The COVID-19 virus has already been shown to result in a long COVID, and it’s now an established–and deeply concerning–consequence. People with long COVID may endure severe symptoms for months or even years after recovering from the infection, and the ramifications are far-reaching. “This isn’t a sprain or strain where a person twists their ankle and we know in x months they’ll be at this position,” says Roberta Etcheverry. Here are five symptoms of long COVID, according to experts.
1 — Fatigue
One of the most common symptoms of long-term COVID disease is chronic, continuous tiredness, according to doctors. “It’s been awful,” says Alex Truong, MD. “I’ve never seen these widespread, all-over-the-body symptoms for this long with other illnesses.”
2 — Brain Fog
Brain fog, which is never-ending, may be a sign of long COVID. “Even mild COVID can cause significant brain inflammation that misregulates neurons and is expected to contribute to some cognitive impairment,” explains Michelle Monje, MD, PhD.
3 — Depression
According to research, individuals can have depression and anxiety for a full year after being infected with COVID-19. “Most of us had some sort of mental distress during the epidemic, but this reveals that those who had COVID-19 were more likely to develop mental health problems than their peers,” says Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist. Louis Healthcare system’s chief of research. “It is a wake-up call.”
4 — Loss of Taste and Smell
COVID-19 has had a significant influence on many individuals. Many people are still experiencing changes to their taste and smell following the covid.
“Having millions more people throughout the world with decreased ability to smell may very well just be a new public health catastrophe,” according to rhinologist Dr. Zara Patel.
“They’re usually devastated about the loss of their sense of smell. It’s such an essential component of our everyday lives and what makes us human,” says rhinologist Dr. Aria Jafari. “The most common complaint I hear is that it causes social isolation, feelings of disconnection from the world, and a lack of appreciation for current society.”
5 — Sleep Disorders
COVID-19 has been linked to insomnia and other sleep issues. “Sleep disorders are one of the most prevalent symptoms in patients who have COVID-19,” says Dr. Pena Orbea, a sleep medicine specialist. “They report sleeplessness, tiredness, brain fog, and occasionally we observe circadian rhythm problems.”