1 Month Off of Oxy Taking Again

Long Covid: the symptoms and tips for recovery

Updated 18 Feb 2022

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

What'southward on this page

What is long Covid?

• What is long Covid?
• How probable 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 mutual?
• Is information technology normal to take chest hurting later on Covid?
• What type of breast pain exercise people become after Covid?
• Is it normal to have back pain after Covid?
• Why do some people get palpitations, feel lightheaded or faint after Covid?

Tips for managing long Covid symptoms

• Fatigue and breathlessness
• Boost your mood and mental wellness
• Tips for thinking or retentivity problems
• Relieving joint or musculus pain

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 risk of long Covid?
• Does getting vaccinated aid if you already have long Covid?
• Tin can children become long Covid?

Mutual questions about long Covid

• Who is most at risk of developing long Covid?
• Is long Covid contagious?
• If I have long Covid, volition I test positive?
• What support can I go for long Covid?
• What inquiry is existence washed into long Covid?

• Read stories from people with long Covid

Nosotros're hither for you with information and support effectually coronavirus

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

I'd like to sign-up

What is long Covid?

What is long Covid?

Long Covid is a term to describe the effects of Covid-19 that continue for weeks or months beyond the initial illness. The wellness watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Prissy) defines long Covid equally lasting for more than 12 weeks, although some people consider symptoms that last more eight weeks to exist long Covid. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines long Covid every bit "usually 3 months from the onset of Covid-19 with symptoms that concluding for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an culling diagnosis."

Research published in June 2021 by Imperial College London, based on one-half a 1000000 people in England, found two main categories of ongoing symptoms: a smaller grouping of people with respiratory symptoms, such as a cough or breathlessness, (this grouping was more than likely to take had severe Covid-19 illness initially), and a larger grouping with a cluster of more general symptoms, particularly tiredness and fatigue.

Research based on people who reported their symptoms of long Covid on the Zoe Covid Symptom Study app too identified 2 main groups of symptoms, 1 mainly respiratory, simply including fatigue and headaches, and a second grouping of symptoms affecting many parts of the torso, including the heart, brain and the gut. In the study of 4,182 people, heart symptoms were commonly reported, such as palpitations or increased heartbeat, as well as non-heart-related symptoms such as pins and needles, numbness and 'brain fog'.

How likely am I to become long Covid?

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that between three and 12 per cent of people who catch Covid will still have symptoms 12 weeks after their initial infection. This is based on data provided by 20,000 people in the Coronavirus Infection Survey (CIS) between 26 Apr and ane August 2021.

Information technology's of import to note that these estimates were made before Omicron became the dominant variant in the UK. Because Omicron hasn't been effectually for long enough, nosotros don't nonetheless know whether it is more than or less likely to result in long Covid. Because more than of the population are at present fully vaccinated, it will also be difficult to tell whether any 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 Britain were experiencing long Covid symptoms equally of 2 January 2022. This amounts to just over 1 in l of the population (2.1 per cent). This was divers every bit symptoms that had lasted more than four weeks from the initial infection. This is upward from 1.2 meg (i.9%) as of 2 October, reflecting the increase in Covid infections in December 2021.

More than iv in 10 (42 per cent) of those people were experiencing long Covid symptoms more than than a year subsequently their beginning suspected infection. Well-nigh ii thirds (63 per cent) said their symptoms had reduced their ability to deport out daily activities.

A report published in June by Majestic Higher, London, of half a million adults in England who reported having Covid illness found that over a 3rd nevertheless had at least one symptom 12 weeks later.

A report led by the University of Leicester of just over ane,000 people who had needed treatment in hospital for Covid found that the majority (seven in ten) had non fully recovered 5 months subsequently they were discharged. The report authors said that one in five of those in the study could exist considered to have a new disability.

Of those who were working earlier they had Covid-19, near ane in five (17.eight per cent) were no longer working and a farther one in 5 (19.3 per cent) had experienced a health-related change to their work.

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

How long does it take to recover from long Covid?

We are withal learning how long the illness lasts and it varies between people. It's important to note that lasting furnishings aren't unique to Covid-nineteen – other viral illnesses can also have lasting effects. The study led past Leicester researchers described above suggests that among those who needed infirmary treatment for the initial affliction, information technology is common for it to final v 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 treatment initially and those who did.)

What are the symptoms of long Covid?

Although virtually people who become Covid-19 recover rapidly, for some the effects of the virus can last for weeks or months. This is known every bit "long Covid".

For some, it can seem similar a bicycle of improving for a fourth dimension and so getting worse over again. These long-term effects aren't merely amid those who needed to go to hospital, or even who felt seriously unwell when they first defenseless the virus.

Lasting symptoms of coronavirus can include:

• fatigue
• breathlessness or shortness of breath
• difficulty sleeping
• anxiety and low
• heart palpitations
• chest tightness or pain
• joint or muscle pain
• not beingness able to think straight or focus ('brain fog')
• modify to your sense of smell or taste
• persistent cough

Which long Covid symptoms are most mutual?

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

Is it normal to have chest pain after Covid?

Chest pain is a common symptom of Covid-19. Some people are experiencing breast 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 call back that fifty-fifty if you have had Covid-19 and are now are experiencing chest pain, it may not be related to the virus.

If you lot experience any new type of chest hurting, it's important to go medical advice, as breast pain tin be a sign of something more serious, similar a heart or lung trouble.

When should I seek urgent medical assist?

Call 999 if you experience:

• Chest pain that is sudden or severe and doesn't go away
• Sudden chest pain that is accompanied past airsickness, nausea, sweating, or shortness of breath
• Sudden breast pain that is accompanied by a loss of consciousness

If y'all accept breast hurting that comes and goes, you should still speak to your GP about it or phone call 111 – as chest hurting should never be ignored.

Some people with severe Covid-19 besides experience heart and circulatory issues during their affliction.

• Read more than most Covid-19 and your center
• Read more than about Covid-19 and claret clots

What type of chest hurting do people get after Covid-19?

We are however learning more about chest pain following Covid-19, but it seems likely that it can be caused by a multifariousness of things.

Muscle pain or soreness (myalgia)

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

Non-specific breast pain

Non-specific chest pain, which is besides called non-cardiac chest pain, tin can be sharp or tedious, and tin can happen in short bursts or exist ongoing. Information technology often doesn't have a cause that can be found.

• Find more information about different types of breast pain on Your Covid Recovery from the NHS.

Is information technology normal to have back pain afterward Covid?

While articulation and muscle problems tin occur anywhere in the body during or after Covid-nineteen, dorsum bug are among the most mutual. You may accept had dorsum pain at times before getting Covid-19, and if y'all were less active while y'all were ill, this could have made joint or muscle problems come back, or get worse. Joint stiffness and muscle weakness is also likely to get worse if you lot weren't moving around as much when you were unwell.

In the weeks afterwards getting Covid-19, some people take back ache or a feeling or pins and needles. As you go along to recover, many of these symptoms may also ameliorate. Yous can aim for a balance of remainder with equally much of your normal daily activity you lot feel you lot can practice, and also exercise to improve your forcefulness and flexibility, such every bit 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 pain is getting worse
• fatigue or breathlessness is preventing yous from being agile
• you develop new symptoms
• your joints and musculus problems haven't improved after three months.

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

Why do some people get palpitations, experience lightheaded or faint afterward Covid?

There is emerging evidence that some people who develop long Covid have similar symptoms to people with a status known as postural tachycardia syndrome, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS). This condition tin can cause dizziness when moving to an upright position and can be triggered by infections. The most common symptoms are feeling light-headed, palpitations (being aware of your heartbeat) and fatigue.

There take been several instance reports in medical journals of people who had continuing symptoms following Covid-19 infection, and some were establish to accept PoTS. PoTs happens considering your body's ways of avoiding a drop in blood pressure level when you stand up up aren't working properly. Normally when yous sit down upward or stand upwardly, gravity makes some of your blood flow downwards, which can cause a fall in blood force per unit area. Your body responds to preclude a fall in blood force per unit area by narrowing your blood vessels and slightly increasing your heart charge per unit. But if y'all accept PoTS these automatic changes don't happen. When you move to an upright position the supply of blood to your heart and brain drops and your heart starts beating faster to compensate.

While there is no cure for PoTS, it tin exist managed by diet, practice and medication, and the researchers say it is important to become an accurate diagnosis and so patients can exist treated and advised on how to manage their symptoms.

If this sounds like your symptoms subsequently having Covid-19, you lot should let your dr. know to ensure you are correctly diagnosed and tin can receive effective handling.

The Royal Higher of Physicians (RCP) have published guidance for doctors that recognises orthostatic problems (including PoTS) as symptoms of long Covid. Orthostatic means relating to, or caused by, being upright.

The RCP recommend to doctors that patients experiencing breathlessness, palpitations, fatigue, breast pain and fainting should be checked advisedly for orthostatic problems. This includes having an active stand exam, which measures a patient'due south changes in eye rate and blood pressure after moving from a lying to a standing position.

• Find out more about PoTS.

Tips for managing long Covid symptoms

Fatigue and breathlessness

• Footstep yourself - plan what yous're going to exercise and don't over-exert yourself.
• Try to intermission tasks which feel difficult downwards into smaller chunks, and alternate easier and harder activities.
• Consider the all-time time of the twenty-four hours to do certain activities based on your free energy levels.
• Frequent brusk rests are better than a few longer ones, then rest earlier yous get exhausted.
• Don't stop doing things that make you feel breathless. If you stop using your muscles, they'll become weaker, which can make you more breathless when you try to use them.
• Try to gradually increase the amount of exercise you practise. Try going for short walks or doing unproblematic strength exercises and build upwards from at that place.
• If you lot use a walking stick or a frame, lean forward on it when you feel breathless.
• The ME Association has published a leaflet about post-Covid fatigue. You can besides call them on 0344 576 5326 for further support.

Boost your mood and mental health

•  Be kind to yourself during your recovery – exist prepared that some days will be worse than others
•  Connecting with other people can assist y'all feel happier – make sure to keep in touch with family and friends.
•  Having a daily routine can be adept for your mood and sense of stability.
•  Stay agile – standing to motility will assist release endorphins and meliorate your mood.

Tips for thinking or retentiveness problems

• Make notes to help y'all call up things – whether it'south in work meetings or medical appointments.
• Effort to reduce distractions.
• It can help to brand a clear plan earlier approaching whatsoever new or complicated problem or situation. Intermission it down into steps, and go on checking your plan every bit y'all follow information technology.

Relieving articulation or musculus pain

• Flexibility exercises (like stretches, yoga and tai chi) and strength exercises (like climbing stairs, lifting weights and working with resistance bands) can exist useful. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise regime.

What tests and treatments are available?

Is there a examination for long Covid?

There isn't one single test to diagnose long Covid. It'due south a condition that isn't fully understood yet.

Speak to your doctor if you lot are experiencing lasting long Covid symptoms. They may refer you for tests to help understand how long Covid is affecting you and how it tin can be treated. Or it may fifty-fifty be that there is another crusade for your symptoms.

Tests could include:

• claret tests
• heart rate and blood pressure checks
• a sit-to-stand up exam
• an ECG
• a breast Ten-ray

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

• Observe out more about why researchers recollect findings about the immune organisation 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 one single handling or medication to treat long Covid.

Everyone'southward experience is different, then information technology'southward important to chat to your GP about the symptoms you lot are experiencing. They tin tell you how to best manage them, and let you know what other support is available.

If long Covid is having a big impact on your life, yous may exist referred to a specialist rehabilitation service, or a specialist who looks later on the symptoms you have.

At that place's lots of things yous can practise at home to manage your symptoms as you recover.

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

Vaccination and long Covid

Does getting vaccinated reduce the risk of long Covid?

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

In February 2022 the Great britain Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published a review of xv long Covid studies from the United kingdom and across the world. They found that people who caught Covid after having two doses of Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Moderna, or one dose of the Janssen vaccine, were half as probable to develop lasting Covid symptoms (lasting 28 days or more from the original infection), compared to those who were unvaccinated, or only had 1 dose. The research also institute a reduction in longer-term long Covid symptoms (up to vi months). This review only looked at people who caught Covid – given that vaccination as well reduces your hazard of catching Covid, the bodily reduction in long Covid risk from the vaccine is significantly bigger.

Research from King's College Londonlikewise suggests that ii doses of the vaccine halves the risk of long Covid in adults. The assay, looking at information from the ZOE Covid App betwixt eight December 2020 and iv 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 Part for National Statistics (ONS) backs this up, showing that 2 doses of the vaccine could reduce the risk of developing long Covid by 40% (in people 18-69 years of age).

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

• See up-to-date research about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine

Does getting vaccinated help if you already have long Covid?

There is growing bear witness that getting the vaccine could reduce long Covid in people who caught the virus earlier they were vaccinated. We are still learning more most this and what the reasons for it might exist.

In the UKHSA evidence review, 3 out of four studies looking at long Covid before and after vaccination institute that more people reported an comeback in symptoms (either directly away or over several weeks) than people who were unvaccinated. Simply there were a few people in all studies who constitute that their symptoms got worse.

In research published in October 2021, the Part for National Statistics used information from the United kingdom Coronavirus Infection Survey to look at the association between Covid-xix vaccination and long Covid in people who already had it before the vaccine.

In research published in October 2021, the Office for National Statistics used data from the Britain Coronavirus Infection Survey to expect at the clan between Covid-nineteen vaccination and long Covid in people who already had it before the vaccine. They found that the first vaccine was associated with an initial thirteen% decrease in the likelihood of self-reported long Covid, although information technology's non articulate from the data whether this was a lasting improvement or if symptoms returned afterwards an initial improvement. The 2d dose was associated with 9% decrease in the likelihood of self-reported long Covid, relative to having received the commencement vaccination, and there was statistical show of a sustained improvement afterward this.

Which vaccine was used (Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna) didn't announced to brand whatsoever divergence to the results. Nor did the person's age, ethnic background, gender or other health bug.

This type of study is observational, which means it tin't show cause and effect. The written report was besides limited in that information technology only followed people for an average of 67 days after the second vaccine, and not everyone in the study had their 2nd vaccine. So we tin't exist sure from this that the Covid-nineteen vaccines help people with long Covid (although we do know that they reduce the risk of getting Covid again). Over time, the quality and understanding of this data will improve and the conclusions and statistics generated will be more than definite.

Can children get long Covid?

Yep. 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 later infection. The survey showed that almost 13 per cent of children in the survey aged between two and xi and fourteen.v per cent of children aged 12 to 16 reported certain symptoms including fatigue, coughing, headache, muscle aches or loss of gustation or smell five weeks later on falling sick with Covid-19. But it 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 x secondary school pupils reported ongoing symptoms more 4 weeks after a confirmed Covid-nineteen infection. A similar proportion of pupils who had a suspected (but non confirmed) Covid-xix infection also reported that they had symptoms that lasted more than four weeks. The almost common symptoms were "weakness/ tiredness", reported past nearly half of pupils who had lingering symptoms. Six out of 10 pupils with long Covid symptoms said it express their ability to acquit out mean solar day to solar day activities. The information was based on a survey of two,326 pupils in schools in England from 2-26 July 2021.

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

Common questions virtually long Covid

Who is near at adventure of developing long Covid?

Researchers accept analysed data from the COVID Symptom Study app to discover who is most at risk of developing long Covid. They plant that older people, women, and those who had a more severe infection (with five or more symptoms in the first week of becoming ill with Covid-19) were more probable to develop long Covid.

They institute that long Covid affects effectually i in ten 18-49 yr-olds who get Covid-19, increasing to simply over 1 in five (22 per cent) people over 70. The researchers besides found people with asthma were also more likely to develop long Covid. This was the just clear link they found to existing health conditions in people who developed long Covid.

Researchers from University Infirmary Zurich have backed up these findings. Their research likewise found that people with depression levels of sure antibodies (IgM and IgG3) in their blood may be more probable to develop long Covid. When they combined this antibiotic information with the other factors (such as the person's age, number of initial Covid symptoms, and history of asthma), they were amend 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 teaching and education, and people with another wellness condition or disability. This study was based on 305,997 people who responded to the Coronavirus Infection Survey in the four weeks to ii January 2022.

Is long Covid contagious?

Long Covid is not contagious. Long Covid symptoms are caused past your trunk's response to the virus continuing beyond the initial disease.

To avoid passing coronavirus on to others, you lot should cocky-isolate for 10 days from your original symptoms or positive test, or if after 10 days you still take a temperature, or runny nose or sneezing, or sickness or diarrhoea, until these symptoms take gone.

If I have long Covid, will I examination positive?

No, having long Covid symptoms won't cause you to test positive.

If you get a positive Covid test effect it's nigh likely to be a new infection from the one that caused your long Covid symptoms. If you lot have a positive test, equally always, you need to self-isolate for 10 full days to avoid passing it on. If after 10 days you lot still accept a fever, or are feeling hot or shivery, or take a runny olfactory organ or sneezing, or are feeling or being sick, or have diarrhoea, y'all should cocky-isolate until those symptoms accept gone. If any of these symptoms are lasting a long fourth dimension and yous call up they may exist symptoms of long Covid, you can get some other PCR test to see if you still have an active infection.

What support tin I go for long Covid?

• Long Covid clinics are being rolled out beyond England and have 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 yet been announced in Scotland or Northern Republic of ireland.
• Your Covid Recovery has been set past the NHS to provide information and support to those who've had Covid and are still suffering with symptoms. A bilingual version of the app has been developed by NHS Wales.
• If you're worried about your symptoms, or if they are getting worse, contact your GP. You may be able to be referred for physiotherapy, or for psychological support such every bit cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
• Always call 999 if you lot take any emergency symptoms, such as sudden chest paint, or if yous recall you may be having a heart assail or stroke. Find out more information on when to go medical help.

What enquiry is existence washed into long Covid?

The BHF and others are funding research to observe out more than most long Covid. Read more 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, information technology tin can be helpful to know you're non alone.

	A year of health issues: Suki'southward story "I constitute the only way to get better is to cease and rest for every bit long as it takes." Read Suki's story
	Mark'due south ongoing battle with long Covid "Each twenty-four hour period was like existence on a rollercoaster in the dark." ReadMark's story
	James's road to recovery "Things are going in the right management. At present, my worst moments aren't as bad every bit the previous worst moments. I only accept to be patient." Read James'south story
	Martin's experience of long Covid "Sometimes I just demand a bit of time on my own then I tin sit, reflect on what's happened, and try to bargain with it." Read Martin's story

We're here for yous with data and support around coronavirus

Our fortnightly Centre Matters newsletter includes the latest updates about coronavirus when you have a middle condition, as well every bit support for salubrious eating, staying active and your emotional wellbeing.

I'd similar to sign-upwardly

Back to acme ^

What to read adjacent...

carterstram1971.blogspot.com

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

Share this post