Brookdale Family Care Center Physicians at 465 New Lots Ave

Long Covid: the symptoms and tips for recovery

Updated 18 February 2022

While coronavirus symptoms may pass chop-chop, some people are suffering long-term effects. Nosotros look at the symptoms of long Covid and offering some tips to help manage them.

What's on this folio

What is long Covid?

• What is long Covid?
• How likely am I to get long Covid?
• How long does it take to recover from long Covid?

What are the symptoms of long Covid?

• What are the symptoms of long Covid?
• Which long Covid symptoms are most common?
• Is it normal to have chest pain after Covid?
• What blazon of chest hurting practice people get after Covid?
• Is it normal to have back pain later Covid?
• Why practice some people go palpitations, feel lightheaded or faint after Covid?

Tips for managing long Covid symptoms

• Fatigue and breathlessness
• Boost your mood and mental health
• Tips for thinking or retentiveness problems
• Relieving articulation or muscle hurting

What tests and treatments are available?

• Is there a test for long Covid?
• Is there a treatment for long Covid?

Vaccination and long Covid

• Does getting vaccinated reduce the adventure of long Covid?
• Does getting vaccinated help if you already have long Covid?
• Can children get long Covid?

Mutual questions about long Covid

• Who is about at take chances of developing long Covid?
• Is long Covid contagious?
• If I accept long Covid, will I examination positive?
• What back up can I get for long Covid?
• What research is being done into long Covid?

• Read stories from people with long Covid

We're here for y'all with information and support around coronavirus

Our fortnightly Heart Matters newsletter includes the latest updates nigh coronavirus when you lot have a eye status, equally well every bit support for healthy eating, staying active and your emotional wellbeing.

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What is long Covid?

What is long Covid?

Long Covid is a term to depict the effects of Covid-19 that continue for weeks or months beyond the initial illness. The health watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) defines long Covid as lasting for more than 12 weeks, although some people consider symptoms that last more eight weeks to be long Covid. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines long Covid equally "usually iii months from the onset of Covid-19 with symptoms that final for at least 2 months and cannot be explained past an alternative diagnosis."

Research published in June 2021 by Imperial College London, based on half a million people in England, plant two main categories of ongoing symptoms: a smaller group of people with respiratory symptoms, such equally a cough or breathlessness, (this group was more likely to have had severe Covid-19 affliction initially), and a larger group with a cluster of more general symptoms, peculiarly tiredness and fatigue.

Research based on people who reported their symptoms of long Covid on the Zoe Covid Symptom Study app likewise identified ii main groups of symptoms, one mainly respiratory, only including fatigue and headaches, and a second group of symptoms affecting many parts of the body, including the center, brain and the gut. In the study of 4,182 people, heart symptoms were commonly reported, such equally palpitations or increased heartbeat, as well every bit non-heart-related symptoms such every bit pins and needles, numbness and 'encephalon fog'.

How probable am I to get long Covid?

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that between 3 and 12 per cent of people who catch Covid will all the same have symptoms 12 weeks afterwards their initial infection. This is based on data provided by xx,000 people in the Coronavirus Infection Survey (CIS) between 26 April and one August 2021.

It'southward of import to note that these estimates were made before Omicron became the dominant variant in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. Because Omicron hasn't been around for long enough, we don't yet know whether information technology is more or less likely to result in long Covid. Considering more of the population are now fully vaccinated, it volition too exist hard to tell whether whatever differences in long Covid rates are due to the differences between variants or because of the protective effects of vaccination.

The ONS estimates that 1.3 million people in the UK were experiencing long Covid symptoms as of 2 January 2022. This amounts to just over i in fifty of the population (ii.one per cent). This was defined as symptoms that had lasted more than iv weeks from the initial infection. This is up from 1.two million (1.9%) every bit of 2 Oct, reflecting the increment in Covid infections in Dec 2021.

More than iv in 10 (42 per cent) of those people were experiencing long Covid symptoms more than than a yr after their get-go suspected infection. Well-nigh two thirds (63 per cent) said their symptoms had reduced their ability to carry out daily activities.

A study published in June past Imperial College, London, of half a 1000000 adults in England who reported having Covid illness found that over a third still had at to the lowest degree one symptom 12 weeks later on.

A study led past the Academy of Leicester of just over i,000 people who had needed treatment in hospital for Covid found that the majority (7 in 10) had not fully recovered five months after they were discharged. The report authors said that one in five of those in the study could be considered to take a new inability.

Of those who were working before they had Covid-nineteen, nigh one in five (17.8 per cent) were no longer working and a further one in 5 (19.iii per cent) had experienced a health-related modify to their work.

• Learn more near what coronavirus does to the body.
• The BHF is supporting research into Covid-19 and its effects on the heart and circulatory arrangement.

How long does information technology take to recover from long Covid?

Nosotros are still learning how long the disease lasts and information technology varies between people. It's important to note that lasting effects aren't unique to Covid-19 – other viral illnesses tin also accept lasting furnishings. The study led by Leicester researchers described in a higher place suggests that amidst those who needed infirmary treatment for the initial illness, it is common for it to last five months or more, and there are separate reports of information technology lasting 12 months or more (this includes both people who didn't need hospital handling initially and those who did.)

What are the symptoms of long Covid?

Although nigh people who get Covid-nineteen recover quickly, for some the effects of the virus can last for weeks or months. This is known as "long Covid".

For some, it can seem similar a cycle of improving for a time then getting worse again. These long-term effects aren't but among those who needed to go to hospital, or even who felt seriously unwell when they kickoff caught the virus.

Lasting symptoms of coronavirus can include:

• fatigue
• breathlessness or shortness of breath
• difficulty sleeping
• anxiety and depression
• heart palpitations
• breast tightness or pain
• joint or muscle pain
• not being able to remember directly or focus ('brain fog')
• change to your sense of smell or gustatory modality
• persistent coughing

Which long Covid symptoms are nigh common?

According to the ONS, the virtually common symptoms experienced by people with long Covid are fatigue (51%), loss of scent (37%), shortness of jiff (36%), followed by difficulty concentrating (28%).

Is it normal to have chest hurting after Covid?

Chest pain is a common symptom of Covid-19. Some people are experiencing chest pain that lasts across their initial Covid-xix infection, or that starts in the weeks after they've had the virus.

It'due south important to recollect that even if you have had Covid-nineteen and are now are experiencing breast pain, it may not be related to the virus.

If you experience whatsoever new type of chest pain, it's important to get medical advice, equally chest hurting tin can be a sign of something more than serious, like a heart or lung problem.

When should I seek urgent medical aid?

Call 999 if y'all experience:

• Breast pain that is sudden or astringent and doesn't become away
• Sudden chest pain that is accompanied by vomiting, nausea, sweating, or shortness of breath
• Sudden chest hurting that is accompanied by a loss of consciousness

If you have chest pain that comes and goes, you should still speak to your GP about it or phone call 111 – as chest pain should never be ignored.

Some people with severe Covid-xix likewise experience heart and circulatory problems during their illness.

• Read more about Covid-19 and your heart
• Read more than about Covid-xix and blood clots

What type of breast hurting do people go later on Covid-19?

We are withal learning more than nigh breast pain following Covid-19, simply it seems probable that it can be acquired by a diversity of things.

Muscle pain or soreness (myalgia)

Severe viral infections, including Covid-19, tin can crusade musculus pain or soreness, which can exist in a specific expanse or spread more widely. The affected area feels sore to the impact and is made worse by specific movements such as turning the chest or stretching.

Not-specific chest pain

Non-specific chest pain, which is also called non-cardiac breast pain, can exist sharp or dull, and tin happen in short bursts or be ongoing. Information technology often doesn't have a crusade that can exist plant.

• Find more information nearly different types of chest hurting on Your Covid Recovery from the NHS.

Is information technology normal to accept back hurting afterwards Covid?

While joint and muscle bug can occur anywhere in the torso during or after Covid-19, back problems are among the virtually common. You may have had back pain at times before getting Covid-19, and if you were less active while you were sick, this could take made articulation or muscle issues come back, or get worse. Joint stiffness and muscle weakness is also likely to get worse if you weren't moving around as much when you were unwell.

In the weeks afterwards getting Covid-19, some people have back anguish or a feeling or pins and needles. As you continue to recover, many of these symptoms may also improve. You tin can aim for a balance of rest with as much of your normal daily action you feel y'all can do, and also do to amend your strength and flexibility, such equally stretches or yoga.

When should I seek medical help?

If your pain is severe, and interfering with your daily activities, you can talk to your doctor for advice, or if:

• your back hurting is getting worse
• fatigue or breathlessness is preventing you lot from being active
• yous develop new symptoms
• your joints and muscle problems haven't improved subsequently three months.

Observe out more about how to manage joint and muscle problems on Your Covid Recovery from the NHS.

Why practice some people get palpitations, feel lightheaded or faint subsequently Covid?

In that location is emerging show that some people who develop long Covid accept similar symptoms to people with a condition known as postural tachycardia syndrome, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS). This condition tin cause dizziness when moving to an upright position and can exist triggered by infections. The most common symptoms are feeling lightheaded, palpitations (being aware of your heartbeat) and fatigue.

In that location have been several case reports in medical journals of people who had continuing symptoms following Covid-nineteen infection, and some were constitute to have PoTS. PoTs happens because your body's ways of avoiding a drop in claret pressure when yous stand up aren't working properly. Ordinarily when you lot sit up or stand up, gravity makes some of your blood menstruum downwards, which can cause a fall in blood pressure. Your body responds to prevent a autumn in claret pressure level by narrowing your blood vessels and slightly increasing your eye rate. Only if you accept PoTS these automated changes don't happen. When you lot motion to an upright position the supply of blood to your centre and encephalon drops and your heart starts beating faster to compensate.

While there is no cure for PoTS, it tin be managed by diet, exercise and medication, and the researchers say information technology is of import to go an accurate diagnosis and so patients can be treated and advised on how to manage their symptoms.

If this sounds like your symptoms afterward having Covid-19, you should let your doc know to ensure yous are correctly diagnosed and can receive effective treatment.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) accept published guidance for doctors that recognises orthostatic bug (including PoTS) as symptoms of long Covid. Orthostatic ways relating to, or acquired by, being upright.

The RCP recommend to doctors that patients experiencing breathlessness, palpitations, fatigue, breast pain and fainting should exist checked carefully for orthostatic bug. This includes having an agile stand examination, which measures a patient'southward changes in center rate and blood pressure subsequently moving from a lying to a standing position.

• Find out more than about PoTS.

Tips for managing long Covid symptoms

Fatigue and breathlessness

• Footstep yourself - plan what you lot're going to do and don't over-exert yourself.
• Try to break tasks which feel hard down into smaller chunks, and alternate easier and harder activities.
• Consider the all-time time of the solar day to do certain activities based on your energy levels.
• Frequent short rests are better than a few longer ones, and then rest before you become exhausted.
• Don't terminate doing things that make yous feel breathless. If you lot stop using your muscles, they'll get weaker, which tin make you more breathless when you effort to use them.
• Try to gradually increase the amount of exercise y'all do. Try going for brusk walks or doing uncomplicated strength exercises and build up from there.
• If you use a walking stick or a frame, lean forrard on it when you feel breathless.
• The ME Association has published a leaflet about mail service-Covid fatigue. You can also call them on 0344 576 5326 for further support.

Boost your mood and mental health

•  Exist kind to yourself during your recovery – exist prepared that some days will be worse than others
•  Connecting with other people can assist you experience happier – make sure to go along in bear on with family and friends.
•  Having a daily routine tin be proficient for your mood and sense of stability.
•  Stay active – standing to move volition help release endorphins and better your mood.

Tips for thinking or memory issues

• Brand notes to help you remember things – whether information technology's in work meetings or medical appointments.
• Try to reduce distractions.
• Information technology can help to make a clear program before budgeted any new or complicated problem or situation. Suspension information technology down into steps, and go on checking your plan as you follow it.

Relieving joint or muscle pain

• Flexibility exercises (like stretches, yoga and tai chi) and strength exercises (similar climbing stairs, lifting weights and working with resistance bands) tin exist useful. Cheque with your doctor earlier starting a new do regime.

What tests and treatments are available?

Is there a test for long Covid?

There isn't i single examination to diagnose long Covid. Information technology's a status that isn't fully understood notwithstanding.

Speak to your medico if you are experiencing lasting long Covid symptoms. They may refer you for tests to assistance understand how long Covid is affecting you lot and how it tin be treated. Or it may even be that there is some other cause for your symptoms.

Tests could include:

• blood tests
• heart rate and blood pressure level checks
• a sit down-to-stand test
• an ECG
• a chest X-ray

Researchers are looking into new ways to test for long Covid.

• Notice out more about why researchers remember findings about the immune system could unlock the way to a test for long Covid
• Learn near a special MRI to better understand lung damage from long Covid

Is there a treatment for long Covid?

Unfortunately, at that place isn't 1 single treatment or medication to care for long Covid.

Everyone's experience is dissimilar, so it's of import to chat to your GP about the symptoms you are experiencing. They tin can tell you how to all-time manage them, and allow you know what other back up is available.

If long Covid is having a large impact on your life, you may be referred to a specialist rehabilitation service, or a specialist who looks after the symptoms you accept.

There's lots of things y'all can do at habitation to manage your symptoms every bit yous recover.

• Read our tips for managing fatigue and breathlessness, depression mood, memory problems, or joint pain.

Vaccination and long Covid

Does getting vaccinated reduce the risk of long Covid?

Yes – there is lots of evidence that having the vaccine reduces your gamble of developing long Covid.

In February 2022 the UK Wellness Security Bureau (UKHSA) published a review of 15 long Covid studies from the United kingdom and across the world. They found that people who caught Covid after having ii doses of Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Moderna, or one dose of the Janssen vaccine, were half equally likely to develop lasting Covid symptoms (lasting 28 days or more from the original infection), compared to those who were unvaccinated, or only had one dose. The inquiry also found a reduction in longer-term long Covid symptoms (upward to six months). This review merely looked at people who caught Covid – given that vaccination likewise reduces your gamble of catching Covid, the actual reduction in long Covid risk from the vaccine is significantly bigger.

Research from King's College Londonbesides suggests that ii doses of the vaccine halves the risk of long Covid in adults. The analysis, looking at information from the ZOE Covid App between eight December 2020 and 4 July 2021, also showed that fully vaccinated adults are much less likely to need hospital treatment and tend to report milder Covid symptoms than those who are unvaccinated.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) backs this up, showing that two doses of the vaccine could reduce the take a chance of developing long Covid past 40% (in people 18-69 years of age).

These studies happened before Omicron became the dominant Covid variant in the Uk, or before boosters were widely rolled out, and so more research needs to be done to empathise the touch of these.

• Encounter up-to-engagement enquiry most the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine

Does getting vaccinated help if you already have long Covid?

There is growing evidence that getting the vaccine could reduce long Covid in people who caught the virus before they were vaccinated. We are still learning more almost this and what the reasons for it might be.

In the UKHSA evidence review, three out of iv studies looking at long Covid before and after vaccination found that more people reported an improvement in symptoms (either direct away or over several weeks) than people who were unvaccinated. Just there were a few people in all studies who plant that their symptoms got worse.

In research published in Oct 2021, the Part for National Statistics used data from the U.k. Coronavirus Infection Survey to wait at the association between Covid-19 vaccination and long Covid in people who already had it before the vaccine.

In research published in October 2021, the Function for National Statistics used data from the UK Coronavirus Infection Survey to look at the association between Covid-19 vaccination and long Covid in people who already had it earlier the vaccine. They plant that the kickoff vaccine was associated with an initial 13% decrease in the likelihood of self-reported long Covid, although it's not clear from the data whether this was a lasting improvement or if symptoms returned after an initial comeback. The second dose was associated with 9% decrease in the likelihood of self-reported long Covid, relative to having received the first vaccination, and there was statistical testify of a sustained improvement later on this.

Which vaccine was used (Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna) didn't appear to make any difference to the results. Nor did the person's age, ethnic background, gender or other health bug.

This type of study is observational, which means information technology can't prove crusade and effect. The study was also limited in that it but followed people for an boilerplate of 67 days after the second vaccine, and not everyone in the report had their second vaccine. Then we can't exist sure from this that the Covid-19 vaccines help people with long Covid (although we practice know that they reduce the chance of getting Covid again). Over fourth dimension, the quality and understanding of this data volition improve and the conclusions and statistics generated volition be more definite.

Can children get long Covid?

Aye. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published information from the UK Coronavirus Infection Survey which looked at how many people showed symptoms five weeks afterwards infection. The survey showed that virtually 13 per cent of children in the survey aged between two and 11 and xiv.5 per cent of children aged 12 to 16 reported certain symptoms including fatigue, cough, headache, musculus aches or loss of taste or smell 5 weeks later falling ill with Covid-19. But information technology isn't clear from the published data how many children these figures were based on.

The ONS also published information which showed that one in 10 secondary schoolhouse pupils reported ongoing symptoms more than iv weeks after a confirmed Covid-19 infection. A similar proportion of pupils who had a suspected (just not confirmed) Covid-19 infection also reported that they had symptoms that lasted more than four weeks. The near common symptoms were "weakness/ tiredness", reported by near one-half of pupils who had lingering symptoms. Six out of 10 pupils with long Covid symptoms said it limited their ability to behave out day to day activities. The information was based on a survey of 2,326 pupils in schools in England from two-26 July 2021.

• Contact Long Covid Kids for more information and to connect to other parents

Mutual questions about long Covid

Who is most at risk of developing long Covid?

Researchers take analysed data from the COVID Symptom Study app to notice who is almost at risk of developing long Covid. They found that older people, women, and those who had a more astringent infection (with v or more than symptoms in the start week of condign ill with Covid-19) were more likely to develop long Covid.

They plant that long Covid affects around one in ten 18-49 year-olds who get Covid-19, increasing to just over one in five (22 per cent) people over 70. The researchers also found people with asthma were likewise more than likely to develop long Covid. This was the only clear link they found to existing health conditions in people who developed long Covid.

Researchers from Academy Hospital Zurich have backed up these findings. Their research too constitute that people with depression levels of certain antibodies (IgM and IgG3) in their blood may exist more likely to develop long Covid. When they combined this antibody data with the other factors (such as the person's age, number of initial Covid symptoms, and history of asthma), they were ameliorate able to predict who would go on to have long Covid.

Figures from the Part for National Statistics on people with cocky-reported long Covid said it was most common among those aged 35-69, females, people living in the most deprived areas, those working in health or social care, or pedagogy and pedagogy, and people with another health condition or disability. This report was based on 305,997 people who responded to the Coronavirus Infection Survey in the four weeks to 2 January 2022.

Is long Covid contagious?

Long Covid is not contagious. Long Covid symptoms are caused by your torso'due south response to the virus standing beyond the initial affliction.

To avoid passing coronavirus on to others, you should cocky-isolate for x days from your original symptoms or positive test, or if after ten days you still have a temperature, or runny olfactory organ or sneezing, or sickness or diarrhoea, until these symptoms have gone.

If I have long Covid, volition I test positive?

No, having long Covid symptoms won't crusade you to exam positive.

If you become a positive Covid test issue information technology'south most probable to exist a new infection from the i that caused your long Covid symptoms. If you have a positive test, as always, yous need to cocky-isolate for 10 full days to avert passing information technology on. If after 10 days you nonetheless have a fever, or are feeling hot or shivery, or take a runny nose or sneezing, or are feeling or being ill, or have diarrhoea, you should self-isolate until those symptoms have gone. If any of these symptoms are lasting a long fourth dimension and you lot think they may be symptoms of long Covid, you can get some other PCR test to see if you even so have an active infection.

What back up can I become for long Covid?

• Long Covid clinics are being rolled out beyond England and accept started in Wales to help those struggling with ongoing symptoms. Speak to your GP or healthcare professional person to find out if you are being referred. No similar services have even so been announced in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
• Your Covid Recovery has been set up by the NHS to provide information and support to those who've had Covid and are yet suffering with symptoms. A bilingual version of the app has been adult by NHS Wales.
• If yous're worried about your symptoms, or if they are getting worse, contact your GP. Yous may be able to be referred for physiotherapy, or for psychological support such every bit cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
• Always phone call 999 if yous have any emergency symptoms, such as sudden breast paint, or if you think you lot may exist having a heart attack or stroke. Detect out more data on when to get medical help.

What enquiry is existence washed into long Covid?

The BHF and others are funding inquiry to find out more about long Covid. Read more well-nigh what research is happening into long Covid.

Read stories from people with long Covid

If you're struggling with the ongoing symptoms of coronavirus, it can exist helpful to know you're non alone.

	A year of health issues: Suki's story "I found the only way to become better is to end and balance for as long as it takes." Read Suki's story
	Marker's ongoing battle with long Covid "Each twenty-four hour period was like beingness on a rollercoaster in the nighttime." ReadMark'due south story
	James's road to recovery "Things are going in the correct direction. Now, my worst moments aren't as bad every bit the previous worst moments. I just have to be patient." Read James'southward story
	Martin'due south experience of long Covid "Sometimes I just need a bit of time on my own so I can sit, reverberate on what's happened, and attempt to deal with it." Read Martin'south story

We're here for you with information and back up around coronavirus

Our fortnightly Heart Matters newsletter includes the latest updates about coronavirus when you have a centre condition, as well equally support for healthy eating, staying active and your emotional wellbeing.

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Source: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/long-covid