Long COVID: Common Symptoms, Getting Help and Managing Recovery

For millions of people worldwide, COVID-19 didn’t end when the test turned negative. Long COVID (also called post-COVID-19 condition) can affect almost any part of the body and last for months or longer. Healthcare workers have been heavily affected.

Imagine catching COVID at work. The acute illness was mild. But three months later you still get breathless climbing stairs, your heart races when you stand, and you lose words mid-sentence during handover. You keep pushing through shifts, and each time you crash. You’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone.

Common symptoms

The World Health Organization describes post-COVID-19 condition as symptoms usually starting within three months of infection, lasting at least two months, and not explained by another diagnosis. Common ones include:

• Fatigue and symptoms that worsen after effort
• Breathlessness and chest tightness
• Brain fog, memory and concentration problems
• Fast heartbeat or palpitations, dizziness on standing
• Sleep problems, joint and muscle pain, changes in smell or taste
• Anxiety and low mood

Managing recovery

• See a doctor to rule out other causes and get symptom-specific treatment
• Pace your activities and plan rest to avoid crashes
• Ask about breathing exercises and rehabilitation support
• Discuss a phased return to work and workplace adjustments with occupational health

But when should symptoms be checked urgently?

Get urgent help for chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, new confusion, or signs of a stroke. New or worsening symptoms after COVID shouldn’t automatically be blamed on long COVID without being assessed.

Sources: World Health Organization (Post COVID-19 condition), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Long COVID), NHS (Long-term effects of COVID-19), NICE guideline on long-term effects of COVID-19. This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from your own nurse or doctor.