Have you Heard of Long COVID?

With over two years of the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, the long-term impacts of COVID-19 are still largely unknown. It’s estimated that 20% of people who have previously tested positive may have long COVID. That’s one in five people that may be suffering from continued brain fog, fatigue, and other lasting symptoms.

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Long COVID has gone under-diagnosed and treatment is still emerging through ongoing research to understand the disease.

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Here are some important things you should know, according to the CDC:

• Symptoms can include a wide range of continuing health problems, lasting weeks, months, or even years.
• Long COVID symptoms are more likely present in people who had severe COVID-19 illness, but anyone infected with COVID-19 — whether mild or asymptomatic — is at risk.
• If you aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19, you could be at a higher risk of developing long COVID symptoms compared to those vaccinated with “breakthrough” infections.
• Those unaware they had contracted COVID-19 or never tested positive for the virus are still at risk due to unknown or undetected infection.
• The CDC and its partners are working to understand more about who experiences long COVID or post-COVID symptoms to identify groups who are at higher risk.

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We’re sure you have questions.

What is long COVID?

Long COVID is when symptoms from COVID-19 persist for longer than two months from initial infection or symptoms have been present for 3 months or more from testing positive for COVID-19. Long COVID can feel overwhelming, especially with information changing and being updated constantly.

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What are the symptoms of long COVID?

Long COVID symptoms are any symptoms of COVID-19 that last longer than the original diagnosis.

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Long COVID could mean you experience persistent fatigue or tiredness, headache, change in taste or smell, fast-beating heart, cough, or even joint pain. These are just some of the symptoms that could point to Long COVID.

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Is this actually a disease?

Yes. It’s estimated that up to 40 million Americans are suffering from long COVID, a disease that lasts long after having a COVID-19 infection.

How does one get long COVID?

Medicine doesn’t yet know exactly why symptoms persist or develop after a COVID-19 infection. There is much research being done to understand how having a COVID-19 infection can lead to persistent symptoms in some people. The diagnosis of long COVID is one that your doctor may make after a careful review of your history and presenting symptoms and complaints. Doctors may also order certain tests or other studies to determine if what you are experiencing is from a COVID-19 infection or is caused by some other disease.

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To speak to a long COVID specialist today, download the app to get connected.

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