Many people still have it, but your chances are lower.
Long term COVID-19 is a beast in its own category. Even people who contracted a mild version of the novel coronavirus have gone on to develop the condition. Long COVID incorporates a wide range of health problems that persist for weeks, months, or even years for some people following a COVID-19 infection. These problems can make work difficult to do, employment a challenge to keep, and generally living a chore.
An estimated estimated 7 to 23 million people could have long COVID, experts say. The good news is that, while the virus is still circulating and may always be around someplace in the world, a recent study has shown people who catch Omicron, a variant of COVID-19, are less likely to develop long term COVID.
Key findings
A study done by researchers at King’s College London used data from the ZOE COVID Symptom study app. It was found that people had a 20% to 50% lower chance of developing long COVID during the Omicron surge in the UK, compared with their chances during the Delta wave. This varied depending on how old a person was and when they had received their last vaccination.
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Interestingly, the risk of having lingering COVID-19 symptoms was lower during this time period for people who were double-vaccinated, but there was no statistical difference found for people who were triple vaccinated. Researchers didn’t say why they thought this may have been the case.
Long COVID numbers not dropping
Researchers warned that, while the findings look positive on the outside, they don’t mean that cases of long COVID are dropping. They urged health providers to keep supplying long COVID services to patients. Because so many more people were infected with the novel coronavirus during the Omicron wave, the number of people suffering from long COVID remains about the same as before.
Symptoms of long COVID
People can experience a wide range of symptoms that can be classified as long COVID. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some of the most common are:
- Fatigue that interferes with daily life
- Feeling tired after physical or mental effort
- Fever
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Brain fog
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Trouble sleeping
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Pins-and-needles
- Change in taste or smell
- Stomach trouble
- Diarrhea
- Joint and muscle pain
- Rash
- Alterations in your menstrual cycle
It’s important to know, there’s more to a long COVID infection than this list. Some people have persistent symptoms that are difficult to describe. The condition can also make you more susceptible to developing additional health conditions such as heart conditions, diabetes, and certain neurological conditions.
Although people with a mild coronavirus infection can develop long COVID, it’s more common in those who have been hospitalized and placed in an ICU when fighting COVID-19. The condition is also more common in those who aren’t vaccinated and who have underlying health conditions before contracting COVID-19.
What to do about it
If you’re experiencing persistent health problems following a COVID-19 infection, talk with your doctor. While there isn’t always a one-shot solution, there may be treatment available to help lessen symptoms like dizziness or depression. Most cases of long COVID resolve after time, which can provide some hope.
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