If you become ill with COVID-19, rest assured that most individuals can recover comfortably at home. But others have symptoms that linger for weeks, months, or even years after their initial diagnosis. This is what is know as Long Covid. Just as you would when dealing with the flu, taking steps such as getting ample rest, staying well-hydrated, and taking medication to alleviate fever and discomfort are also beneficial for COVID-19.
Additionally, to support those who require hospitalization, the FDA has authorized treatments that can be administered. For individuals who are at risk of severe illness but not hospitalized, there are also medications available to mitigate the progression of COVID-19. Our team of dedicated scientists is tirelessly working on developing other effective treatments to ensure your well-being.
Mild or moderate COVID-19 lasts about two weeks for most people. But others experience lingering health problems even after the fever and cough go away and they are no longer testing positive for the illness.
The World Health Organization has developed a definition for post-COVID-19 condition (the WHO’s term for long COVID) as coronavirus symptoms that persist or return three months after a person becomes ill from infection with SARS CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Those symptoms can include:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Cognitive problems (thinking and memory)
The symptoms can come and go, but have an impact on the person’s everyday functioning, and cannot be explained by another health problem.
Great article and information from the National Institute of Health
More Information About Long Covid
Many people recover fully within a few days or weeks after being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. But others have symptoms that linger for weeks, months, or even years after their initial diagnosis. Some people seem to recover from COVID-19 but then see their symptoms return, or they develop new symptoms within a few months. Even people who had no symptoms when they were infected can develop symptoms later.
Either mild or severe COVID-19 can lead to long-lasting symptoms. – Read More
Cognitive Problems and Mental Health after COVID-19
Can COVID-19 increase a person’s risk for anxiety, depression and cognitive issues? A study of COVID-19’s impact on mental and emotional well-being conducted by Johns Hopkins experts in psychiatry, cognition (thinking, reasoning and remembering) and mental health found that these problems were common among a diverse sample of COVID-19 survivors.
Cognitive impairment after acute coronavirus infection can have a severe impact on a person’s life. Long-haul COVID patients may experience changes in the way they think, concentrate, speak and remember, and these symptoms can affect their ability to work or even maintain activities of daily living.
After recovering from the coronavirus, some people are left with lingering anxiety, depression and other post-COVID mental health issues. Physical changes such as pain and weakness can be complicated by long periods of isolation, stress from job loss and financial difficulties, and grief from the deaths of loved ones and the loss of good health.