Affordable, Accessible, Online Health

What is long COVID?

Feb 8, 2022 | COVID19, Long COVID

You’ve heard a lot about COVID-19 but now you are wondering: What is Long COVID?
Long COVID is a new clinical diagnosis, emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Survivors of COVID-19 reported new mental and physical problems that persisted for weeks or months after their acute COVID-19 symptoms passed.  The current working definition of long COVID is:
  • mental or physical problems
  • that began after suspected or proven COVID-19
  • and last four or more weeks

What kinds of problems?

  • Shortness of Breath
  • Poor endurance
  • “Brain fog”
  • Cough
  • Chest pain
  • Headache
  • Palpitations and/or tachycardia
  • Joint pain
  • Muscle aches
  • Tingling and numbness
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Fever
  • Lightheadedness
  • Unable to function daily
  • Pain
  • Rash (e.g., urticaria)
  • Mood changes
  • Loss of smell and taste
  • Menstrual cycle irregularities

As you can see, these symptoms are not unique to COVID-19 and are often seen in other medical conditions.  The observation that they occur as new problems after COVID-19 is likely related to the body systems involved in the acute infection phase.  Both the CDC and the WHO are actively considering this disorder and though their definitions are different, they are unified in emphasizing both the large number of patients experiencing it and the need to develop a health system response to care for sufferers.

If you believe you have long COVID, schedule an appointment on Wellivery to get an assessment.

 

Wellivery for Chronic Disease Prevention

Long COVID Information

Long COVID is a fascinating medical challenge!  Helping patients navigate to recovery from Long COVID is a top priority at Wellivery.  Keep track of Long COVID developments by bookmarking the Wellivery Long COVID page.

Subscribe Now!

Get email notifications when I post new Health Topics.

Long COVID Brain

Long COVID Brain

Long COVID Brain You have either heard of or experienced first hand the “brain fog” associated with COVID-19 infection.  This disordered operation of thought and memory occurs during an active COVID-19 infection.  But what about later, down the road?  Do these issues...

Long COVID Heart

Long COVID Heart

Infection with COVID-19 has shown us many unique medical problems caused by the virus.  Once you as a patient get out of the danger zone with your initial infection, you may not be out of the woods.  Many patients COVID-19 are reporting new problems beginning many...

Long COVID Treatment

Long COVID treatment is becoming a serious topic as doctors and scientists come to appreciate just how many COVID-19 survivors are likely to experience this disorder.  Both the CDC and the WHO are working establish more knowledge about it.  But first, what are we...

What Causes Long COVID?

What Causes Long COVID? First, we need clarify what is meant by Long COVID.  The definition of long COVID is being perfected but for now, it refers to new mental or physical symptoms that are present four or more weeks after your acute COVID infection.  We know the...

Steroids and Long COVID

Are Steroids Helpful in Long COVID? Many patients ask me about steroids early in the treatment of long COVID-19. While it's true that steroids are often used in hospitalized patients with active COVID-19, the evidence for their effectiveness in patients who are...

How Widespread is Long COVID?

Long COVID is Real Long COVID (also called Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection or PASC) is a new clinical diagnosis and as such, the diagnostic criteria for this disorder have not been settled. What we can say is that survivors of COVID-19 infection are...

Everyday Health for

Everybody!

 Same Day Appointments are Available.

720-900-0943

Telemedicine for You!