Unsure if your nagging COVID symptoms should be evaluated by a health care professional? Get relief today & stop by AFC for expert care!
After getting over your initial bout of COVID-19 a few weeks ago, you thought you could return to your favorite activities. But an evening with your kids at Playland Roller Skating Zone or a Sunday brunch at Crescent City Tavern still leaves you with headaches and unusual fatigue. For many people, COVID symptoms improve within a few weeks. But for others, recovery can take much longer.
Lingering symptoms after COVID are commonly referred to as long COVID, long-haul COVID or post-COVID syndrome. While the terminology varies, each describes ongoing or recurring health issues linked to a previous COVID infection. Knowing when symptoms are no longer part of normal recovery, and when they warrant medical evaluation can help you protect your long-term health.
What Is Long COVID?
In the U.S., long COVID is often described as a chronic condition triggered by the virus that causes COVID. It may involve symptoms that began during your initial illness and never fully resolved, or new symptoms and conditions that appear after recovery.
Health care professionals commonly use a timeframe of three months or longer after the onset of COVID symptoms to describe long COVID. It can affect people who had mild cases just as much as those who were severely ill or hospitalized.
Why Lingering COVID Symptoms Matter
Lingering COVID symptoms can last weeks, months or even years. They may improve gradually, remain constant or come and go over time. Because long-haul COVID does not affect everyone the same way, symptoms can range from mild to debilitating.
In some cases, long-haul COVID may result in temporary or long-term disability, interfering with work, physical activity or daily routines. Ongoing symptoms can also be linked to other health conditions that were triggered or worsened by COVID.
Common lingering symptoms include:
- Fatigue that disrupts daily life.
- Difficulty concentrating or memory issues (“brain fog”).
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded.
- Changes in taste or smell.
Additional symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath or persistent cough
- Sleep problems
- Headaches
- Depression or anxiety
- Digestive issues
- Joint or muscle pain
- Changes in menstrual cycle
Some individuals are later diagnosed with conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, mood disorders, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis–Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME-CFS).
When Should You Seek Medical Care?
Not every lingering symptom means something serious, but certain signs indicate it’s time to be evaluated by a health care provider. You should consider seeking care if:
- Symptoms consistently interfere with your daily life or ability to work.
- You feel like you never fully recovered from your initial COVID-19 illness.
- Symptoms last three months or longer after COVID.
- New symptoms appear after you initially seemed to recover.
- Existing symptoms worsen over time rather than improve.
Because there is no single test for post-COVID syndrome, patients sometimes experience delays in diagnosis or feel their concerns are dismissed. Seeking care early can help rule out other conditions and guide appropriate next steps.
Why Do Some COVID-19 Symptoms Linger?
Medical experts are still working to understand why COVID triggers lingering symptoms in some people. What is known is that COVID can cause infection-associated chronic conditions.
According to the Mayo Clinic, current theories include:
- Disruption of immune system communication leading to autoimmune responses.
- Reactivation of dormant viruses in the body.
- Changes to the gut’s natural balance.
- Damage to the brain stem or the vagus nerve, which controls many automatic bodily functions.
Ongoing research continues to shape how post-COVID syndrome is understood and treated.
Find Relief and Care at AFC Urgent Care
There is currently no single test that can confirm post-COVID syndrome. Care begins with a detailed discussion of your symptoms, medical history, and how your health has changed since COVID.
At AFC Dalton, providers can perform a range of in-house diagnostic tests, including:
- Blood tests
- Chest X-rays
- Electrocardiograms (EKGs)
These tests help determine the next course of action, including treatment recommendations or referrals to specialists if needed. Lingering COVID symptoms should not be ignored, especially when they begin to affect your quality of life. While treatment is not one-size-fits-all, early evaluation can help identify underlying issues and support symptom management.
If you’re experiencing ongoing symptoms after COVID, AFC Dalton is here to help you decide when it’s time to seek care and guide you through the next steps toward recovery. Our clinic is open seven days a week and no appointment is needed. Walk-in today and live life uninterrupted with AFC.
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