What happens when COVID-19 symptoms don’t go away? In some people who recover from COVID-19, lingering health problems can wreak havoc for months.
Long COVID: What is post-COVID syndrome?
Mild or moderate COVID-19 lasts about two weeks for most people. But others experience lingering health problems even when they have recovered from the acute phase of the illness.
In such patients, there is no longer live coronavirus running amok in the body. If tested, the person would test negative for the coronavirus, but they might be severely debilitated nonetheless.
The problem has several names. The National Institutes of Health refer to long-term COVID-19 symptoms as PASC, which stands for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2. More common terms are post-COVID syndrome, long COVID or long-term COVID. People living with post-COVID syndrome are sometimes known as “long haulers.”
What causes symptoms in long haulers?
SARS-CoV-2 can attack the body in a range of ways, causing damage to the lungs, heart, nervous system, kidneys, liver and other organs. Mental health problems can arise from grief and loss, unresolved pain or fatigue, or from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU).
How long can long-term COVID-19 last?
When it comes to COVID-19, how long is “long-term”? The answer is unknown. Though it seems like a very long time since the pandemic began, COVID-19 only began spreading widely in early 2020, and the vast majority of people who have had the disease are only a year or less into their recovery.
It will take longer to understand what is next for patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and who still have resulting health problems.
When should I see a doctor about post-COVID-19 symptoms?
Long-term COVID-19 symptoms can be similar to signs of other disease, so it is important to see your doctor and rule out other problems, such as cardiac issues or lung disease.
Don’t ignore loss of smell, depression, anxiety or insomnia, or write these off as unimportant or “all in your head.” Any symptom that interferes with your daily life is worth a call to your doctor, who can help you address these problems and improve the quality of your life.
If you experience new chest pain, difficulty breathing, bluish lips or any other sign of a life-threatening problem, call 911 or emergency services right away.
