Forbes Despite entering the sixth year since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus has not disappeared and the long-term consequences of infection continue to cast a shadow. Long COVID, or post-COVID-19 condition, represents a complex health condition that has affected at least 20 million Americans, according to Yale Medicine. Here’s what to know about this debilitating condition that continues to affect millions.
What Is Long COVID?
Long COVID is not a single illness with a clear set of symptoms and outcomes, but rather a multisystem condition that can affect nearly every part of the body. It occurs after a COVID-19 infection with symptoms lasting at least three months, according to the CDC. Symptoms can be mild and resolve on their own or can progress and lead to disability.
Although more than 200 different symptoms have been described with Long COVID, common complaints from patients include fatigue, shortness of breath, body aches, difficultly sleeping and “brain fog” or an inability to think clearly. The condition can also lead to new or worsening conditions, such as heart palpitations and abnormal heart rhythm as well as depression and anxiety, These conditions can affect the quality of one’s life and lead to disability, leading to time off work.