What is Long COVID?
Long COVID is a condition resulting from illness caused by COVID-19 infection. These symptoms may occur from the onset of COVID-19 and continue for a long period, or they may appear after all symptoms have resolved.
Symptoms include feeling unwell as if the illness never fully goes away. Common symptoms are shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, difficulty thinking clearly, depression, and stress. Some may experience muscle aches, joint pain, or palpitations, usually lasting about 1-3 months after recovering from COVID-19 infection.
Currently, the exact cause of Long COVID is unknown, and its relationship to the severity of illness is unclear. Generally, people who had COVID-19, even with mild symptoms, can develop Long COVID, while some with severe illness may not develop Long COVID at all.
How does Long COVID affect health?
When infected with COVID-19, the virus can cause inflammation throughout the body, potentially damaging the heart muscle, nerve cells, brain cells, lung alveoli, kidneys, or other organs. This results in Long COVID symptoms that vary from person to person. Those with severe symptoms during infection may experience more organ and system damage than those with mild symptoms, but this is not always the case.
What happens to the lungs from Long COVID?
During COVID-19 infection, if the virus damages the lung alveoli, which are responsible for oxygen exchange, the effects are as follows:
- Mild or limited lung infection: If the lung alveoli are not severely damaged, there is a good chance of full recovery.
- Severe lung infection: If the lung alveoli are extensively damaged, the lungs may not return to normal. The alveoli may become fibrotic, reducing oxygen exchange.
Long COVID in people with underlying diseases
Long COVID may have long-term effects in people with underlying conditions such as asthma, diabetes, chronic lung infections, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), worsening their conditions and reducing the chance of full recovery.
For diabetic patients, who usually have insulin deficiency or insulin resistance, COVID-19 infection can damage pancreatic cells that produce insulin. Infection is therefore a factor that can accelerate or worsen diabetes symptoms.
Self-monitoring for Long COVID symptoms
Some people with Long COVID may have symptoms such as cough, fever, or runny nose that persist for weeks even after recovering from COVID-19. Symptoms lasting weeks or 1-3 months are possible.
Meanwhile, some may develop Long COVID symptoms about one week after recovery, which then reappear within 1-3 months. Symptoms vary among individuals, such as:
- Feeling unable to take a full breath, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain when breathing
- Difficulty thinking clearly, mental fog
- Short-term memory problems
- Palpitations, dizziness
- Joint pain, muscle aches
- Abnormal sensory nerve function, numbness like something is pricking the skin on the hands
- Hair loss, as viral infections cause inflammation throughout the body, damaging cells. If the virus damages cells in hair follicles, hair loss may occur more easily. Other related illnesses can also cause hair loss.
Reinfection with COVID-19 can lead to repeated Long COVID!
Normally, after the first infection resolves, reinfection is possible, and there is also a chance of repeated Long COVID. However, it is unclear whether symptoms will be more or less severe than the first episode.
How to rehabilitate the body when Long COVID occurs
Overall, there is no specific treatment for Long COVID. Treatment focuses on symptom management combined with physical therapy and other methods, such as:
- Psychiatric consultation: For mental health issues, emotional problems, stress, or depression.
- Pulmonary physical therapy: For respiratory symptoms such as incomplete or insufficient breathing, breathing retraining is necessary.
- Physical therapy for the body: For those feeling tired, weak muscles, and aches, start with light exercise such as walking or jogging to reduce Long COVID symptoms and strengthen the body.
As mentioned, there is no specific treatment for Long COVID. If you have any concerns, you should consult a doctor to plan appropriate treatment.
