About Long COVID

There are several different types of chest pain you might experience following a COVID-19 infection. For example, it can be non-specific chest pain (can be felt anywhere in the chest), or musculoskeletal (often felt in a small area or can be widespread muscle soreness).

Sleep apnea, insomnia, depression, and iron deficiency anemia can be some causes of fatigue after a COVID-19 infection. It is important to discuss your fatigue with a doctor so other potential causes can be diagnosed and treated right away.

Breathlessness describes feeling winded or short of breath. You may feel that you can’t take a deep breath or get enough air. Your chest could feel tight and you may even feel as though you’re gasping for air at times. These sensations can occur when you’re exerting yourself or when you’re not doing anything.

A COVID-19 infection can cause you to lose your taste or smell. As these two sensations work together, many people experience both being affected. Food may taste bland, sweet, or metallic. Research has suggested that nearly all patients see at least some improvements in their taste and smell within 6 months.

Brain fog describes issues with your cognition or thinking processes. With long COVID, there is usually no damage to the brain tissue. However, long COVID can affect how the brain executes tasks on a chemical and cellular level. You may not be able to concentrate as well, may feel more sensitive to light and sounds, or find it difficult to plan or stay organized.

PEM is defined as an increase in long COVID symptoms after what doesn’t seem like a lot of activity. Activities could include physical, cognitive, and social/emotional. You may feel more fatigued than you think you should based on the level of activity.