Long COVID’: What You Need to Know About its Symptoms
As of January 2021, more than two million
people around the world have died of COVID-19. Over the past 10-odd
months, we have learned a lot about the disease and the dangerous virus
that causes it. Scientists and doctors have played the most crucial part
in spreading information about the novel disease so that those infected
with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be traced quickly and the appropriate
preventive measures can be taken to save them from further damage.
So far, the focus has been on saving as
many lives as possible in this rampaging pandemic. The sustained and
gallant efforts have paid off and currently, more than 70.5 million
people had recovered from the disease. However, the long-term health
consequences of COVID-19 remain largely unclear. Moreover, a new issue
has emerged in recent months for many patients recovering from the
disease – lingering symptoms that refuse to go away.
The scientific community is calling the condition “Long COVID” and is
imploring people to be more aware of its debilitating effects. Recently,
the World Health Organization (WHO), too, has taken note of long COVID.
So, what is long COVID exactly and why do you need to know about it
urgently?
What is 'Long COVID'?
For most people, COVID -19 starts as a
brief and mild disease. However, many others have struggled with a
variety of lingering symptoms of the disease that persist even after the
patient has tested negative for the virus. There have been several
reports in recent months of recovered patients suffering from shortness
of breath and fatigue after taking just a short walk. Many others have
complained of joint pain and chest pain.
Worryingly, these symptoms often last for months despite the patients
having recovered. These long-term effects have been termed as 'Long
COVID'. The term was first used by Elisa Perego (a research associate at
the University College London) in May last year to explain her own
experience with the disease. In the months to follow, as more and more
people began experiencing similar conditions, the term has struck a
chord.
That being said, long COVID is still not well understood and scientists
continue to research it. Early analysis of the data submitted through
the COVID Symptom Study app reveals that 13% of people who experience
COVID-19 symptoms have them for more than 28 days.
As of now, people with more severe disease initially appear to be at
increased risk of long COVID. Being a senior also puts one at the risk
for it along with having a higher body mass index. According to Prof
Chris Brightling, from the University of Leicester and the chief
investigator in the PHOSP- COVID project which is tracking people's
recovery, those who have pneumonia may also suffer from lingering
effects of COVID because of damage to the lungs.
Health experts have a few ideas on what might be the trigger for long
COVID, but no definitive answers. The coronavirus can directly affect a
variety of cells in the body and trigger an overactive immune response,
which in turn, causes damage throughout the body. One theory is that
sometimes the immune system doesn’t go back to normal, even after
recovery, and this causes ill-health. The infection may also alter the
way in which the organs function, which can lead to long-term problems.
What are the common symptoms of long COVID?
There are a few common symptoms of long
COVID as reported by patients that we should be mindful of.
Profound fatigue:
Extreme fatigue or muscle weakness has topped the list of long-lasting
COVID symptoms as of now. It persists for months and affects the
person’s physical and mental health. However, we still need more
information to successfully differentiate fatigue caused by long COVID
from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, to have a better understanding of the
condition.
Shortness of breath:
Several patients have complained of shortness of breath even months
after having recovered from the COVID-19. “I’m three months recovering
from COVID Double Pneumonia and the shortness of breath is the most
disconcerting aspect of my recovery!” writes a patient in the NIH
Director’s Blog.
Muscle Pain:
Myalgia, also known as muscle pain, has been another common symptom of
long COVID. According to a study published in the medical journal
Clinical Rheumatology, the muscle pain in COVID patients may at times
manifest itself as severe backache. "Myalgia and fatigue in patients
with COVID-19 may be longer in duration than other viral infections and
may be unresponsive to conventional painkillers," the authors of that
study wrote.
Cardiovascular issues:
A large number of COVID-19 patients have been found to be suffering from
post-viral or inflammatory myocarditis. This can not just result in
sustained arrhythmias but can also cause heart failure in the future.
Others:
Some of the other commonly reported symptoms of long COVID include chest
pain, cough, anxiety, sleep difficulties, loss of smell and taste,
runny nose, headaches, and depression. A few studies have also shown
that some patients may even face cognitive decline and post-traumatic
stress disorders (PTSD).
What should I do if I have lingering COVID symptoms?
So, what do we do if we have any lingering
COVID symptoms months after testing negative?
* Experts say that in such a scenario you should consult a doctor
immediately. Especially if your symptoms are getting worse.
* Make notes of the duration, severity, and frequency of your symptoms.
This may help doctors investigate your condition more thoroughly and it
can come in handy in case your doctors feel that your case requires
specialist monitoring.
* If you suffer from lingering COVID
symptoms doctors recommend that you don't try and jump back into your
regular life just because you’ve tested negative. It’s important that
you slow down a little and let your body (and mind) recover properly.
* You have to remember that COVID-19 is still a relatively new disease,
even though it feels like it’s been around for years. Conditions like
long COVID still need deeper understanding and research before we can
have proper solutions for it. You must therefore be patient or you risk
worsening your symptoms.
Post-viral fatigue or a post-viral cough is common. At some point in our
life, we’ve all had some infection or the other that has taken us ages
to recover from. Unfortunately, with COVID, the symptoms seem to be more
wide-ranging and the number of affected people looks to be greater,
too.
Until health experts figure out what exactly is causing long COVID it’s
difficult to work out the treatments. Thus, we have to be patient and
wait for the causes and treatments of long COVID to be clarified. Until
then, keep following all the necessary safety measures.