In this eye-opening TEDx Santa Barbara Salon talk, Dr. David Putrino, a renowned expert in rehabilitation and innovative healthcare, explores the pervasive and underestimated crisis of long COVID. Dr. Putrino begins by defining long COVID as a chronic condition affecting individuals who haven’t returned to their pre-infection health three months after contracting acute COVID. The broad definition, established by leading scientific organizations, ensures those needing care can access critical resources. This inclusive approach highlights the immense scale of the issue, which persists in 7-12% of cases and can severely impact individuals for years.

Dr. Putrino explains the complex biology of long COVID, including persistent viral proteins, immune system exhaustion, systemic inflammation, and secondary complications like reactivated Epstein-Barr virus. With just 9-10% of individuals recovering after two years, long COVID emerges as a disease with profound health and societal consequences. Beyond the physical toll, he critiques societal and systemic failures to address the issue, including the missed opportunity to implement protective infrastructure like HEPA filters and hybrid work protocols.

Inspiring hope, Dr. Putrino shares cutting-edge technological advances, from innovative diagnostics to remote monitoring systems, which are transforming care for long-term COVID and related chronic illnesses. These solutions offer pathways to better health management for those affected while underscoring the urgent need for research, policy changes, and public awareness to tackle this growing crisis.

The idea worth sharing is that COVID is a global public health crisis requiring urgent innovation, systemic changes, and collective action to mitigate its long-term impact.

Dr. David Putrino’s career as a clinician and researcher and his dedication to improving care for chronic illness makes him the ideal advocate for this critical issue. His unique insights and actionable recommendations challenge societal complacency and urge immediate, equitable solutions. With the pandemic far from over, long Covid demands systemic solutions and continued vigilance—a call to action the world cannot ignore.

Watch this talk to better understand the pervasive impact of long COVID and join the movement advocating for innovative solutions and equitable care. Share this message to help raise awareness and drive systemic healthcare and public health policy changes.