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COVID 19: Long COVID

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Long COVID

Long COVID is a condition that some people develop after having COVID-19. It includes many different health problems that can affect both mental well-being and the body's organs. Long COVID symptoms can be new, returning or ongoing and are present for at least three months. However, medical tests often can't explain the cause of Long COVID symptoms.

Long COVID is a recognized condition that could result in a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Symptoms

People with Long COVID can have one or many symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms can go away and come back again. Sometimes new ones develop. Long COVID symptoms can last for weeks, months or even years. These symptoms can be mild or severe.

Symptoms can include:

  • Coughing or feeling short of breath
  • Trouble thinking clearly or concentrating (“brain fog”)
  • Memory changes such as trouble finding the right words, misplacing things or changes in your ability to remember things
  • Dizziness or fast heart rate
  • Sleep issues, such as staying asleep or insomnia
  • Mood changes such as anxiety or depression
  • Always feeling very tired, or feeling extremely tired after doing small physical or mental activities
  • Headaches
  • Constipation, diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms
  • Issues with taste or smell

The amount of disruption from Long COVID that one person experiences can be very different from another. It can also change over time for the same person.

In more extreme cases, the symptoms can get in the way of a person being able to do daily activities, such as showering, going to the bathroom, walking around and eating. For other people, their symptoms can make it hard to do things they used to do. They may have to walk slower or exercise less. They may need to take more breaks to complete tasks that they used to be able to complete. Some people have to change the amount of socializing they do.

Testing

There is no specific test that can tell you that you have Long COVID. Talk to your health care provider if you have the above symptoms following COVID-19 infection and think you may have Long COVID. For help finding a health care provider, call 844-NYC-4NYC (844-692-4692) or 311.

Prevention

The best way to prevent Long COVID is to prevent getting COVID-19 or getting it multiple times. Everyone should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and take other precautions to prevent COVID-19. The vaccines continue to be the best way to protect yourself from severe illness from COVID-19 and health complications like Long COVID.

Learn more about COVID-19 prevention.

Risk Factors

Anyone who gets COVID-19 can get Long COVID, including children. However, some people have a higher chance of getting Long COVID than others because they are at greater risk of getting COVID-19 in the first place or having more severe illness.

For example, people who work in transportation or people who live in group settings such as nursing homes, dormitories or prisons may be at greater risk of getting COVID-19. Some people may have more difficulty getting treatment and medicines that can reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 illness compared to others. Longstanding systemic health and social inequities have contributed to increased risk and more reports of Long COVID among Black, Latino and transgender people. 

In general, people who have a higher chance of getting Long COVID include:

  • People who have had multiple COVID-19 infections
  • People who did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine
  • People who experienced more severe COVID-19 illness, like needing to stay in the hospital or receive intensive care
  • People with other health problems prior to COVID-19, such as heart disease, diabetes or a lung condition 
  • People who are treated unfairly due to their race, gender, age, sexual orientation or other health inequities

Treatment and Care

There is no single treatment for Long COVID. People with Long COVID should work with their health care provider to develop a treatment plan for their symptoms.

Learn more about how to manage Long COVID and how you can support someone living with Long COVID:

Additional Resources

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