Long COVID

Medical
Written By Lori Beckman

Long COVID

Many individuals who do not have complete resolution of their illness following the infection’s acute phase. Instead, they experience persistent, new, or reemerging COVID symptoms for weeks, months, or years. This condition is known as Long COVID and refers to the wide range of conditions that can follow SARS-CoV-2 infection.

WHO (World Health Organization) describes Long COVID as “the continuation or developments of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation”.

Most common symptoms reported

  • Extreme fatigue (worse with activity)

  • Brain fog (memory issues, trouble concentrating)

  • Shortness of breath

  • Heart palpitations or chest pain

  • Headaches

  • Sleep problems

  • Joint or muscle pain

  • Loss of taste or smell that lingers or returns

  • Mood changes such as anxiety or depression

Duration of Long COVID

  • Symptoms can last weeks, months, or years

  • Many individuals may improve over time, but recovery varies. 

  • Some symptoms may run in cycles (feeling better and then worse again)

  • Some individuals develop long-term disability

  • Impair daily functioning, work or relationships

Understanding Long COVID

  • Researchers are still figuring out the “why it happens” but leading theories include:

  • Immune system repairment (stays activated too long)

  • Viral persistence (small amounts of virus lingering)

  • Inflammation and organ damage

  • Effects on blood vessels and clotting

  • Nervous system disruption (autonomic dysfunction such as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

Who is at Risk

Long COVID affects people across all demographics, but the risk if higher in:

  • Individuals who experienced severe COVID illness

  • Those with underlying health conditions

  • Females reported more often

  • Those who do not have the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines may reduce the risk but does not eliminate it

  • Individuals older than 65

  • Hispanic or Latino

Diagnosis

There is no single test. Many physicians may feel uncertain about diagnosing and treating Long COVID because it is a newer medical condition. However, providers will usually:

  • Review individual’s symptoms and history of COVID illness

  • Rule out other possible conditions

  • May run tests, such as labs, imaging, lung and heart function

Treatment

There is no cure yet, but management focuses on the symptoms:

  • Avoid overexertion.

  • Pacing with gradual progression in activity.

  • Physical Therapy

  • Medication for specific conditions, such as pain, sleep, heart rate, etc.

  • Cognitive rehab for brain fog

  • Mental health support

Seeking help

  • Persistent symptoms after COVID illness that affect daily activities or life

  • Chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or fainting

Conclusion

Long COVID is a real, disabling condition affecting multiple body systems. It deserves recognition and validation. It does not have a singular diagnostic test, making clinical understanding and patient-centered care critical for its recognition. Validating patients’ symptoms is essential to reducing stigma and developing trust in the health care settings. Recovery is possible, but often gradual. The key is managing energy and symptoms.

References

AAMA Today: Nikki Gentile, MD, PhD, medical director of the UW Medicine Long COVID Clinic

ChatGPT

Post COVID-19 condition (long COVID), World Health Organization, December 7, 2022. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/post-covid-19-condition

Lori Beckman
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