Long COVID symptoms are being experienced by around 2 million people in the UK alone, proving that it is a big issue. Over the past few years, we have all dreaded the untimely appearance of those two pink lines that have held our weight but imagine how difficult it must be for those who have had to experience the side effects for months after diagnosis. Out of the 72% of people who self-report long COVID symptoms, 21% say their ability to undertake day-to-day activities is severely impeded. This signifies a potential negative impact which is almost worse than positive testing, which usually lasts just a couple of weeks.
At The Long Haul Lounge, we think it is important to understand the symptoms attached to long-COVID. This is because by knowing how your body is being affected, you can put steps in place to start the healing process naturally. COVID offers an unforgettable, unique experience for each of the unlucky individuals that it decides to pick out of the crowd, but we aim to speed up the healing process thanks to our trademarked long-COVID programmes.
So, what are the main long-COVID symptoms you may experience if you are struck down with a nasty virus case? Let’s find out.
What is long COVID?
Before we run through the main long COVID symptoms, let’s remind ourselves of what long COVID is.
The NHS define long COVID as cases in which symptoms last longer the twelve weeks. Most people recover fully from COVID in a couple of weeks, but those who suffer from long COVID can still experience symptoms for a long time. It also does not just include the traditional indicators that COVID offers but can lead to a wide range of unrelated, ongoing health conditions.
The chances of experiencing longer-term effects are more common for those with a weak immune system but can impact anyone. Studies have found that the groups of people who are most likely to be affected by long-COVID are the following:
- Women aged between 50-60
- Those who have a lower general level of overall mental and physical health
- Anyone who suffers from a chest or breathing condition such as asthma or COPD
- People that are overweight
What are the top 10 long COVID symptoms?
Fatigue – 51% of those suffering from long-COVID say they suffer from fatigue, making it the most commonly experienced symptom. This is reported as being both mental and physical, with patients likening the feeling to chronic fatigue syndrome.
Even though long-term sufferers do not test positive for the entirety of their symptoms, the tiredness can be put down to the body continuing to fight infection. This symptom can make it hard for people to carry out everyday duties such as working and chores, making it a serious issue to deal with.
Respiratory Issues – 33% of people note that they suffer shortness of breath with long COVID. It is not just the effects of laboured breathing and congested chests that leave an issue, but also the scarring that can be left behind from a bad case of the virus. Post-COVID patients will also suffer from lower levels of oxygen within the blood, which greatly impacts other areas of health. In the worst cases, this can be represented as an oxygen saturation level of less than 93%.
Our breathing for long-COVID is one of the techniques that you can use to develop your lung strength. The programme we have developed has been designed to help improve lung health in the long term and stop the effects of COVID from cropping back up.
Fever – A mild to moderate fever is a common symptom which normally subsides after two weeks but can last for longer for some. This is a sign of the body fighting infection but, over the long term, can lead to other health issues such as headaches and nausea. Whilst this is a less common indication of long-COVID, it is one that should be carefully monitored as the aftereffects can be long-lasting.
Joint and Muscle Pain – For 37.5% of patients, some form of joint pain or skin myalgia is experienced during COVID and the period that follows.
12% of patients have been recorded as suffering from ‘disabling fatigue, musculoskeletal pain’ even six months after diagnosis. COVID can affect the bones and joints as the body is less able to regulate the normal blood movement needed to keep everything moving healthy. Lower levels of calcium and overall body strength also mean serious health conditions such as Arthritis and Arthralgia can be experienced.
Muscle pain and stiffness can be experienced because of both moving around less and the effects of the body fighting off the virus. The best way to treat issues like this is to keep active and incorporate some specific stretching into your daily life. Whilst the long-term effects won’t make things easy at the start, our yoga for long-COVID programme teaches you how to take things step-by-step.
Depression – Around 21% of adults who have experienced COVID, both regular and long-term, are said to have suffered from depression and/or anxiety. Not feeling yourself is a huge contributing factor as those who suffer from long Covid symptoms tend to alter the way they live to meet the energy levels that they now have. It is not just the physical alterations that can leave patients struggling mentally, but also the mental strain experienced. When the pandemic was first announced, within the following months, the UK saw an increase of 25% in people who were suffering from mental health problems such as depression.
Loss of smell and taste – A loss or change in taste and smell was perhaps one of the most widely reported COVID symptoms at the start of the pandemic. Whilst around 79% of patients are expected to recover their sense of taste and smell completely, 21% are left without the senses for an unknown period. Losing any sense can have a huge mental and physical impact, with patients having to learn how to live differently than they did before the event.
Chronic olfactory disorders also affect more than you may think. A misbalance can greatly impact sleep, overall health, mental well-being, and social relationships.
Dizziness – General dizziness, and in the worst cases diagnosed Vertigo, are also side effects of having long-term COVID. A recent study found that 43% of patients also suffered from a form of dizziness over a longer period after having a positive COVID diagnosis. We recommend eating a balanced diet that strays away from high sugar and caffeine levels to try and naturally balance the fluid levels in the brain.
Quite often, dizzy spells are due to a form of nerve swelling, which is a side effect of having an infection. Whilst this cannot be completely eliminated easily, adopting some of our other recommendations as covered in the long-term COVID programmes can have a positive effect.
Rashes – A prolonged dermatological irritation is another sign that your body is trying to fight off a foreign body. Whilst they do not cause any wider spread health issues, a long COVID symptoms rash can be uncomfortable and itchy for the patient. They will often not go away until the leading cause of infection or virus has been resolved, but you can try some natural remedies or skincare products to take away the discomfort that is associated.
Pins and Needles – You may be shocked to hear that this is a symptom, but forms of numbness and unusual activity within the muscles are a common effect that many must deal with. Skin sensitivity is a sign of the overall nerve system being compromised, which long-term COVID does for variable periods of time. If the sensation is focused in one spot, it could represent a more acute health condition, but if spread across the body, it is probably just a sign of the virus effects being fought off.
Insomnia – 20% of patients with long-term COVID report suffering from sleep-depriving insomnia. Whilst the reason is largely unknown, many sources report that it is a side effect of the mental confusion that can be experienced. This cause the whole body to be out of sync and has a knock-on effect on normal sleeping patterns. Most sleep disturbances are reported during the positive testing period, but for some, it can continue for much longer.
Are you in it for the long haul? If so, you are not alone.
At The Long Haul Lounge, we have developed a series of trademarked programmes which provide relief and resolution from the long-term effect of COVID. We believe the body can heal itself, which is why our holistic approach focuses on mental and physical alignment.
We offer the following:
Breathing for Long COVID – An expertly coached programme that helps you balance your blog’s oxygen levels whilst improving your lung strength.
Yoga for Long COVID – A sustainable programme which works to strengthen the mind and body through carefully crafted stretches and exercises.
The Antiviral Life™ Programme – Our complete programme combines the best of holistic and natural healing, meaning you don’t have to consider medical alleviations for your long-COVID symptoms.
Whatever symptom you are struggling with, we believe it can be resolved with a natural approach.
