Patriot Health Digest
You may have carried the virus without even realizing it.
The biggest issue in stopping the spread of COVID-19 is that the virus can be hard to identify. In fact, some people never have any symptoms at all. So there are a lot of folks who have already had the virus and didn’t know it. But unfortunately, those people are still not immune from what some are calling “long COVID,” a longer lasting list of symptoms linked to an initial covid infection. Shirin Peters, founder of the Bethany Medical Clinic, says that if you’ve had any of the symptoms below for the first time after March 2020, you may have already had coronavirus.
1 You Have Shortness of Breath That Won’t Go Away
Many people with COVID-19 say that shortness of breath was one of their first symptoms. But this symptom can continue for months after an initial diagnosis. Dr. Peters says this symptom “feels like you just can’t catch your breath easily or like you get easily winded.”
2 You Have Lost Certain Senses
Not able to smell things or taste food? A loss of sense is another symptom that many patients say was one of their first. But, just like shortness of breathe, it can linger for a longer time. “This can even show itself as lowered appetite,” Dr. Peters adds.
3 Extreme Fatigue
Being tired all the time is a common sign your body is fighting an infection. But extreme tiredness is also one of the most common signs you are a long-covid sufferer. So how can you determine if your excessive tiredness is a problem? “Feeling tired after a good 8 hours of sleep is a sign that something is wrong,” says Dr. Peters.
4 More Long-Term COVID Symptoms
The CDC states: “The most routinely reported symptoms are:
- Shortness of breath
- Joint pain
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
But other possible long-term problems are:
- Muscle pain
- Intermittent fever
- Difficulty with concentration (aka ‘brain fog’)
- Fast-beating or irregular heart rate
- Depression
- Headache
5 How You Can Get Through Everything
If you have any of these symptoms, contact a doctor right now. And follow Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recommendations to help end this pandemic. No matter where you are—use a mask, practice social distancing, good hygiene and avoid crowds as much as possible. Also, don’t go indoors with people who are not a part of your household. Doing all of these things will protect your life and the lives of others.
