Long Covid - the Possible Long Term Effects of Covid-19

Long Haul CovidThe majority of individuals who contract COVID-19 completely recover within a few weeks.However, others, even individuals who had mild covid, continue to deal with symptoms following their initial recovery.In fact, there are times when COVID-19 symptoms go on for months.

Moderate or mild covid lasts roughly two weeks for most individuals.However, others experience persistent health problems that can cause long-term issues like energy loss, cognitive issues, memory issues, and damage to the lungs, brain, and heart.Photo by Fusion Medical Animation on UnsplashThe persistent conditions have been referred to as long covid or post-COVID-19 syndrome.It is typically considered long covid when the symptoms continue for over four weeks after the individual was initially diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.

In addition, the individuals afflicted with long covid are sometimes described as long haulers.In these patients, no live coronavirus is there running amok in the bodies.In fact, if one of these individuals is tested for the virus, he or she would present a negative test for the coronavirus; however, they could be severely debilitated nevertheless.Older persons and individuals with serious illnesses are the most likely to have lingering COVID-19 symptoms.However, even young and otherwise healthy individuals could suffer the effects of covid for weeks and months after being infected.

Included among the typical persistent signs and symptoms are: Cough Fatigue Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Chest pain Joint pain Memory, sleep problems or concentration Headache or muscle pain Pounding or fast heartbeat Loss of taste or smell Fever Depression or anxiety Dizziness Exacerbated symptoms after mental or physical activities Organ damage resulting from COVID-19Even though COVID-19 is viewed as a disease that affects the lungs primarily, it could also cause damage to other organs like the brain, kidneys and heart.Damage to organs may result in health complications that remain after going through the effects of covid.Photo by Daniel Schludi on UnsplashIn some individuals, long-lasting health effects could include heart complications, long-term breathing issues, stroke, chronic kidney impairment, and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which is a condition that results in temporary paralysis.Some children and adults deal with multisystem inflammatory syndrome following their COVID-19 diagnosis.

With this condition, some tissues and organs become severely inflamed.Problems with Breathing After COVIDA severe case of COVID can result in scarring and other permanent lung problems.However, even mild covid could result in persistent shortness of breath, causing the individual to get easily winded, even after light exertion.After recovering from COVID-19, it is possible for the lung to recover but it takes time.Experts have stated that it could take months for lung function to get back to pre-COVID-19 levels.

This can be helped by respiratory therapy and breathing exercises.Problems with the Heart Following CovidA covid infection could leave some individuals with heart problems, which could include inflammation of the heart muscle.Actually, a recent study has shown that 60 percent of individuals who have recovered from COVID displayed signs of enduring heart inflammation.This could result in common symptoms like shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and heart palpitations.

This inflammation appeared even in persons who had mild COVID and had no medical issues prior to becoming ill with the virus.Problems With Blood Vessel and Blood ClotsCOVID can more likely cause the blood cells to clump up and develop into clots; these large clots could result in strokes and heart attacks.Most of the heart damage that results from COVID-19 seems to be caused by tiny clots that block capillaries, which are tiny blood vessels in the muscle of the heart.Other sections of the body impacted by blood clots include the lungs, liver, legs, and kidneys.Additionally, COVID can weaken blood vessels and result in them leaking, which contributes to possibly persisting problems with the kidneys and liver.Problems with Fatigue and Mood SwingIndividuals with severe symptoms of COVID typically have to be treated in an intensive care unit at a hospital, with ventilators or other mechanical assistance to improve breathing.

Just surviving this experience could make an individual more likely to develop depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress syndrome at a later time.It is hard to forecast the long-term consequences of the COVID virus.As such, scientists are observing the long-term outcomes found in related viruses like SARS, which is the acronym for the severe acute respiratory syndrome.Photo by Isaac Quesada on UnsplashA number of individuals who have recuperated from SARS went on to experience chronic fatigue syndrome.This is a complicated disorder characterized by severe fatigue that worsens with mental or physical activity; however, it does not get better with rest.

The same results could be true for individuals who have been infected by COVID.Mental Health Problems Following COVIDAfter recovering from COVID, some individuals are left dealing with mental health issues like lingering anxiety and depression.Physical changes like weakness and pain can become complicated by extended periods of isolation, financial difficulties, stress from job loss, loss of good health, and grief from the loss of loved ones.Medical professionals have stated that individuals who were hospitalized are noted to have a particularly difficult recovery.PICS or Post-intensive care syndrome puts survivors of COVID-19 and other persons who stayed in the ICU at a greater risk of having problems with physical, cognition, and mental health recovery.Causes of Post-COVID SyndromeIt is obvious that individuals with particular risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are more likely to have a severe bout of COVID.

However, there is not a distinct link between those risk factors and the long-term issues caused by the virus.In fact, long could occur in individuals who experience mild covid symptoms.Additional studies are being done to determine the reasons these persistent health problems happen in some patients.They could occur as a result of organ damage, an autoimmune response, lasting inflammation, or other reasons.Causes of Symptoms in Individuals with Long CovidThere are a number of different ways in which covid can attack an infected person.

As previously outlined, these attacks can cause damage to multiple organs in the body.In addition, there are mental health issues that could arise from unresolved pain, grief, loss, fatigue, or post-traumatic stress disorder after being treated in the intensive care unit.Medical professionals have reported seeing a range of symptoms following acute COVID, with some of them being what would be expected after patients were exposed to other critical illnesses.Some of these symptoms are minor; however, other individuals may require continuing care and even hospital readmission.

It was also noted that similar problems with long covid could severely impact patients who are afflicted with other serious illnesses.Distorted or Lost Senses of Taste and Smell After COVIDThe senses of taste and smell are linked, and since covid can impact cells in the nose, being infected could lead to lost or altered taste or smell.Prior to and following individuals becoming ill with the virus, they could entirely lose their sense of taste or smell.They could also notice that familiar things taste or smell bad, different, or strange.For approximately 25 percent of individuals with COVID, who have either or both of these symptoms, the issue is resolved in a couple of weeks.

However, for the majority, these symptoms tend to persist.Although not life-threatening, protracted distortion of these senses could be overwhelming and could result in depression, anxiety, and lack of appetite.There are some studies that suggest that there is a 60 percent to 80 percent chance that these individuals will notice an improvement in their sense of taste and smell within one year.Photo by Kelly Sikkema on UnsplashProblems with Autonomic Nervous System Following COVIDPOTS or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is a condition that impacts blood circulation, and individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 could be more susceptible to it.

POTS could leave survivors of covid with other neurologic symptoms like continuing headaches, brain fog, insomnia, and difficulty in concentrating or thinking.Even patients who do not have POTS often complain about constant post-COVID insomnia.Many Unknown Long-term COVID-19 EffectsThere is a lot that is still unknown about the impact of COVID-19 on individuals over time; however, research is ongoing.It has been recommended by researchers that doctors should closely monitor patients with COVID-19 to determine how their organs are operating after their recovery.There are a number of large medical centers that are opening dedicated clinics to provide care for individuals who have symptoms that persistent, or related illnesses, following their recovery from COVID.

There are also support groups available for these individuals.It is vital to keep in mind that most individuals who have been infected with COVID recover quickly.However, its potentially long-lasting problems make it even more crucial to decrease the spread of the virus by adhering to the recommended protocols and precautions.Included among the precautions are actions like avoiding crowds, social distancing, wearing masks, keeping hands clean, and taking a vaccine.If you are finding your strength and stamina affected by long covid, consider hiring a home care aide until you have fully recovered.

For seniors living in Broward or Palm Beach counties, you can just call Boca Home Care Services at (561) 989-0611.And for those in Miami-Dade, Miami Home Care Services (305)749-0445 is an excellent option.These well-established home care companies can send you a dependable home care aide to assist in various activities and provide companionship.