Ten things that every person on planet earth should know about Long Covid
1
Long Covid is a catch-all phrase used to describe the long term health problems caused by a covid infection.
Long Covid is a catch-all phrase used to describe the long term health problems caused by a covid infection.
2
So you could have one major long term health problem caused by your covid infection, or you could have twenty, but both of those situations could be described as 'Long Covid'.
So you could have one major long term health problem caused by your covid infection, or you could have twenty, but both of those situations could be described as 'Long Covid'.
3
The symptoms in Long Covid are not *exclusive to Long Covid*.
For example: Fatigue
The symptoms in Long Covid are not *exclusive to Long Covid*.
For example: Fatigue
3b
This may explode your mind, but fatigue existed before Long Covid.
This may explode your mind, but fatigue existed before Long Covid.
3c
But when you've been really healthy and full of energy, and then you catch Covid, and then your energy levels drop profoundly... that fatigue? It's probably Long Covid.
But when you've been really healthy and full of energy, and then you catch Covid, and then your energy levels drop profoundly... that fatigue? It's probably Long Covid.
4
So what doctors are looking for in terms of symptoms are a cluster of symptoms (eg fatigue, cardiac arrhythmia, dizziness, thinking problems) that have developed *following* a covid infection.
So what doctors are looking for in terms of symptoms are a cluster of symptoms (eg fatigue, cardiac arrhythmia, dizziness, thinking problems) that have developed *following* a covid infection.
5
Long Covid isn't just *the continuation of symptoms developed during a covid infection*.
Long Covid isn't just *the continuation of symptoms developed during a covid infection*.
5b
Many people with Long Covid find the symptoms developing *months* after their infection, and it's also possible to develop them *years* after an infection.
Many people with Long Covid find the symptoms developing *months* after their infection, and it's also possible to develop them *years* after an infection.
5c
That one is vital to understand.
That one is vital to understand.
5d
It's important because Long Covid can include *the damage done to the body in the initial infection*...
For example: Covid infection can damage the process that clears mucus from your lungs, which may or may not heal over time.
It's important because Long Covid can include *the damage done to the body in the initial infection*...
For example: Covid infection can damage the process that clears mucus from your lungs, which may or may not heal over time.
5e
So *being less able to clear mucus from your lungs* would be a symptom of Long Covid for some people, and it would be evident that it's happening right from the time of the infection...
So *being less able to clear mucus from your lungs* would be a symptom of Long Covid for some people, and it would be evident that it's happening right from the time of the infection...
5f
... but many symptoms of Long Covid are caused by the *repercussions* of the infection...
For example: Covid infection can damage the tissue of the heart, which might not be evident during the infection, but become apparent later.
... but many symptoms of Long Covid are caused by the *repercussions* of the infection...
For example: Covid infection can damage the tissue of the heart, which might not be evident during the infection, but become apparent later.
5g
... or by the fact that the body hasn't been able to clear the virus out, which is known as a *persistent infection*....
... or by the fact that the body hasn't been able to clear the virus out, which is known as a *persistent infection*....
5h
... and if the persistent infection is continuing to kill cells, and the body is continuing to fight the infection as it kills cells, this process can cause a huge cascading string of problems...
For example: any of fifty 'autoimmune diseases'.
... and if the persistent infection is continuing to kill cells, and the body is continuing to fight the infection as it kills cells, this process can cause a huge cascading string of problems...
For example: any of fifty 'autoimmune diseases'.
5i
... and autoimmune diseases are diseases where your own immune system attacks your own body.
... and autoimmune diseases are diseases where your own immune system attacks your own body.
5j
So the symptoms of Long Covid can come
*immediately*
*or soon after*
*or a long time after*
So the symptoms of Long Covid can come
*immediately*
*or soon after*
*or a long time after*
6
And the symptoms of Long Covid can come
*suddenly*
*or gradually*
*or intermittently*
*or for a short time*
*or permanently*
And the symptoms of Long Covid can come
*suddenly*
*or gradually*
*or intermittently*
*or for a short time*
*or permanently*
6b
Long Covid affects everyone differently.
Long Covid affects everyone differently.
7
Long Covid can cause problems in any part of your body.
Long Covid can cause problems in any part of your body.
8
Long Covid can cause problems in any organ.
Long Covid can cause problems in any organ.
9
Long Covid can affect any bodily process.
Long Covid can affect any bodily process.
10
Because Covid is, among other things, a *vascular* disease, one which affects the system that provides blood to every part of the body, then it can harm any process, organ, body part.
Because Covid is, among other things, a *vascular* disease, one which affects the system that provides blood to every part of the body, then it can harm any process, organ, body part.
11
It's a bit of a mystery why it affects different people so differently.
It's a bit of a mystery why it affects different people so differently.
12
But anyone can develop Long Covid after they catch Covid.
But anyone can develop Long Covid after they catch Covid.
13
Your risk of developing Long Covid rises with each Covid infection.
That means that catching Covid more times makes you more likely to have a cluster of the symptoms that make up Long Covid.
Your risk of developing Long Covid rises with each Covid infection.
That means that catching Covid more times makes you more likely to have a cluster of the symptoms that make up Long Covid.
14
Being recently vaccinated only *reduces* your risk of developing a group of symptoms in the aftermath of your Covid infection.
Being recently vaccinated only *reduces* your risk of developing a group of symptoms in the aftermath of your Covid infection.
15
If you have Long Covid, further Covid infections can *worsen* your Long Covid symptoms.
If you have Long Covid, further Covid infections can *worsen* your Long Covid symptoms.
16
And the symptoms of Long Covid can be life altering.
And the symptoms of Long Covid can be life altering.
17
Anything from mildly inconvenient to devastating.
Anything from mildly inconvenient to devastating.
18
But if you have developed mildly inconvenient Long Covid symptoms after your 3rd covid infection, it is still possible to develop devastating ones after your 5th.
But if you have developed mildly inconvenient Long Covid symptoms after your 3rd covid infection, it is still possible to develop devastating ones after your 5th.
19
The Covid virus mutates, so exploits different physical weaknesses in each infection - and whether that can cause different effects or not, it can cause problems in different people.
The Covid virus mutates, so exploits different physical weaknesses in each infection - and whether that can cause different effects or not, it can cause problems in different people.
20
Common Long Covid Symptoms can include:
Common Long Covid Symptoms can include:
21
Debilitating fatigue
Debilitating fatigue
22
Fast heart rate
Fast heart rate
23
Breathlessness
Breathlessness
24
Headaches
Headaches
25
Difficulty sleeping
Difficulty sleeping
26
Joint pain
Joint pain
27
Upset stomach
Upset stomach
28
Hair loss
Hair loss
29
Symptoms worsening after activity
Symptoms worsening after activity
30
Difficulty concentrating or remembering
Difficulty concentrating or remembering
31
Difficulty thinking
Difficulty thinking
32
Muscle weakness
Muscle weakness
33
Menstrual cycle disruption
Menstrual cycle disruption
34
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
35
Dizziness
Dizziness
36
Anxiety
Anxiety
37
Depression
Depression
38
Apathy
Apathy
39
Mania
Mania
40
Violent thoughts
Violent thoughts
41
Changes to smell or taste
Changes to smell or taste
42
It's worth remembering that these are some of the common symptoms, but that not everyone with Long Covid experiences all of them.
Each person may have a *different combination*.
It's worth remembering that these are some of the common symptoms, but that not everyone with Long Covid experiences all of them.
Each person may have a *different combination*.
43
But in total, over 200 symptoms have been associated with Long Covid.
But in total, over 200 symptoms have been associated with Long Covid.
44
That is over 200 symptoms that have *clearly been caused or worsened by a Covid infection that have lasted for an extended period of time*.
That is over 200 symptoms that have *clearly been caused or worsened by a Covid infection that have lasted for an extended period of time*.
45
So Long Covid is a broad attack on the body.
It is unlike some diseases that attack just *one* part of the system.
So Long Covid is a broad attack on the body.
It is unlike some diseases that attack just *one* part of the system.
46
Long Covid is a *systemic* condition, meaning it affects your entire *system*.
Your system is your body.
Long Covid is a *systemic* condition, meaning it affects your entire *system*.
Your system is your body.
47
But within your body, Long Covid causes those problems in different ways.
But within your body, Long Covid causes those problems in different ways.
48
Long Covid can affect your body's circulatory system, increasing the risk of clotting, aneurysms, strokes, embolisms.
Long Covid can affect your body's circulatory system, increasing the risk of clotting, aneurysms, strokes, embolisms.
49
Long Covid can affect your muscles, causing problems in the parts of your body that need muscles.
Like your heart, or your breathing or basically every part of your body.
Long Covid can affect your muscles, causing problems in the parts of your body that need muscles.
Like your heart, or your breathing or basically every part of your body.
50
Long Covid can affect your nervous system.
Again.
That's everything.
Long Covid can affect your nervous system.
Again.
That's everything.
51
Long Covid can affect the processes by which your body absorbs, assembles, and uses chemicals.
Again:
That can affect everything.
Long Covid can affect the processes by which your body absorbs, assembles, and uses chemicals.
Again:
That can affect everything.
52
Long Covid can disrupt your body's defence system, your immune system.
Long Covid can disrupt your body's defence system, your immune system.
53
But your immune system doesn't just fight invading attackers, your immune system also keeps your own body in check.
But your immune system doesn't just fight invading attackers, your immune system also keeps your own body in check.
54
So it can cause your immune system to harm your own body.
So it can cause your immune system to harm your own body.
55
All of these different mechanisms, and more, can affect any part of your body, which includes...
All of these different mechanisms, and more, can affect any part of your body, which includes...
56
Your brain.
Your brain.
57
Your brain doesn't just think.
Your brain isn't just who you are.
Your brain provides most of the coordination of how you operate.
Your brain doesn't just think.
Your brain isn't just who you are.
Your brain provides most of the coordination of how you operate.
58
So you can get dysregulation of your body's processes via the circulatory system, or by the neurological problems, or by the damage to the brain, or by the disruption of biochemistry.
So you can get dysregulation of your body's processes via the circulatory system, or by the neurological problems, or by the damage to the brain, or by the disruption of biochemistry.
59
And again:
This can affect anyone after any Covid infection.
And again:
This can affect anyone after any Covid infection.
60
And these effects can increase after each Covid infection.
And these effects can increase after each Covid infection.
61
And they can be permanent.
And they can be permanent.
62
Some of the symptoms are treatable, but many people with Long Covid have found zero relief.
Some of the symptoms are treatable, but many people with Long Covid have found zero relief.
63
And many have encountered zero understanding from their doctors.
And many have encountered zero understanding from their doctors.
64
Having Long Covid is not a fixed outcome, and is not a solvable problem.
Having Long Covid is not a fixed outcome, and is not a solvable problem.
65
Many people with Long Covid have experienced devastation to their lives and huge disruption, and no solutions.
Many people with Long Covid have experienced devastation to their lives and huge disruption, and no solutions.
It's Long Covid Awareness Day today, but it should be Long Covid Awareness Day every day, because this is affecting more and more people with every passing wave of Covid.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
