As we continue to battle each new wave of COVID-19, it becomes more and more apparent how this debilitating disease can leave long lasting effects on its victims. Approximately 30% of COVID-19 patients have reported generalized symptoms that may linger even after the management and resolution of the virus itself, negatively impacting their quality of life. This syndrome known as “Long COVID” has become a topic of interest for researchers and has been characterized by persistent symptoms that affect the individual for more than 28 days past their initial COVID-19 diagnosis. This syndrome can compromise any organ system and common symptoms include significant fatigue, diarrhea, chest pain, insomnia, “brain fog”, and memory impairment. To make matters more complicated, recent research has shown that the majority of patients developing long COVID did not require intensive care or have severe COVID-19 symptoms making it difficult to determine who is most at risk. Health experts encourage any individuals experiencing unusual symptoms to let their primary care doctors know, especially if they are unable to work or function as well as they once did prior to COVID.
