Insights into stress, dysautonomia, mast cell activation syndrome and Long COVID

Exploring New Frontiers in Long COVID-19

As a manual therapist, teacher, and trainer, I am constantly seeking new ways to deepen my understanding of the human body and mind to better address the complex challenges our patients face. One of the most significant challenges that has emerged in recent years is long COVID-19. While I’ve developed a solid understanding of this condition, I recently came across a video by Dr. Denef, a local doctor here in Brussels who personally battled long COVID. Her journey has since led her to specialise in helping others suffering from this debilitating illness.

In her video, Dr. Denef mentioned Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a term that, like her (as she explained in the video), I was initially unfamiliar with. This piqued my interest and led me to explore MCAS in more depth, particularly how it might connect to stress—an area that is not only central to my work but also to the experiences of many long COVID-19 patients.

What is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)?

MCAS is a condition where certain immune cells, known as mast cells, become overly sensitive and release excessive inflammatory substances like histamine and cytokines. These cells are present throughout the body—in the skin, lungs, digestive system, and other areas. When they become overactive, they can cause a wide range of symptoms, including skin rashes, digestive problems, heart palpitations, and breathing difficulties.

In the context of long COVID-19, MCAS has garnered attention because its symptoms often resemble those seen in long COVID—such as extreme fatigue, brain fog, and persistent pain. Dr. Denef’s video highlighted how long COVID-19 might exacerbate or even trigger MCAS in some individuals, leading to a complex and challenging set of symptoms.

The Link Between MCAS, Stress, and Long COVID-19

As someone who has extensively studied and worked with stress, I found the potential link between MCAS and stress in long COVID-19 particularly compelling. Stress is not just a psychological issue; it has profound effects on the entire body. When a patient is under stress, their body’s stress response activates, engaging both the autonomic nervous system and the hormone-producing glands. This leads to the release of cortisol and other stress hormones, which can increase mast cell activity, potentially worsening MCAS.

For patients dealing with long COVID-19, the ongoing stress of managing persistent symptoms, combined with the impact of the virus on the immune system, can create a vicious cycle. Stress aggravates MCAS, which in turn exacerbates long COVID-19 symptoms, leading to even more stress—a cycle that can be incredibly difficult to break.

How The Reaset Approach Can Help

Understanding the connection between MCAS, stress, and long COVID-19 is crucial, especially since long COVID is also associated with dysautonomia, a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system where the stress response remains activated. This persistent activation means that mast cells may continue to be overactive, making it challenging for traditional treatments to achieve the desired outcomes.

This is where The Reaset Approach, a method I’ve developed over nearly 20 years, can make a significant impact. The Reaset Approach is designed to reaset the body’s stress response through an integrative, body-centred, hands-on treatment modality. By addressing the root causes of stress and helping the body regain balance, we can reduce mast cell overactivity and alleviate other stress-related symptoms.

For example, in patients experiencing dysautonomia and MCAS as part of their long COVID-19 experience, The Reaset Approach can help calm the nervous system, lower stress hormone levels, and support natural healing processes. This approach is about more than just symptom management; it’s about empowering patients to take control of their health and well-being.

Conclusion
As manual therapists, it’s essential to stay open to new ideas and approaches, particularly when facing complex and evolving conditions like long COVID-19. Dr. Denef’s insights into MCAS have expanded my understanding of how these conditions are interconnected with stress and how they can perpetuate one another.

Long COVID-19, health, and healing are multifaceted challenges, but together we can make a difference by offering a more integrated and comprehensive strategy to support patient recovery.

My role, through The Reaset Approach, is to reaset the body’s stress response by addressing the root causes that may be keeping patients trapped in a cycle of discomfort and illness. This includes calming the autonomic nervous system and regulating hormonal and vascular processes in both the body and brain, which will positively impact the physical aspects of long COVID-19—such as headaches, muscular and digestive disorders, brain fog, dizziness, cardiovascular problems, temperature dysregulation, cognitive delays, and mental and behavioural symptoms like irritability—while reducing stress-related inflammation.

If you’re interested in learning more about this holistic approach and how it can be applied to your practice, or if you’re considering becoming a student, I’m here to share my knowledge and guide you on this path to better understanding and treating long COVID-19 and related conditions.

References:
- https://drdenef.com/covid-long
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12035-021-02696-0
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10166245
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971221007517