Long Hauler COVID: Does It Ever Go Away?
As of mid-August 2022, there are almost 600 million recorded COVID-19 cases worldwide. In the last 2 years, the COVID pandemic has wreaked havoc by not just putting a halt to the economy, but also making people ill.
While some have been lucky enough to get away with little to no symptoms, others have suffered severely. And even after recovery, they’re still dealing with something almost as serious: long hauler COVID.
If you’re one of these unlucky people, then you’ll want to read on. We’ll discuss the symptoms and how long they may last.
Long Hauler COVID Symptoms
The COVID-19 long haul symptoms can range in severity, so they’ll differ from person to person. However, they include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Brain fog
- Loss of smell and/or taste
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Tinnitus
- Blurred vision
Some people also suffer from severe symptoms, such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Lung scarring
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Heart rate variations
- Blood pressure issues
What Causes These Symptoms?
Unfortunately, we currently don’t know what causes long hauler COVID symptoms, as this virus is still relatively new. A theory is that there are small traces of COVID left in the body, while another theory is that the body’s immune system overreacts after clearing the infection.
What we do know is that most people with long hauler COVID test negative, which is good if you’ve got it and need to get tested for work or travel. Also, what’s interesting to note is that the symptoms don’t differ between variants.
Also, those who are vaccinated seem to suffer from milder symptoms, both for COVID and long haul COVID.
Will Long Haul COVID Symptoms Go Away?
For it to be considered long haul COVID, you must have (or re-experience) symptoms after 3 months. Some people have reported that they’ve experienced symptoms for over 6 months after recovery.
After suffering for so long, you might be wondering if long haul COVID will ever go away. Indeed, some people are still experiencing symptoms, even after 1 or 2 years.
Currently, it’s unclear how long you’ll experience this condition. It seems to be a waiting game, but the good news is, many people eventually make a full recovery.
What to Do if Your Symptoms Persist
If you have persistent symptoms and/or they become unmanageable, then you should see your doctor. They can then go over your symptoms and recommend ways to alleviate them, such as quitting smoking, eating a better diet, and limiting caffeine intake.
Take Care of Yourself
Long hauler COVID can be difficult to deal with. But symptoms can be manageable if you talk to your doctor and listen to their advice.
More research needs to be done before we can fully understand how COVID works and how to effectively fight against long hauler COVID. But as for now, it seems that vaccinated people suffer less, so if you’re not already vaccinated, consider getting your shots.
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