Over the course of the pandemic, we’ve learned that COVID-19 isn’t just another respiratory disease.
Every step of the way, researchers and frontline healthcare workers discovered new and frightening surprises about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, how it attacks and how it sickens and wreaks havoc on the body.
And it didn’t end there…
Perhaps one of the most unique and worrisome aspects of a COVID-19 infection is the realization that once you’re supposedly over the virus, you may not actually be “over” your symptoms.
In fact, many people across the world are now experiencing “long COVID”, often with no end or help in sight.
Now, a brand new study has discovered which patients are more likely to suffer from the symptoms of the virus long-term. And it’s laying out exactly what to look for in the first week you’re sick to determine if you’re at risk.
What is long COVID?
The ten most common symptoms of long COVID include:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle pain
- Cough
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Chest pain
- Altered sense of smell
- Diarrhea
- Altered sense of taste
And generally, if you’re unlucky enough to end up in the “long” category of never-ending issues, you’ll fall into one of two groups. You’ll either experience only fatigue, headache and upper respiratory complaints. Or you’ll end up with problems that range all over your body and across multiple organ systems, including ongoing fever and GI symptoms.
Sadly, studies have shown that up to one-third of COVID patients still feel sick or are actually worse at eight weeks than they were when COVID-19 first struck.
According to researchers, this makes COVID-19 more similar to its highly dangerous cousins SARS and MERS.
Five+ symptoms spell trouble
How do you know if you’re likely to end up with long COVID?
Well, according to the latest study, published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine,if you have five or more COVID symptoms in your first week of illness, long-term COVID problems could be in your future.
And they say that this is true irrespective of your age or gender.
So take a look at that list of symptoms that we just laid out one more time. All it takes is five to put you at risk for long COVID.
And it’s important to note that if you’re already suffering from long COVID, be on the lookout for thyroid problems.
That’s because studies have linked ongoing COVID issues to thyroid inflammation and dysfunction.
Finally, if you’ve been lucky enough to avoid the virus so far, keep taking steps to support your health against all of the germs out there not just right now, but in the coming cold and flu season too.
Sources:
Long COVID: More likely in patients with five+ symptoms in first week of infection – EurekAlert!