What is Long Covid?

Long Covid is a new condition that is still being studied. It affects people in many ways and often varies from day to day. It is defined as a collection of symptoms that have developed since catching Covid-19 and remain for more than 12 weeks.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of Long Covid can be many and quite varied. However, the common symptoms include:

• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or tightness
• Problems with memory and concentration (“brain fog”)
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Heavy arms or legs
• Tingling extremities
• Feeling hot or cold alternately
• Painful muscles
• Heart palpitations
• Dizziness
• Joint pain
• Depression and anxiety
• Tinnitus, earaches
• Feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
• A high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste rashes

Is there a test for Long Covid?

There is not one single test to diagnose Long Covid. It’s a condition that is not fully understood yet. People experiencing lasting symptoms should in the first instance speak to their GP.

Your GP may carry out tests to help understand and exclude other conditions that present similarly. These might include blood tests, checking your blood pressure and heart rate, measuring your oxygen levels and a chest x-ray if required.

If you are worried about symptoms four weeks or more after you had Covid-19, or think you may have had Covid-19, please contact your GP.

Does vaccination reduce the risk of Long Covid?

A new review by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that people who have had one or more doses of a coronavirus vaccine are less likely to develop Long Covid than those who remain unvaccinated.

Is there a treatment for Long Covid?

Currently, there are no evidence-based medical treatments for Long Covid. There is lots of information about new treatments available on the internet and social media, but these treatments have not been tested in vigorous scientific trials. There is vast amounts of ongoing research worldwide. However, NHS England has yet to approve any medical treatments for Long Covid. You can get support from your local NHS Post-Covid Service if you think you have symptoms.

Your GP can refer you to this service for further assessment and management of your symptoms.

How long will it take for me to get back to normal?

How long it takes to recover from Covid-19 is different for everybody. Many people feel better in a few days or weeks and most will make a full recovery within 12 weeks. But, for some people, symptoms can last longer. Long-term symptoms do not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get Covid. People who had mild symptoms at first can still have long-term problems.

Recovery is different for everyone and there is no timeline for when the symptoms will go.

We understand the frustration of living with these symptoms. The symptoms can also vary, so not everyone is affected in the same way. It's important not to compare yourself to others.