As new data rolls in on the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health entities continually update their sites and recommendations to keep the public abreast of new developments and prevention and treatment methods. One of the most interesting subjects is the effects of COVID-19 long-term and how those effects play out following recovery from infection.
What is the latest in the effort to understand the novel coronavirus?
The Basics of COVID-19
Although COVID-19 dominated the collective consciousness for most of last year, there is far more known about the virus and what it is capable of in 2021. The novel coronavirus continues to pose a threat to the long-term health of people around the world and is a very real concern for both vaccinated people and unvaccinated people. Knowing the basics and what to look out for can do a great deal to mitigate unexpected health concerns and the long-term effects of COVID-19.
What We Know Now
As the novel coronavirus has spread and mutated, healthcare professionals and researchers have continued to learn more about different variants and the many persisting symptoms that people who experience COVID-19 illness may experience weeks or even months after their initial infection.
Although there is still a great deal about the virus that is not known, current information regarding the delta variant and “long haulers,” or people who have lingering health problems after a COVID-19 infection, provides some insight into managing the virus and potential issues that arise following recovery.
Active Infection Symptoms
Before delving into the symptoms that may plague people infected with the illness, even if they had only mild symptoms, it is important to make a distinction between active infection symptoms and the symptoms that have been designated as “COVID syndrome,” or lingering effects from the virus. Active infection symptoms include the following:
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain in the chest
- Chills and fever
- Muscle aches
- Excessive fatigue
- Cold symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Loss of taste or smell
Not all of these symptoms are present in active COVID-19 cases, but these are the more common symptoms associated with active infections of the virus.
6 Post-COVID Symptoms to Look Out For
Although there are some possible risks involved in the recovery from COVID-19, including Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, most of the post-COVID symptoms to look out for indicate that you may need additional support as you heal, rather than indicating a dire threat to your health. The CDC website suggests that the following are common symptoms of long-haul COVID-19:
COVID Headache
COVID headache can be a dull, throbbing ache or a headache more akin to a migraine. COVID headache can be an ongoing issue or can come and go sporadically.
Nasal Drip and Cold Symptoms
Allergies are the most common source of post-nasal drip. COVID has claimed the same symptom as one of its potential long-haul symptoms. If you notice an increase in mucus production, it could be a result of the virus.
Dizziness or Confusion
Dizziness and confusion (often called “brain fog”) are common following a COVID-19 infection. Confusion can be mild and involve simple forgetfulness, or it can be more severe and involve some difficulty completing work and daily tasks.
Persistent Fatigue
Fatigue is another common symptom of long-haul COVID-19. If you find yourself growing fatigued more easily than you once did, your body may be reacting to the after-effects of COVID infection.
Continued Loss of Taste and Smell
Although a complete loss of taste and smell is not common following recovery, it can take months for smell and taste to return to normal. Most people report experiencing unusual aversions or sensations during recovery.
Joint and Muscle Pain
Joint and muscle pain may follow a COVID-19 infection. This can be a result of lingering inflammation in the body but usually dissipates weeks or months following recovery. A physical can help determine the likely cause of the pain.
Long-Haul COVID: Evaluating Underlying Conditions
Long-haul COVID-19 is still being evaluated, and there is a great deal that is still not known about the long-term effects of the virus. Nevertheless, there are several steps that you can take to support your health and increase your comfort as your body grapples with the aftermath of an infection.
Supporting Your Health
The United States and other countries have been fairly aggressive in their efforts to ensure as many people as possible have received COVID-19 vaccinations, as these are considered among the most valuable tools in the arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic. People who are vaccinated may not experience illness as severely, which may help prevent the symptoms of long-haul COVID.
In addition to being vaccinated, there are steps you can take to support your health during recovery from long-haul COVID. These steps may include the following:
- Easing back into exercise. Breathlessness and weakness are common following infection with COVID-19. To manage weakness and difficulty breathing, begin implementing old (or new) exercise regimens slowly and carefully.
- Managing strain to your voice. People who were on a ventilator or experienced a prolonged and painful cough might experience some strain when they attempt to speak. As with exercising, try easing back into speaking regularly.
- Asking for help with cognition. As you return to work and other aspects of your daily life, recognize that you may have trouble with your memory, and you may experience some degree of brain fog. Workplace and academic accommodations may be necessary for a time.
- Managing daily living. You may not return to “normal” for quite some time following your bout of COVID-19. You may have to change some of your routines and create more time to get tasks completed.
- Reaching out for help when anxiety and depression are at play. The pandemic has created a window into the mental health of the world, and that window is not always a pleasant view. If you are experiencing some mental health issues on the heels of a COVID infection, be sure to reach out to a health professional for help.
COVID recovery is not as straightforward as one might expect. Although not everyone who becomes infected with COVID will experience lingering or long-lasting symptoms of the virus, many people will experience long-term repercussions, known as either COVID syndrome or long-haul COVID. Management and support are currently the two recommended types of recourse.
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