Long Covid: The Lingering Risk to America's Health
Washington D.C. - As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, researchers are sounding the alarm on the long-term health risks associated with the virus. Survivors of COVID-19 who contracted long Covid are facing a silent battle against their bodies, which can impact all vital systems, from the heart and lungs to the brain and kidneys.
According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 5,000 Americans have lost their lives to long Covid complications since the pandemic began. The CDC has noted that there is no standard definition or diagnostic test for long Covid, making it a challenge to track and address its effects on the population.
Research conducted by Nature has uncovered a range of unconventional symptoms of long Covid, including sudden loss of body weight, ear pain, eye problems, sneezing, cold nose, burning feeling in the trachea, dizziness, heart palpitations, pain/burning feeling in the lungs, and confusion. These symptoms can be severe and, if left unchecked, can lead to death.
Long Covid is typically diagnosed when individuals experience symptoms at least 3 months after an acute infection that were not present before they got sick. An estimated 7% of American adults have experienced long Covid at some point, according to the CDC.
A recent study published in Nature found that those who contracted milder cases of COVID-19 were still at risk for long Covid fatalities for at least six months, while severe cases required hospitalization could last for up to two years.
The risks associated with long Covid are not limited to physical health. Mental health problems can arise from grief and loss, unresolved pain or fatigue, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Moreover, some experts warn that post-Covid-19 syndrome is not exclusive to those who suffered severe disease but also affects individuals who were never severely ill.
Experts stress that it is crucial for those affected by long Covid to consult a healthcare professional immediately if they experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest discomfort, dizziness, or fatigue.