These people sometimes describe themselves as 'long haulers' and the condition has been called post-COVID-19 syndrome or 'long COVID-19.'" The Mayo Clinic goes on to name the "most common signs and symptoms that linger over time" and we've rounded them up here in this story, along with comments from medical experts. Read on to see if you have these symptoms—and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't miss COVID Symptoms Normally Appear in This Order.
1. You Might Now Have Fatigue, Muscle Pain or Headache
"Long-term symptoms of COVID can be summed up by the
old quote: 'I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.' The various symptoms
of COVID experience are as varied as people are," says Sheldon Zablow, MD.
"For some, it is clear a viral illness has gotten hold of them and for
others, they are not even aware they have been infected. The most common
symptoms can also be the same ones that last for weeks or months called
long-haul symptoms."
A profound fatigue is usually the most common. "Muscle
and joint pain can occur and is often associated with weakness and lethargy in
individuals with lasting symptoms," says Dr. Zablow.
2. You Might
Now Have Shortness of Breath, Chest Pain or a Cough
The virus is a respiratory illness and can cause lasting
damage. "Many individuals are experiencing a prolonged recovery from these
symptoms," says Dr. Matt Ashley from the Centre for Neuro Skills.
"This can vary from a nuisance to use of oxygen therapy for prolonged
periods."
3. You Might
Now Have Joint Pain
"People have described long term pain in their joints
(arthralgia), following COVID infection and recovery from the acute period of
the illness," says Dr. Ashley.
4. You Might
Now Have a Fast or Pounding Heartbeat
"According to one study out of the University of
Frankfurt in Germany, more than half of patients studied who had COVID-19 were
found to have ongoing cardiac inflammation," says Hackensack Meridian
Health.
5. You Might
Now Have a Loss of Smell or Taste
"A prolonged loss of smell or taste is a tell-tale sign
that you've previously had COVID," says Peter Bailey, MD. "A common
clue left behind by the virus is a lingering loss of smell or taste, even if
mild. If you can't taste your morning coffee or breakfast like you used to,
this could be a lingering symptom of having had the virus."
6. You Might
Now Have Memory, Concentration or Sleep Problems
"Often the most bothersome long haul symptom is
described as 'brain fog,'" says Lisa Ravindra, MD, FACP. "This
difficulty with concentration and thinking coupled with profound fatigue has
resulted in some of my patients taking prolonged time off work and needing to
seek mental health treatment due to the stress of not knowing when they will
recover."
7. You Might
Now Have a Rash or Hair Loss
"Fever is a common symptom of COVID-19. A few months
after having a high fever or recovering from an illness, many people see
noticeable hair loss.While many people think of this as hair loss, it's
actually hair shedding," says the AAD. "It happens when more hairs
than normal enter the shedding phase of the hair growth life cycle at the same
time. A fever or illness can force more hairs into the shedding phase."
8. You Might Now
Have Organ Damage Caused by COVID-19
"As the pandemic unfolds, we are learning that many
organs besides the lungs are affected by COVID-19," says the CDC.
"COVID can also affect your renal system (acute kidney injury), your
brain, heart, and liver." Says the Mayo Clinic:
"Organs that may be affected by COVID-19 include:
- Heart. Imaging tests taken months after recovery from COVID-19 have shown lasting damage to the heart muscle, even in people who experienced only mild COVID-19 symptoms. This may increase the risk of heart failure or other heart complications in the future.
- Lungs. The type of pneumonia often associated with COVID-19 can cause long-standing damage to the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. The resulting scar tissue can lead to long-term breathing problems.
- Brain. Even in young people, COVID-19 can cause strokes, seizures and Guillain-Barre syndrome — a condition that causes temporary paralysis. COVID-19 may also increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease."
9. You Might
Now Have Blood Clots and Blood Vessel Problems
"COVID-19 can make blood cells more likely to clump up
and form clots," says the Mayo Clinic. "While large clots can cause
heart attacks and strokes, much of the heart damage caused by COVID-19 is
believed to stem from very small clots that block tiny blood vessels
(capillaries) in the heart muscle."
10. You Might
Now Have Problems With Mood and Fatigue
"There have been reports of people recovering from
COVID having neurologic symptoms that can linger including poor concentration,
short-term memory difficulties, and even significant depression," says Dr.
Zablow.
11. Many
Long-Term COVID-19 Effects are Still Unknown
"Much is still unknown about how COVID-19 will affect people over time. However, researchers recommend that doctors closely monitor people who have had COVID-19 to see how their organs are functioning after recovery," says the Mayo Clinic. "Many large medical centers are opening specialized clinics to provide care for people who have persistent symptoms or related illnesses after they recover from COVID-19.
It's important
to remember that most people who have COVID-19 recover quickly. But the
potentially long-lasting problems from COVID-19 make it even more important to
reduce the spread of the disease by following precautions such as wearing
masks, avoiding crowds and keeping hands clean." And for more about
long-hauler symptoms, don't miss this full list of all 98 Symptoms Coronavirus
Patients Say They've Had.
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