Long COVID / Post COVID-19 Condition
Getting back to life after COVID-19
The information to date indicates that most people will fully recover from their symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19. However, for some, symptoms of COVID-19 can linger for days to weeks after a person is considered “recovered” from COVID-19 and no longer infectious. It can be normal for symptoms to linger for 4 – 12 weeks as you or the person you are caring for slowly gets well again and resumes their previous activities. It may take time to heal so be kind to yourself and to others. You are not alone.
If symptoms continue for more than 12 weeks after a person first became ill with COVID-19, these self-management resources offer strategies to reduce the impact of these ongoing symptoms. Talk to your health-care provider about recovery plan is right for you.
These pages are a source of information to learn about Long COVID / post COVID-19 condition and to access self-management resources for anyone with ongoing health concerns after having COIVD-19 or while caring for someone recovering from COVID-19.
What is Long COVID or Post COVID-19 Condition?
Long COVID, or post COVID-19 condition, is the presence of COVID-19 symptoms three months after becoming ill that cannot be attributed to any other medical condition. These symptoms usually impact daily activities and may change over time. A positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or rapid antigen test (RAT) is not required for a diagnosis of Long COVID or referral for interdisciplinary care.
Click here to view a brief Long COVID overview video.
Common symptoms of Long COVID include fatigue, shortness of breath and brain fog. There are other symptoms that can impact a person’s ability to function in day to day activities. Symptoms of Long COVID can be similar to many other health conditions like lung or heart disease. Talk to your health-care provider about your symptoms.
- Brain fog, trouble with memory and concentration
- Sleep problems
- Feeling very weak and tired (fatigue)
- Shortness of breath
- Mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Gut problems (diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting)
- Cough that won’t go away
- Loss of taste (ageusia)
- Headaches
- Feeling dizzy (vertigo)
- Ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
- Changes to your vision
- Fever
- Loss of smell (anosmia)
- Changes to your hearing
- Problems with swallowing (dysphagia)
- Heart palpitations
- Stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Muscle and joint pain
- Skin rash
When to seek help
If you or the person you are caring for is experiencing the following, contact a health-care provider:
- Concerns about recovery
- Shortness of breath that does not get better after resting or using the suggested self-management strategies
- Shortness of breath during activities that are usually easy for you
- Brain fog, attention span, memory or energy levels are not getting better
- Symptoms that make regular daily activities very hard to do or stop you completely (e.g., caring for yourself or going back to work or school)
- Feelings of depression, anxiety or stress that aren’t getting better
If you or the person you are caring for are experiencing the following symptoms, it is a medical emergency and you should call 911:
- Finding it very hard to breathe, where each breath is a struggle, or can only say one word at a time
- Experiencing very bad chest pain
- Having a hard time waking up or staying awake
- Feeling very confused
- Passing out or fainting
Material adapted from MyHealth.Alberta.ca.
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Material adapted from Nova Scotia Health Library Services.
Please note: The information on this site is not intended as medical advice. It is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Please consult your health-care provider before making any decisions regarding your health-care.
