastrointestinal infection associated with COVID- including acid reflux, colitis, bleeding, belching, fatigue, exhaustion and acute pain.

Since for many people, gastrointestinal symptoms can start off before fever or respiratory symptoms (considered to be classic COVID-19 signs), awareness and proper knowledge can guide people to get proper care and better diagnosis.

Eating well- including foods which helps the body heal, recover and build back stamina is important during the time of infection. Hydration is also another important factor to not be missed.

Some people also benefit by supplementation and ORS salts, which help bring balance back and sustain function. Ideally, a recovering COVID-19 patient should limit the consumption of processed, heavy foods and instead, focus on eating timely meals consisting of some form of carbs, proteins, fiber and other trace minerals.