Although we may no longer hear COVID’s daily figures, the virus has not disappeared. In the United Kingdom alone, thousands of new cases continue to be registered every day.
Meanwhile, there is a very large group of people for whom the virus has not disappeared in a different sense – those who suffer from prolonged COVID. In these people, the symptoms continue after the infection itself (technically, 12 weeks after infection).
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The most common long-term symptoms of COVID include fatigue, shortness of breath and loss of smell. But people who experience prolonged COVID report a range of symptoms.
Long symptoms of COVID
Office for National Statistics, data set for May 2022, provided by the author
For many people with long-term COVID, their symptoms affect their ability to live and work normally. Symptoms can last for several weeks in some people, while in others they can last much longer.
We do not fully understand why prolonged COVID occurs, but one theory is that it is due to an overreaction of the immune system or blood vessels.
Between 3% and 12% of people with COVID continue to develop long-term COVID. About 2% of people in the UK are currently experiencing long-term COVID.
The data show that women are more likely to develop long-term COVID, and people aged 35 to 49 are more likely to experience symptoms than other age groups. Having certain health vulnerabilities, such as a compromised immune system, also makes people more susceptible. This does not mean that other groups such as men, children and young adults cannot be affected.
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In fact, around 250,000 people between the ages of 17 and 34 in the UK are thought to have a long-term COVID at present. It should be noted that many young people with long-term COVID may not have lived with a long-term illness and may therefore be unfamiliar with navigating the health system, which can be difficult.
I am a general practitioner and these are my best tips on what to do if you think you may have prolonged COVID.
1. Find out if your symptoms need urgent attention
If your symptoms seem potentially serious, do not delay seeking medical attention. If you have symptoms such as constant chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath or confusion, or you cannot speak or move your arms or legs, you should seek help through the emergency department or 999. Otherwise, continue with the following steps.
2. Register with your GP
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If you are not registered as a doctor, do so as soon as possible. Access to primary care in the United Kingdom is free, regardless of immigration status. But not every hospital treatment is free for everyone.
3. If you have symptoms, contact your doctor
I know this can be frustrating – it’s hard for me to make an appointment with my GP. If you have energy, call the practice early in the morning. If you are offered a meeting by phone, pick it up and you may be offered a face-to-face meeting later.
If you are unable to contact by phone, fill out the online form with your concerns if your GP suggests this on your website. If you still can’t contact your GP after trying different times of the day in the same week, you may want to consider moving to another practice.
It is important to register with a general practitioner. Halfpoint / Shutterstock
4. Have an idea of what you want from the meeting and be prepared
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what are you worried about Do you want to be examined? Do you need your doctor to fire you? Be aware of what you expect and hope to get from the meeting – this will help the meeting run as smoothly as possible. It may be a good idea to write a list and discuss it with your doctor at the beginning of the meeting.
Several things can happen during the appointment. You may be asked questions about your symptoms or asked to complete a questionnaire. If you can wear easily removable clothing, do so, especially if you are likely to be examined. For example, if you feel short of breath, wear a loose-fitting shirt, as your doctor may want to listen to your breasts.
You may be offered blood tests, an ECG (which checks your heart rate) or even a chest x-ray to see what may be causing your symptoms. Details of your case can then be sent to your local COVID long clinic or for examination by a team of experts (called a multidisciplinary team), where you can undergo tests and treatments that are not available at your GP.
5. Look for other resources
You may find it useful to visit the NHS COVID Recovery website or access long-term COVID support resources online. They provide links to patient forums, support services and advice on specific symptoms.
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It may also play a role in non-medical therapies such as yoga and drama, although there is limited evidence to suggest that they may support people with long-term COVID. Interestingly, a recent study found that a six-week breathing program conducted by opera singers improved the mental health but not the physical health of people with long-term COVID.
Last word
At our clinic, we noticed that people who did not rest while they were acutely ill with COVID and immediately thereafter were more likely to develop a more severe version of prolonged COVID. This observation is supported by recent research data.
So rest until you are well with COVID and even after you recover, especially if you can afford to do so.
Dipesh Gopal, Research Fellow, General Practice, Queen Mary University of London
This article was republished by The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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