Treating the consequences of corona Suspected long-Covid: What do I need to know?
Officially recovered – but still not fit again. Some of those affected by Long Covid experience great exhaustion. Photo
© Christin Klose/dpa-tmn
Having survived the infection but still having symptoms: This is relatively rare, but it is associated with major restrictions for those affected. What are the signs of Long Covid – and what help is available.
Corona infections whose symptoms or effects last longer than those of other infections and thus affect life and everyday life – could this be Long Covid? When do we even talk about Long Covid – and how can it be treated? The Health Knowledge Foundation provides answers and tips to understand symptoms and find suitable contact points.
What is meant by Long Covid?
Long Covid refers to persistent health problems that persist for at least four weeks after a COVID-19 infection. The most common symptoms include extreme tiredness and exhaustion – a feeling of no longer being able to do everyday tasks, such as climbing three flights of stairs or making a coffee, according to the foundation. The technical term for this is fatigue. In addition, there are breathing difficulties, muscle pain, and concentration and memory problems.
The term Long Covid is not clearly defined; according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it describes health problems that last longer than four weeks after a corona infection and cannot be explained by another illness. Anyone who notices after a COVID illness that symptoms do not go away, come back or reappear should seek medical advice, according to the Health Knowledge Foundation.
Who should I contact if I suspect Long Covid?
The first step should be to go to your family doctor’s office. An initial assessment of the symptoms can be carried out here. It can be helpful to keep a symptom diary that can be presented when you visit the doctor. Through a series of examinations, the symptoms can be classified and possibly linked to Long Covid. Typical symptoms such as exhaustion, shortness of breath and concentration problems are identified using various tests. Depending on the symptoms, the family doctor can prescribe various measures such as respiratory therapy or physiotherapy, according to the foundation.
What can you do yourself?
For self-management of some symptoms, the Health Knowledge Foundation has listed tips and exercises on its website for things like breathing difficulties and concentration problems: There is also a link to self-help groups.
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