7 Things People With Long COVID-19 Really Want You To Know
People struggling with long-term symptoms of COVID-19 ― dubbed long COVID ― have spoken about the challenges they’ve faced since contracting the coronavirus earlier in the year.
Their testimonies have been shared as part of a new study, published in the British Journal of General Practice Open.
The purpose of the interviews ― conducted with 24 people still struggling with persistent and long-lasting symptoms of COVID-19 ― was to raise awareness of long COVID among doctors. There are no exact statistics on how prevalent it is, but the COVID Symptom Study app estimates it impacts 1 in 10 people who become infected with the virus.
Participants described how hard it was experiencing, understanding and managing their symptoms. They also discussed the range of support they’ve sought: from peers, online, using complementary therapies, trying special diets and supplements, as well as from formal health care.
None of those who took part in the interviews had been admitted to hospital during their initial suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection ― and half hadn’t been tested for COVID-19, as testing wasn’t widely available at the time. Of those who were tested, only one had a positive result.
Many of the participants in the study were female, too. A report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change said long COVID affects women more than men ― and the median age of those suffering is 45.
The study, led by Keele University, concluded that further research is needed to “better understand recovery trajectories” and to inform and improve the care of patients. Here’s what we can learn from the stories they shared.
1. COVID-19 takes its toll on the body.
A 20-year-old woman involved in the study spoke about how she used to enjoy running and exercising, but can barely go on walks now. “I’m just exhausted and I just want to know why I’m so exhausted,” she told researchers.
The woman was particularly concerned about the long-term impact...
