Long Covid, MD

54. The Science of Hydration for Long COVID


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Living with Long COVID or POTS often means battling dizziness, fatigue, and brain fog caused by low blood volume. In this episode, Dr Khan breaks down the science of hydration and explain how different fluids—plain water, salt water, and oral rehydration solutions (ORS)—actually work in your body.

You’ll learn:
 ✅ Why plain water gives a quick but short-lived boost
 ✅ How salt water helps your body hold onto fluid
 ✅ Why oral rehydration solutions like WHO ORS and St. Mark’s formula can act almost like IV saline
 ✅ The difference between medical ORS and common sports drinks like Gatorade, Pedialyte, and Liquid IV
 ✅ How the sodium-glucose transporter (SGLT1) “supercharges” absorption

Hydration is more than just drinking water—it’s about strategic plasma expansion to keep blood flowing to your brain and reduce symptoms of dysautonomia.

⚠️ Safety note: Salt loading isn’t for everyone. Check with your doctor if you have kidney disease, heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, or a tendency to swelling.

👩‍⚕️ I’m Dr. Zeest Khan, a physician and patient with Long COVID. On Long Covid, MD, I simplify medical science to help you make better decisions about your care and recovery.

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Long Covid, MDBy Dr. Zeest Khan

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