Coronavirus: Possible signs and symptoms you are suffering from long COVID

Long COVID or post-COVID-syndrome is characterized as a continuation of lingering symptoms post recovery from coronavirus. Even as the infection rate continues to drop, experts worry that we could now see a multitude of cases of long COVID, which might as well be as dreaded as the third wave of the virus.

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According to studies, long COVID could impact men and women of different ages- even the ones who have had an asymptomatic infection or were never aware of contracting the infection in the first place. The risks of lingering symptoms could be grave for someone who was hospitalized or went through a terribly long battle, which was a common feature during the second wave. So, while doctors continue to assert that testing negative may not be the real end of the battle, many could now be COVID long-haulers, without even knowing it.

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Long COVID and many lingering symptoms which strike post-COVID seldom require extra care, rest and sometimes, medical attention. Therefore, if you are someone who has recently recovered from the virus, but still feeling under the weather, these possible signs and symptoms could determine if what you are suffering from is, in fact, long COVID:

Myalgia and pain can be a symptom of inflammation when you go through the infection. While on average, the pain and inflammation take 3-4 weeks to subside, with COVID, chronic pain could afflict survivors weeks beyond recovery, and slow them down. The most common forms of pain that could show up include backache, stiffness in the joints, muscle pain, body aches, which could become severe if a person tries to do something. Studies say that nerve inflammation and symptoms of pain could be felt by as many as 20% of survivors. Take your recovery days slowly, and pause and do your chores, instead of rushing into them.

Breathlessness or difficulty breathing is counted to be a serious COVID-19 symptom, and chances are, for patients who had some level of lung involvement during their COVID-19 infection (a common manifestation of the Delta variant), it can take a while for the respiratory organ to fully heal, and thus, symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, shortness of breath could continue for a while.

Persistent coughing, a change in the voice could also be experienced if you had heavy inflammation in the upper respiratory tract.

While patients should focus on restoring lung function and not overstress themselves, one must also do breathing exercises and do slow-paced activities for a while, if the symptoms continue to strike. Some might also require oxygen support for a while to recover well. Soothing drinks and concoctions also certainly help.

Multiple studies have now attested that long COVID could also disturb your vital body processes, and the lingering inflammation in the body could show up in the form of rising blood pressure levels, high sugar readings, even for someone who had never had the problem before. There has been an incidental rise in new cholesterol and COVID-triggered diabetes cases across the world. Post-recovery, while focussing on a good diet and getting preventive scans are vital, following lifestyle changes also become doubly important.

While lingering cough and breathlessness are common features, doctors are also highlighting patients to not ignore symptoms like acidity, digestive problems, pain in the stomach, nausea weeks or months following recovery from the virus. This is because the virus could impact cells along the gastrointestinal tract and disrupt function. Many of these issues, such as poor digestion, loss of appetite could also happen because of the heavy medications, some of which could also affect liver and kidney function. Therefore, if you experience continued trouble, or facing issues with your diet, consult a doctor for advice.

Weakness and fatigue post-COVID recovery has become a common issue and could be a terrible ordeal to go through. While COVID-19, at the base of it, remains a viral infection, recovery from the same could take a long time and leave the body extremely tired, dull and achy. Malaise is also something commonly experienced. Again, chronic fatigue primarily requires a survivor to take it easy and do tasks at their comfortable pace. However, to combat post-COVID weakness, one must also concentrate on including antioxidant, carb and protein-rich foods to sustain functioning, and do basic or moderate level exercises that strengthen you.

Another common sign to watch out for is increasing anxiety and facing difficulties in sleeping well. There has been a startling rise in mental health issues amongst COVID survivors, with many complaining of suffering from heightened stress, anxiety, and PTSD from prolonged isolation. Pain, anxiety and general malaise could also make it difficult for a person to sleep well. Consult help, practice some form of self-care and meditation to feel better.

A person who had made a recovery from coronavirus could also be at a big risk of serious complications and disrupted vital functioning. Many recovered patients are now requiring medical help for additional health flare-ups, including bone loss (avascular necrosis) and myocarditis, which could turn serious if left ignored or not diagnosed in time. Hence, if you feel any flare-ups, or do not find a difference in your health 3-4 months on post-recovery, it might be a sign that your health is seriously impacted.