POST-COVID-19 SYNDROME

What You Need to Know

WHAT IS IT?

For some people, they may experience lingering negative effects or health problems after they have recovered from a mild or severe case of Covid-19. The virus is considered to no longer be present in the body but they can still suffer from the after-effects. Some people that experienced severe symptoms are more prone to encounter lasting symptoms as well as new ones that are caused by the virus. This is what is currently called "long-covid" or post-acute Covid-19.

LASTING HEALTH ISSUES?

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC for short, some people may sustain multiorgan damage or other conditions due to their Covid-19 infection. Organ damage has been recorded in most vital organs and body systems. Essential organs like the heart, liver, brain, and kidney experience varying amounts of damage and injury due to the virus. This is common in most extreme and severe cases of the virus. In some cases, additional symptoms occur due to the multiorgan damage that can come about when infected.

Long-term organ system conditions may arise from contracting Covid-19. According to the World Health Organization or WHO, these are the most common conditions found in patients who had contracted a severe case of the virus.

Cardiovascular - Inflammation of the heart muscle has been found to occur.
Respiratory - Breathing problems and anomalies regarding lung function have been found.
Neurologic - Extended periods of loss of taste and smell have been recorded. Sleep disturbances and problems have also surfaced.
Psychiatric - Depression and anxiety have also been found in patients with severe bouts with the virus.

OTHER SYMPTOMS THAT MIGHT BE PRESENT

These symptoms have been found to be common in patients with the disease. These symptoms can also pose as a long-term health problem, that can last a couple of weeks or rarely months even with the virus already flushed out of the patient's system. These symptoms can be signs of organ damage depending on the system they are located in.

Dry recurring cough
Chronic fatigue
Brain fog
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Diarrhea
Sleeping problems
Headache
Arrhythmia

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

The best way in order to prevent long covid in the first place? Is to not get the virus in the first place. The best way to prevent infection from happening is to get vaccinated. Preliminary studies indicate that the vaccine also helps even when the person vaccinated gets infected. Even though infection rates amongst most of the available vaccines are low. It is also known that risk for long covid when vaccinated is also reduced.