Long COVID: Lasting effects of COVID-19

COVID-19 hit us out of nowhere in 2019. It's 2025, and the world is still reeling from it. Talk about a slow burn, am I right?

Some of us probably had COVID-19 and were able to bounce back in a couple of days. Others were not so lucky. And thus, we were thrust into the effects of long COVID. Another aspect of COVID-19 that still makes its effects felt.

Read on to find out more about the impact of Long COVID and why we should be talking about it.

After being infected with Covid-19, people have reported symptoms that have lasted weeks or even months. To get more technical, symptoms lasting more than three weeks are called post-acute COVID-19, and when symptoms last at least 12 weeks, it is known as chronic COVID-19 or Long COVID.

It's important to understand that Long COVID is a term that encompasses a range of symptoms, and there's no single, universally accepted definition for it yet. The research on Long COVID is ongoing, and our understanding of it is continually evolving.

The thing with Long COVID is it can happen even if you had a mild case of COVID-19 or a rather severe one. And even though it is mostly seen in people who have had severe COVID-19, anyone who gets infected can experience it, including children.

The symptoms, too, could be mild or completely debilitating. They could come and go, or they may get worse over time.

Indeed, Long COVID is a condition that can be quite unpredictable, regardless of the severity of the initial COVID-19 infection. It can affect anyone, even children, and its symptoms can vary from mild to severe, with the potential to worsen over time.

But When Does It Go Away?

Current research suggests that Around 22% of people who aren't vaccinated and get COVID-19 end up dealing with Long COVID symptoms six months later. About 18% still feel it a year after getting sick, and 17% report ongoing symptoms two years later. Yikes.

Anyone with COVID-19 is at risk for Long Covid, irrespective of the severity of it, even children.

Research is still ongoing to figure out the risk factors for Long COVID. However, studies have shown that some people might be more susceptible to it than others, including -

• Women

• Hispanic and Latino people

• People who have experienced more severe COVID-19 illness, especially those who were hospitalised or needed intensive care

• People who have cardiovascular disease before getting infected

• People with underlying health conditions and adults who are 65 or older

• People who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine

Researchers are still working to figure out exactly what causes Long COVID. At first, COVID-19 was mainly seen as a respiratory illness. Still, we've since realised that the SARS-CoV-2 infection can affect a lot of different organs, not just the lungs, including the heart, blood vessels, nervous system, gut, and even the hormone system.

Most of the damage we see in other tissues seems to be caused by the body's immune response and inflammation rather than the virus directly infecting the cells.

The symptoms of Long COVID can be mild, severe or even lead to disability. They can emerge, persist, resolve, and reemerge over weeks and months.

Current research has shown over 200 symptoms that have been linked to long COVID.

The most common symptoms that are reported, however, are -

• Fatigue

• Difficulty breathing/ shortness of breath (dyspnea)

• Brain fog

• Problems with taste or smell

• A feeling of being lightheaded or dizzy upon standing up

Other reported symptoms are -

• Sleep problems (insomnia, hypersomnia)

• Cough

• Fever

• Heart palpitations

• Chest pain

• Headache

• Digestion problems

• Diarrhoea

• Stomach pain

• Joint pain

• Muscle pain

• Skin rashes

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Changes in menstrual cycle

You may already have a condition that could be made worse by Long COVID. This includes migraines, lung disease, autoimmune disease and chronic kidney disease.

You could also be diagnosed with certain diseases because of Long COVID. These include -

• Heart disease

• Stroke or blood clots

• Mast cell activation syndrome

• Fibromyalgia

• Diabetes

• Hyperlipidemia

People who had mild symptoms when they first contracted COVID-19 may still have long-term problems. There is simply no telling how long it could take someone to recover from it. For some people, the symptoms get better quickly. For some, it could get worse over time. For others, it may just last longer.

So, how can you get treated for it?

The thing is, COVID is not just one illness. No one laboratory test can determine if your symptoms mean you have long COVID. A positive SARS-CoV-2 test is not required for a Long COVID diagnosis.

Since the symptoms vary so much and could affect everyone differently, treatment plans must be individualised based on your specific medical condition.

A Long COVID diagnosis is based on three things -

• Your health history

• Your diagnosis of COVID-19 by a positive test

• A health examination

You may have to undergo clinical evaluations, chest X-rays, routine blood tests and electrocardiograms if you are suffering from Long COVID.

Living with Long COVID is a challenge, unlike others. But there are some things that you can do to help with some of your symptoms.

Fatigue

It is recommended to have a dietary supplementation with B12, vitamin D, fish oil and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia.

Loss of taste and smell (Anosmia and dysgeusia)

Smell/olfactory training could be your best bet. Let's take a look -

• Actively smell or sniff familiar scents.

• Think about your memory of the odour while smelling the odour. In random order, sniff for a total of 20-60 seconds for each odour.

• Rest for 30 seconds between each scent.

• Sniff the four scents two to four times daily, each, for 24-36 weeks.

• Change the odorants used every 12 weeks.

Swallowing Difficulty

It is recommended to have dietary modifications and perform swallowing exercises.

Cognitive Impairment

Diaphragmatic breathing, occupational therapy, and a consultation with a neurologist are recommended. It is also important to maintain good sleep hygiene and gradually return to activities and aerobic exercise.

Cognitive exercises, attention processing training, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and minimising distractions can also be extremely helpful.

In general, avoid drinking too much alcohol or try to quit altogether and try to sleep at the same time every day. Try to keep a log of your sleep times, how you slept and your tiredness. Did anything make it worse? Keeping a note of it may help you understand your triggers and take necessary steps to avoid them.

Maintaining a good sleep schedule, having a balanced and nutritious diet, regulating glucose, diaphragmatic breathing, and exercising can all help with many symptoms.

Note: Make sure you are consulting with your healthcare provider before taking any medicines or supplements.

Long COVID can impact your daily life. It can impact your productivity, your mental health, your quality of life. It simply does not leave you alone.

It can be confusing, frustrating and challenging. But it's important to remember that you're not alone in this; talking about it is the first step toward understanding and managing it better.

FAQs

Q. What are some of the symptoms of Long COVID?

A. Some of the common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, and cough, but they generally impact everyday functioning.

Q. How soon after COVID-19 can someone be confirmed to have Long COVID?

A. If the patient has symptoms three months after being initially infected with COVID-19, they would generally be diagnosed with Long COVID.

Q. How long must symptoms linger for it to be considered Long COVID?

A. Symptoms should last for at least 2 months from when they first began.

Q. What do we know about who is more susceptible to post-COVID-19 conditions?

A. Anyone with COVID-19 is at risk for Long Covid, irrespective of the severity of it, even children.

Q. Can vaccination prevent Long COVID?

A. Research shows that vaccination is your best bet against preventing Long COVID.