Post Covid-long term effects – Uma Mahesh Suddala

Until 2019 common people have never listened to a term called “covid-19”. Then it was chaos, masks and lock-downs everywhere throughout the world. The COVID-19 was declared as pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, it is still an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Now scientists are calling it as “Long Covid” Long COVID is a term used to describe the effects of COVID-19 that persist for weeks or months beyond the initial illness. Long COVID can typically develop particularly in patients who have had COVID-19 symptoms for 4-12 weeks, or longer. In fact, long COVID symptoms usually last more than four weeks from initial infection, though for some people the symptoms can persist for more than 12 weeks. Long COVID results in a broad range of manifestations, affecting different organs and systems in the body. Statistic reports point out that women are more prone to long COVID-19 than men. The condition seems more likely in COVID-19 patients who have developed lung infections with certain underlying diseases. Pneumonia as the result of lung infections can cause long-standing damage to the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs, resulting in scar tissue or fibrosis that substantially impair lung functions and lead to long-term breathing problems and other related conditions. However, the severity and duration of long COVID is broadly different, depending individual’s response and overall health status. Symptoms Of Long COVID Despite the fact that COVID-19 is seen as a respiratory disease primarily affecting the lungs, it can damage many other organs in the body, resulting in increased risks of long-term health problems. Common signs and symptoms of long COVID-19 are as follows: • Chronic fatigue or weakness • Feeling tired easily • Difficulty breathing, e.g. shortness of breath • Headache • Impaired concentration (brain fog) • Memory problems • Cough and chest pain or chest discomfort • Muscle pain or joint pain • Diarrhea • Loss of smell or taste • Depression and anxiety Complications Of Long COVID • Myocarditis: an inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium) • Brain fog: described as short-term memory loss, confusion and difficulty concentrating • Dysautonomia: a disorder of autonomic nervous system (ANS) function that controls involuntary body functions, e.g. heartbeat, breathing and digestion • Guillain – Barre Syndrome: an autoimmune disorder in which a person’s own immune system damages the nerves, causing muscle weakness • Fibromyalgia: a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood problems. • Sleep problems such as insomnia