What you should know about long COVID

May 10, 2022 -- Most people who catch the virus that causes COVID-19 feel better within a few days or a couple weeks, especially if they were vaccinated before they became infected. But for some, the effects of the illness can linger for months or even years. This is a condition known as "long COVID."

Although officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to study long COVID, it's not yet been determined why the condition develops in some people and not others. But this we do know: Anyone who has been infected with the virus is at risk for experiencing long COVID, even if their case was mild or they originally had no symptoms at all.

Those who are unvaccinated also appear to be more likely to develop long COVID than those who get the shots but end up with a breakthrough infection, with one study finding people who are fully vaccinated were 49% less likely to experience the condition.

Anyone who has been infected with the virus is at risk for experiencing long COVID, even if their case was mild or they originally had no symptoms at all.

Symptoms of long COVID differ from person to person and can include:

• Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
• Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort
• Fever
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Cough
• Chest pain
• Fast-beating heart
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating
• Headaches
• Sleeping problems
• Dizziness when you stand up
• Pins-and-needles feelings
• Changes in taste or smell
• Depression or anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Joint or muscle pain
• Rash
• Changes in menstrual cycles

According to the CDC, estimates for people experiencing long COVID vary, with about 13.3% having symptoms at least one month after infection and 2.5% at least three months after. More than 30% of those who were hospitalized with COVID-19 continue to feel its effects at least 6 months after they were infected.

The best way to protect yourself and others from long COVID is to get vaccinated and stay up to date with your shots. There is even evidence vaccination after developing long COVID could help reduce symptoms.

If you have long COVID symptoms, you should talk about them with your primary care provider. The CDC has a few tips to help prepare you for that conversation.

The best way to protect yourself and others from long COVID is to get vaccinated and stay up to date with your shots. There is even evidence vaccination after developing long COVID could help reduce symptoms.

FREE primary doses and boosters of the vaccine are available at the Reid Health Residency Clinic, 795 Sim Hodgin Parkway in Richmond.

Walk-ins are welcome from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday. Appointments can be made for those hours by calling Reid's COVID-19 Hotline at (765) 965-4200. The hotline is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week.

Indiana residents can find other nearby vaccination sites and schedule a time at those locations by going to ourshot.in.gov. Ohio residents should use gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov.