Long COVID: Understanding the Lasting Impact of the Pandemic

 

Explore the lasting impact of COVID-19 on millions of individuals worldwide, as we delve into the mysteries of Long COVID. Learn about the common symptoms, ongoing research, and potential treatments for this complex condition affecting people's lives long after recovery from the virus.

1) Introduction to long term effects of Covid-19

Welcome to our blog, where we investigate the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic. This worldwide health catastrophe has left an indelible imprint on our lives, altering our society, economy, and personal experiences in ways we are just now beginning to comprehend.

The COVID-19 epidemic has been both a health disaster and a catalyst for change, hastening current trends and revealing socioeconomic disparities. It has had an impact on every part of our life, from our daily routines to our mental health to our reading habits. The pandemic has also had a significant influence on our healthcare systems, driving the digitalization of healthcare delivery and medical education while leaving us with a rising cohort of individuals suffering from "post COVID-19 condition."

Furthermore, the pandemic had enormous societal consequences, worsening existing structural and socioeconomic disparities and hurting different individuals in various ways. It has also caused behavioral changes, such as increased reading habits while confined, and has had a tremendous influence on our brains, resulting in cognitive hurdles and mental health issues. As we progress through the "COVID decade," we hope to give you with extensive insights into these long-term consequences based on the most recent research and expert viewpoints. We seek to promote a greater knowledge of the changes we are experiencing and the issues we face, as well as to spark discussions about how we might handle them collectively.

Join us as we explore this new environment, analyzing the changes, adjusting to the difficulties, and imagining a future influenced by our collective experiences. Welcome to our exploration of COVID-19's long-term impacts.

a) Background of COVID-19

The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19, or Coronavirus Disease 2019. It was discovered in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Hubei province. The illness soon spread around the world, resulting in a continuing epidemic. COVID-19 symptoms vary greatly, ranging from none to severe sickness. Fever, cough, and trouble breathing are common symptoms. Severe instances frequently develop pneumonia, multi-organ failure, and death.

b) Definition of Long-term Effects of COVID-19

The long-term consequences of COVID-19, sometimes known as 'Long COVID,' include a variety of symptoms that last for weeks or even months after the original sickness. These symptoms can impact every system in the body, and their intensity and combination can change over time. Long COVID can develop following occurrences of severe, moderate, or even asymptomatic COVID-19. The specific source of these chronic symptoms is unknown, although continuing research suggests a number of plausible causes, including virus-caused damage, an overactive immune response, or a mix of the two.

c) Purpose of the Article

The goal of this article is to offer a detailed assessment of COVID-19's long-term consequences. It strives to shed light on the disease's physical and psychological symptoms, the variables that influence these effects, and their management and therapy. The paper is aimed at healthcare professionals, academics, policymakers, and anyone else interested in learning more about the long-term effects of this worldwide pandemic. It draws on the most recent research and expert viewpoints to present a thorough and up-to-date examination of this critical and developing issue.

d) Key Statistics on Long Term Effects of Covid-19

i) Prevalence of Long-Term Effects of Covid-19

Long COVID prevalence varies based on the population investigated. Estimates of extended COVID incidence among nonhospitalized people with COVID-19 range from 7.5% to 41%, for example. In a research done in the United States, the prevalence of extended COVID fell from 7.5% (95% CI = 7.1-7.9) during June 1-13, 2022 to 6.0% (95% CI = 5.7-6.3) during June 7-19, 2023 among noninstitutionalized U.S. people aged 18 years. The prevalence of prior COVID-19 in adults fell from 18.9% (95% CI = 17.9-19.8) to 11.0% (95% CI = 10.4-11.6).

ii) Common Long-Term Symptoms of Covid-19

Long COVID can cause a variety of continuing health issues that might continue for weeks, months, or even years. Cough, exhaustion, dyspnea, muscular and joint discomfort, sleep problems, loss of smell or taste, poor mood, brain fog, loss of focus or memory impairments (cognitive impairment), and anxiety are the most prevalent symptoms.

iii) Organ Damage in Long COVID

A UCL researcher co-led a study that discovered organ damage continued in 59% of long COVID patients a year after initial symptoms, even in individuals who were not badly afflicted when first diagnosed with the virus. Six months after their initial diagnosis, 331 (62%) of the 536 individuals in the research were found to have organ dysfunction. A 40-minute multi-organ MRI scan six months later indicated that 29% of patients with extended COVID had multi-organ damage, with persisting symptoms and impaired function at six and 12 months. 12 months after first diagnosis, 59% of extended COVID patients showed single organ dysfunction.

iv) Duration of Long-Term Effects of Covid-19

The length of long COVID symptoms varies widely across individuals. Some people only have symptoms for a few weeks, while others have problems for months or even years. In rare circumstances, symptoms may disappear and then reappeare. A study of over 1.3 million people who had COVID-19 found that while mental health conditions like anxiety and depression improved over time, increased risks of cognitive impairment (brain fog), seizures, dementia, psychosis, and other neurocognitive conditions persisted for at least 2 years.

v) Impact of long Covid-19 on Mental Health

Long-term COVID can have a negative influence on mental health. As previously stated, a study of over 1.3 million people who had COVID-19 found that while mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression improved over time, increased risks of cognitive impairment (brain fog), seizures, dementia, psychosis, and other neurocognitive conditions persisted for at least 2 years. Furthermore, the condition's continuous physical symptoms and the ambiguity surrounding it might lead to feelings of worry and sadness.

 

2) Long Term Physical Effects of Covid-19

Long-term COVID-19 physical effects, also known as post-COVID-19 syndrome, post-COVID conditions, long COVID-19, and post acute sequelae of SARS COV-2 infection (PASC), can last for weeks, months, or even years after the original illness. These side effects can occur even in those who have minor cases of the disease or are asymptomatic. Fatigue, headache, joint pain, anosmia (loss of smell), ageusia (loss of taste), and numerous cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal consequences are among the most typically reported symptoms.

a) Fatigue

Fatigue in the context of Long Covid is not just about feeling tired. It is an extreme exhaustion that can interrupt or stop individuals from doing everyday activities. The usual things that refresh us such as sleep, doing a favorite activity, or a pastime, no longer help

. Fatigue can leave you unable to do important or meaningful activities, and you can find it difficult to concentrate and/or recall memories.

The fatigue experienced in Long Covid can manifest in various ways. Individuals may have very little energy or feel burned out. They may feel weighed down, sleepy, and out of breath, even when doing simple activities. They may not want to do things they usually like to do, and may even feel that they've lost interest in doing anything at all. Other symptoms can include chronic tiredness or sleepiness, headaches, dizziness, sore or achy muscles, muscle weakness, slow reflexes and responses, poor decision-making skills, moodiness and irritability, poor hand-to-eye coordination, loss of appetite, reduced immune system function, blurry vision, short-term memory problems, poor concentration, inability to pay attention to surroundings or the situation at hand, and low motivation

The causes of post-COVID fatigue are not fully understood. However, it is believed to be due to a continuing response to COVID even though the infection has cleared, the effect of a serious illness, and longer-lasting effects of COVID on the body, which can be present even if the initial infection was mild

To manage fatigue, it is important to recognize that fatigue is real and can affect your everyday well-being. Coming to terms with your fatigue and recognizing that there are things you cannot do at the moment will help you manage your recovery. Relaxation techniques such as mindful meditation, aromatherapy, yoga, tai chi, and other activities you find relaxing, such as reading or having a long shower or bath, can help with fatigue as they promote a good sleep pattern and can help reduce stress. It is also recommended to remember the 3 Ps: Plan, Prioritise, and Pace. This involves thinking about the activities or tasks you can manage within a day or week, and planning a routine around them. Any increase in your activity should be very gradual, taking time to assess how an activity is impacting your fatigue. If your symptoms of fatigue and exhaustion are getting worse, it is important to talk to your healthcare professional, such as a pharmacist or local doctor so they can rule out any other condition that could be causing your problems

b) Headache

Long COVID headache is more common in middle-aged women and is of moderate to severe intensity. It is typically associated with other long COVID symptoms, most notably hyposmia, or a diminished capacity to smell. The headache might have a migrainous or, more commonly, a tension-type form. The development of these headaches is hypothesized to be influenced by persistent immune system activation and trigeminovascular activation.

According to a research done at the Stanford Headache Clinic, the exact aspects of the headache differed significantly among participants. The International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third Edition (ICHD3) criteria for migraine were satisfied by 74% of the patients. Patients with a previously lower headache burden who largely exhibited chronification from episodic to chronic migraine were included in the study, as were patients with no previous history of headache who met ICHD3 criteria for headache attributed to a systemic viral illness, mostly with a migrainous phenotype. Post-COVID headaches are frequently reported as moderate to severe, persistent, and resistant to therapy. The majority of headache morphologies are similar to migraine and new persistent daily headache. The headaches are reported as moderate to severe pressure in the front of the head, extending throughout the skull, or as pulsing pain on both sides of the head. After being diagnosed with COVID-19, one in every four individuals suffers from migraine-like symptoms.

Long COVID headache is difficult to treat. To assist long-term COVID sufferers conquer chronic headaches, most doctors and neurologists turn to medicines. However, the majority of patients claim that drugs only assist a little, do not help at all, or even make their symptoms worse. Part of the difficulty is that chronic COVID headaches can have a variety of reasons, many of which are resistant to medicine. Inflammation, vascular issues, autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction, and pharmaceutical misuse are all possible reasons.

c) Joint Pain

A growing number of studies have found that Long COVID-19 is associated with new-onset rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, reactive arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, polyenthesitis, and connective tissue diseases are examples of these conditions.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects more than just the joints. Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory illness that causes shoulder discomfort and stiffness. Reactive arthritis is caused by an infection in another region of your body and causes joint pain and swelling. The spine and other joints are affected by axial spondyloarthritis, a kind of arthritis. Polyenthesitis is an inflammation of several entheses, which are the points at which tendons or ligaments penetrate into the bone. Connective tissue disorders are a set of medical conditions that encompass numerous rheumatic issues.

According to one research, 74.6% of COVID-19 survivors had at least one rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptom at 3 months, while 43.2% had at least one such symptom at 6 months. Fatigue, joint pain, and myalgia were the most common rheumatic and musculoskeletal complaints.

The specific processes producing these symptoms are unknown, however the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which produces COVID-19, is thought to function as a trigger for the development of autoimmune disorders and rheumatic musculoskeletal ailments. The virus enters human cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, which is expressed throughout the musculoskeletal system, notably in skeletal muscle and synovial tissue cells. This might explain why a high number of post-COVID-19 patients develop musculoskeletal complaints.

d) Anosmia and Ageusia

Anosmia (loss of smell) and ageusia (loss of taste) are typical COVID-19 symptoms that emerge early in the disease. Recent research, however, has discovered that these symptoms can continue even after recovery from a protracted COVID-19 infection. Following a 67-day follow-up period, 18.8% and 14.1% of patients who recovered from extended COVID-19 continued to display signs of anosmia and ageusia, respectively.

COVID-19 anosmia may be linked to long-term difficulties in the consolidation of procedural and verbal declarative memories. In long-COVID patients, research suggests that medial temporal lobe impairment is associated with anosmia. In many individuals, the virus can induce olfactory impairment, with suspected explanations including olfactory cleft blockage, olfactory bulb atrophy, inflammation, downregulation of olfactory receptor proteins, and significant activation of macrophages and cytokine release.

In terms of recovery, 60-70% of patients recover completely or partially from anosmia within 4 weeks of receiving COVID-19. After 2 months, 78% of patients completely regain their sense of smell, while 95% do so after 6 months. Some patients, however, may experience anosmia for more than a year. When anosmia lasts longer than two weeks, numerous treatment options are available, including intranasal corticosteroids, sodium citrate, and olfactory exercises.

A research discovered that being a male patient, being a smoker, and being hospitalized to the ICU were risk variables (independent predictors) of lengthy duration of ageusia following COVID-19 recovery.

e) Cardiovascular Effects

Long COVID's cardiovascular effects might be extremely complex and severe. According to research, the virus can have a greater impact on the cardiovascular system than the pulmonary or musculoskeletal systems. Fatigue, dyspnea (shortness of breath), chest discomfort, cough, myocardial inflammation (inflammation of the heart muscle), palpitations, myalgias (muscle pains), and arthralgias (joint pain) are all symptoms of cardiovascular disease.

According to research, COVID-19 survivors had a considerably greater 12-month risk of cardiovascular illness than a matched control group of patients without COVID-19. This elevated risk was observed regardless of age, race, gender, or other cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, chronic renal disease, or hyperlipidemia.

Long COVID patients had a much greater risk of having poor myocardial flow reserve (MFR), a prognostic indication that measures how much the heart can increase blood flow under increasing oxygen demand, according to one research. This impairment was more common in patients who had been hospitalized or admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) due to COVID-19 COVID-related cardiac damage could be caused by a variety of factors, including the rupture of inflammatory plaques (vessel blockages), blood clots, low blood-oxygen levels, cardiac output-related stress, or systemic inflammation of blood vessel lining.

Long COVID can cause immunological and hormonal alterations in addition to these direct cardiovascular consequences. Long COVID patients, for example, had larger amounts of specific immune cells and signaling molecules, stronger antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

These cardiovascular consequences, together with immunological and hormonal alterations, have the potential to cause the emergence of new illnesses, such as heart or nervous system disorders. It is crucial to highlight, however, that the processes that cause Long COVID, especially its cardiovascular implications, remain unknown and are the topic of ongoing study.

f) Pulomonary Effects

Long COVID-19 syndrome, also known as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, mostly affects the lungs and causes respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some people may have these symptoms long after they have healed. Long-term COVID-19 exposure can induce long-term lung damage, potentially leading to long-term breathing problems.

COVID-19 may cause lung tissue damage and disrupt respiratory patterns, resulting in shortness of breath that can last for weeks, months, or even years in certain circumstances. Inflammation and immune system difficulties, in addition to direct lung injury, can all contribute to long-term respiratory discomfort.

Breathing patterns may not always revert to normal when the lungs heal, and bad patterns may become a habit, leading to weariness, dyspnea, and a slower recovery process. Scarring caused by COVID-19 lung injury might restrict blood flow and diminish lung capacity in some situations.

Patients can engage in modest physical exercises like walking or biking to control and enhance lung health following COVID-19, progressively increasing the time and intensity of the activity. Breathing exercises might also aid in healing. Before beginning any new fitness program, contact with a healthcare practitioner, and get medical help if you have new or increasing shortness of breath, trouble breathing, or worsening chest discomfort.

g) Renal Effects

Long-term COVID-19 exposure can have serious consequences on the kidneys, perhaps leading to long-term renal problems. The specific type and degree of these effects are still being explored, although multiple studies have already thrown insight on COVID-19's possible renal consequences.

COVID-19-related kidney injury is a diverse condition with a wide variety of clinical manifestations and prognoses. Kidney impairment is frequent in COVID-19 individuals and can vary from proteinuria to haematuria to acute kidney injury necessitating renal replacement treatment. COVID-19 kidney injury pathophysiology includes both direct COVID-19 effects on the kidneys as well as mechanisms resulting from systemic consequences of the inflammatory response to the viral infection, virus effects on distant organs, and therapeutic interventions to manage critical COVID-19 disease.

Patients who have survived COVID-19 are more likely to have poor renal outcomes in the post-acute phase of the illness. COVID-19 may predispose surviving persons to chronic kidney disease, even in the absence of clinically obvious acute kidney damage (AKI). COVID-19 individuals are at a greater risk of post-acute renal impairment, which can be categorized according to the severity of the acute infection (non-hospitalized, hospitalized, or ICU patients).

Kidney involvement is prevalent in individuals with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, and subclinical inflammation and damage can last for months, leading to a gradual deterioration in kidney function and chronic kidney disease. A research conducted in the United States utilizing electronic health data from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) found that COVID-19 increased the risk of CKD, with the risk being highest among those with severe disease.

According to one study of veterans, Covid survivors were 35% more likely than other patients to have long-term renal injury or decreases in kidney function. The sicker Covid patients were at the start, the more likely they were to have long-term renal injury. However, even patients with less severe initial infections may be at risk.

Other physical consequences of extended COVID-19 might include "brain fog" (difficulty thinking or focusing), disorientation, and other neurological problems. These symptoms might appear weeks after the original infection and can occur in people who had relatively moderate symptoms or were asymptomatic.

 

3) Long-term Psychological Effects of COVID-19

a) Anxiety Disorders

Long-term anxiety issues have been linked to COVID-19. According to studies, the long-term prevalence of anxiety among COVID-19 survivors is equivalent to the overall population. There was a minor link found between SARS-CoV-2 infection and anxiety symptoms, with the proportion of people meeting criteria for self-reported anxiety disorders just slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels. The link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and anxiety symptoms, on the other hand, was shown to be greater in those with recent (30 days) infection vs those with more distant (>120 days) infection, indicating a short-term impact.

b)  Insomnia

COVID-19 is known to cause insomnia as a long-term side effect. Sleep issues, such as insomnia, are prevalent symptoms of "long COVID" in around 52% of patients with COVID-19. Sleep disruption affects up to 31% of persons with extended COVID. The term "Coronasomnia" was created to characterize the wide range of sleep difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which can arise for a variety of causes other than infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

c) Dementia

COVID-19 has been linked to fast dementia progression. A tiny study discovered that possessing COVID-19 increased the morphological and functional brain degradation of dementia patients, independent of the type of dementia. All of the individuals with dementia in the research reported a substantial increase in weariness and depression a year after getting COVID-19, as well as decreasing attention, memory, speech, visuospatial capacities, and executive functioning. These individuals also experienced cerebral atrophy, which is the loss of neurons and connections between neurons, as well as lesions deep in their brains' white matter.

d) Other Psychological Effects

Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sleep difficulties are among the other long-term psychological impacts of COVID-19. One year after infection, a substantial number of COVID-19 survivors still had poor sleep quality, exhaustion, anxiety, sadness, and PTSD. The epidemic has also been connected to an increase in general psychological symptoms. Furthermore, 3 months after infection, COVID-19 survivors are more likely to develop mental and anxiety issues.

 

4) Factors Influencing Long-term Effects of COVID-19

COVID-19's long-term consequences, also known as Long COVID, can be impacted by a number of factors, including age, pre-existing comorbidities, the severity of the COVID-19 infection, and the length of symptoms.

a) Age

The long-term effects of COVID-19 are influenced by age. According to research, the risk of Long COVID increases with age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in every four persons over the age of 65 who have had COVID-19 have had at least one long-term health concern. Other studies, however, have found that the risk of Long COVID in older persons is the same as or lower than in other age groups.

b) Pre-existing Comorbidities

Comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and others have been demonstrated to make patients more sensitive to catastrophic COVID-19 outcomes by modifying host-viral interactions and immune responses, resulting in severe infection and death. Obesity, for example, has been identified as a significant risk factor for individuals with severe COVID-19.

c) Severity of COVID-19

The intensity of the initial COVID-19 infection can potentially have an impact on the long-term consequences. People who had severe COVID-19 sickness may have had organ damage affecting the heart, kidneys, skin, and brain. Long COVID can develop in those with minor COVID-19 sickness, as well as those who had no symptoms or were unaware they were infected. Long COVID, on the other hand, is more common among persons who were severely unwell with COVID-19.

d) Duration of Symptoms

Another element that might impact COVID-19's long-term consequences is the length of symptoms. Long COVID is defined as symptoms continuing for at least two months within three months of beginning in persons with a history of suspected or proven SARS-CoV-2 infection that cannot be explained by another diagnosis. The severity of COVID-19-related persistent symptoms reduced considerably with time after infection. To summarize, the long-term effects of COVID-19 can be altered by a number of conditions, and further study is required to properly understand these consequences and how to effectively manage and treat them.

 

5) Management and Treatment of Long-term Effects of COVID-19

a) Role of Primary Care Providers

Primary care professionals (PCPs) are critical in the management and treatment of long-term COVID-19 effects, also known as extended COVID. Long COVID, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can be identified and managed by general care, with a cautious approach during the first 4 to 12 weeks, followed by an extensive workup at 12 weeks if symptoms continue.

PCPs are critical in treating the many symptoms of protracted COVID, especially given the condition's paucity of evidence-based therapy. They are in charge of customizing patient treatment by giving appropriate condition information, teaching patients about the possible hazards of self-initiated techniques, and avoiding potentially hazardous tests through shared decision making.

b) Patient-centered Approaches

A patient-centered approach is essential in the management of protracted COVID. This includes being honest about the absence of evidence for therapy options, as well as acknowledging, describing, and taking patients' problems seriously.

Patients with lengthy COVID frequently express a wish for more awareness of the illness. They believe they are "not taken seriously" in consultations and are frustrated by the difficulties in obtaining appropriate and particular treatment, expressing a need for speedier access to meetings with specialists.

As long as no proven effective medications for extended COVID exist, a comprehensive and patient-centered strategy is essential. This comprises mind-body medicine and respiratory treatment, both of which have been found to be useful.

c) Home remedies of Long term Covid-19

While there is no treatment for long-term COVID, there are a number of home remedies and lifestyle adjustments that can help control the symptoms. It is crucial to stress, however, that these treatments should be taken in conjunction with, not in place of, competent medical guidance and treatment.

i) A Healthy and Balanced Diet: A healthy and balanced diet can have a significant influence on how you feel. Whole meals high in protein, fiber, healthy fats, and minerals can help the immune system and reduce inflammation. Oysters, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, beans, almonds, animal protein, mushrooms, Brazil nuts, and shellfish are all high in zinc and selenium. In addition, eating eight to twelve servings of phytonutrients each day from vegetables, fruits, spices, herbs, and tea helps reduce inflammation and rebalance the immune system.

ii) Supplements: Certain supplements may aid in the management of long-term COVID symptoms. Melatonin, which can lower anxiety and enhance sleep patterns, and N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC), which can aid with shortness of breath, are two examples. Other supplements, such as resveratrol and quercetin, have been recommended for their possible advantages. However, before beginning any supplement program, talk with a healthcare physician because more study is needed to validate their safety and efficacy.

iii) Herbal Remedies: Certain herbs, such as astragalus, Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), and andrographis, may help with long-term COVID symptoms. Ginkgo, a brain tonic and anti-inflammatory plant, can also be beneficial. However, before beginning any herbal treatment, consult with a trained herbalist or naturopath.

iv) Exercise and Relaxation: Regular exercise and relaxation practices can aid in stress management and general well-being. Walking, yoga, and reading can all be good. It's also critical to recognize your symptom triggers and avoid or minimize circumstances that may aggravate your symptoms.

v) Sleep: Adequate sleep is essential for recuperation. It is recommended to dim the lights in your home or switch to low-light lamps one hour before bed to support melatonin production, which can improve sleep quality.

vi) Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy, which involves the use of water for pain relief and treatment, can also be beneficial for COVID patients who have been on the medication for a long time.

d) Challenges and Future Directions

Long COVID management and treatment provide various obstacles. One of the most difficult issues is the disease's various presentations, which need a thorough grasp of the whole clinical range of symptoms experienced by patients throughout time.

Another issue is the difficulty to accurately quantify the condition. "We don't really have specific tests—something that could say, 'Oh, you have long COVID,'" said Dr. Lucinda Bateman, an internist and founder of the charity Bateman Horne Center.

In terms of future directions, ClinicalTrials.gov lists approximately 90 interventional research relevant to extended COVID, including trials on medications, biologics, rehabilitative treatments, medical devices, and complementary and alternative therapies.

Despite these obstacles, targetable pathways have been found, and proof-of-concept studies are under ongoing to help us understand the biology of protracted COVID and find viable therapeutics.

In conclusion, extended COVID management and therapy require a patient-centered approach, with primary care professionals playing a critical role. Despite the hurdles, research is underway to better understand the illness and develop viable remedies.

 

6) Real Life Stories and Testimonials of covid-19 Survivors

a) Rachel Pintrick

Rachel is a COVID-19 survivor who has spent 18 months advocating, mentoring, and sharing her experience. She is part of a community of survivors who share their stories in hopes that others can learn from them and find healing in knowing that they are not alone

b) Claudette Himes

Claudette, a 63-year-old accountant, spent 12 and a half days in an isolated hospital bed on a ventilator. On the 13th day, she emerged from an induced coma with a prayer on her lips. She spent several weeks in Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital battling COVID-19

c) Walter Gilstrap

Walter, a 65-year-old kidney transplant recipient, spent almost a month in the hospital during his COVID-19 ordeal. He had dangerously high levels of a protein called creatine kinase (CK), which happens in about 14 percent of COVID-19 patients. After 27 days in the hospital, 17 of those in the ICU, he was finally able to go home

d) Isaiah

Isaiah, a 21-year-old patient, and his 19-year-old wife, Abby, shared their personal ordeal with the coronavirus. The newlyweds had been married only a couple of months when the unvaccinated Isaiah was put on a ventilator. Both described the horror of dealing with Isaiah’s hospitalization and the uncertainty around his recovery

e) Joy Curbean-Johnson

Joy, a human resources employee and COVID-19 survivor, went from vaccine doubter to someone who now proclaims, “Get the shot.” She and her whole family, including her mother, came down with COVID-19 earlier in the year. She developed a blood clot that gave her “COVID toes,” literally turning them purple and requiring emergency surgery

f) Saul Torres

Saul, a 42-year-old man, and his entire family became infected with COVID-19, landing him in the hospital. He ended up losing 40 pounds, and the coronavirus is suspected to have triggered the onset of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which will require long-term physical therapy

g) Dr. José Luis Patier

Dr. Patier, a 61-year-old internist at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital in Madrid, cared for coronavirus patients without protective equipment in the early days of the pandemic. He contracted the virus and spent eight days intubated in the hospital. His 94-year-old mother, in a nursing home, died of coronavirus four days after he was discharged

h) Shanderick Dorsey

Shanderick, a teenager from North Carolina, beat COVID-19 after spending 95 days in the hospital

These tales demonstrate the tenacity and fortitude of those who have faced COVID-19. They also emphasize the significance of adopting precautionary steps, such as vaccination, to protect oneself and others from the virus.

 

7) Conclusion

In summary, Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is a complicated and diverse illness that continues to be a source of confusion for researchers studying COVID-19. It is distinguished by a variety of residual symptoms that last for weeks, months, or even years after the virus has been eradicated. These symptoms can include, among other things, weariness, bodily pains, shortness of breath, trouble focusing, incapacity to exercise, headache, and problems sleeping.

The syndrome has been recorded in people of all ages, regardless of the severity of their initial infection, and it has been shown to have a major impact on quality of life. It is crucial to highlight that Long COVID is a "syndrome of syndromes," with multiple clusters of symptoms frequently appearing concurrently.

The stories of people living with Long COVID highlight the significance of ongoing study, acknowledgement, and care for those affected. It is critical that healthcare personnel listen to and validate patients' experiences, since their perspectives can significantly add to our understanding of this disorder.

Furthermore, the appearance of Long COVID emphasizes the need of preventative interventions, such as immunization, in lowering the chance of COVID-19 infection and its long-term repercussions. As we navigate this epidemic, it is critical that we remain dedicated to understanding and meeting the needs of persons suffering from Long COVID.

Finally, the Long COVID tale demonstrates the strength of patient advocacy and the need of incorporating patient experiences and knowledge into a disease's evidence base. Patients used social media channels to discuss their experiences and connect with others having similar issues, which significantly brought the ailment to attention. This patient-led campaign has been critical in increasing awareness of Long COVID and has made substantial contributions to continuing research and knowledge of the disorder.

We'd want to thank you, our readers, for taking the time to interact with our blog and learn more about this important issue. Your involvement and support are vital in our collaborative endeavor to comprehend and handle Long COVID's difficulties. We hope you found this material useful and instructive, and we urge you to keep looking for credible sources of information and sharing what you discover with others. Thank you for coming along with us on this adventure.

 

FAQ’s

1) What is Long COVID?

Long COVID, also known as post-COVID condition, refers to the continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation

2) What are the common symptoms of Long COVID?

Common symptoms include fatigue, difficulty focusing (“brain fog”), headache, muscle pain, cough, fever, dizziness, change in smell or taste, and difficulty sleeping

3) Who is at risk for Long COVID?

Long COVID can affect anyone, including children, and it can develop in people who had asymptomatic, mild, or severe COVID-19. It is more common among older people, women, and those who had six or more symptoms during the first week of COVID-19

4) How is Long COVID diagnosed?

There is no single test that can diagnose Long COVID. Doctors diagnose it, in large part, based on a patient’s history of COVID-19 and by ruling out other possible causes

5) What causes Long COVID?

While the causes of Long COVID are not yet known, researchers and clinicians have proposed several theories, including residual organ damage and remaining virus

6) How can I prevent Long COVID?

The best way to prevent Long COVID is to prevent COVID-19 in the first place. This includes getting vaccinated & boosted, wearing a face mask when cases are on the rise, and socializing outdoors when possible

7) When should you see a doctor for a post-COVID condition?

See a doctor if you have a fever over 100.4F, if you cannot take care of your symptoms at home, or if you are not recovering from COVID-19. You should talk to a doctor if your symptoms make your daily life harder

8) What is the outlook for people with Long COVID?

For some long-haulers, the symptoms of Long COVID resolve on their own within three months after onset of their initial COVID-19 illness. For others, however, symptoms can continue well beyond three months

9) What is the prevalence of Long COVID?

A recent study in the U.S. found that approximately one-third of people who had COVID-19 report persistent symptoms up to 9 months after the initial illness

10) Do vaccines prevent post COVID-19 condition?

A vaccine’s ability to prevent post COVID-19 condition depends on its ability to prevent infection in the first place. The vaccines we currently have are aimed at preventing severe disease and death

11) What are the long-term effects of COVID-19?

Long-term effects of COVID-19 can include fatigue, breathlessness, cognitive dysfunction, and over 200 different symptoms that can have an impact on everyday functioning

12) How soon after COVID-19 can someone be confirmed to have post COVID-19 condition?

Three months after a patient first got sick with COVID-19 is when a clinician would usually consider the diagnosis of post COVID-19 condition

13) How long must symptoms linger for it to be post COVID-19 condition?

Symptoms should last for at least 2 months from when they first begin

14) What do we know about who is more susceptible to post COVID-19 condition?

Anyone with COVID-19 can get post COVID-19 condition, irrespective of the severity of disease

15) For those recovering from COVID-19 what should we do?

Take plenty of rest, eat nutritious food, take all medicines as advised by your doctor, avoid strenuous exercise, and try not to go out of your home unless necessary

16) Can children and adolescents get Long COVID?

Yes, children and adolescents can also get Long COVID, but research suggests it is more common in adults

17) What are the disability benefits for Long COVID?

People who are unable to work due to long COVID symptoms may be eligible for disability benefits. To qualify as a disability, it must greatly limit one or more major life activities

18) What is the impact of Long COVID on daily activities?

Long COVID can affect a person’s ability to perform daily activities, like work or household chores

19) What is the treatment for Long COVID?

Treatment for Long COVID is usually symptom-based and may involve specialists in cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and/or other relevant fields of medicine

20) What is the percentage of COVID-19 patients who develop Long COVID?

Studies show that around 10–20% of people infected by SARS-CoV-2 may go on to develop symptoms that can be diagnosed as long COVID