What is Long COVID?

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is an illness caused by a virus. Many people get better within a few days or weeks after being infected with the virus. But others have post-COVID conditions. They may:

• Have symptoms that linger for weeks, months, or even years

• Seem to recover from COVID-19 but then see their symptoms return

• Develop new symptoms or new health conditions within a few months of having COVID-19

There are several other names for post-COVID conditions. It is often called long COVID. But it can also be called long-haul COVID, long-term effects of COVID, chronic COVID, post-acute COVID-19, and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). The effects of COVID-19 can be long-lasting, even after the initial infection has passed. Post-COVID conditions can persist for weeks, months, or even longer  (Years) and can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. While most people will recover from post-COVID conditions over time, some may experience ongoing symptoms that can significantly impact their quality of life. If you're experiencing post-COVID symptoms, you're not alone. 

Symptoms

• Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)

• Headache.

• Sleep problems.

• Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)

• Pins-and-needles feelings.

• Change in smell or taste.

• Depression or anxiety.

• Nausea

• Loss of appetite

• Stomach aches

• Changes to the sense of smell or taste

• Sleep Disturbances

• Vision

• Persistent cough

• Exhaustion after little exertion

• Fatigue

• Hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in tissues throughout the body)

• Shortness of breath

Long COVID Research

Thursday, May 25, 2023

NIH-funded research effort identifies the most common symptoms, potential subgroups, and initial symptom-based scoring system – to improve future diagnostics and treatment. Initial findings from a study of nearly 10,000 Americans, many of whom had COVID-19, have uncovered new details about long COVID, the post-infection set of conditions that can affect nearly every tissue and organ in the body. Clinical symptoms can vary, including fatigue, brain fog, and dizziness, lasting for months or years after a person has COVID-19. The research team, funded by the National Institutes of Health, also found that long COVID was more common and severe in study participants infected before the 2021 Omicron variant.

The effects of COVID-19 can be long-lasting, even after the initial infection has passed. Post-COVID conditions can persist for several weeks, months, or even longer and can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Diagnosing these conditions can be challenging, as there's no specific test to identify them. CMN Hospital’s physicians will review your medical history and examine you to determine if you're experiencing post-COVID symptoms.

While most people will gradually recover from post-COVID conditions over time, some may experience ongoing symptoms that can significantly impact their quality of life. If you're experiencing post-COVID symptoms, you're not alone. We are here to help you manage your symptoms and return to feeling like yourself again.