Long-Term COVID-19
Post COVID Care
Side Effects After Having COVID-19?
Baptist Health has developed a program for patients that had COVID-19 and are still experiencing symptoms or do not feel they have fully recovered, also known as after COVID symptoms. If you are experiencing any issues after having COVID-19 such as persistent shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, or ongoing symptoms, you can get care now from Baptist Health’s long COVID program via a virtual visit with a provider.
What Is Long COVID?
Long COVID, or long term COVID, is a medical condition in which the symptoms of COVID-19 linger for more than four weeks. Persons with long COVID are also referred to as suffering from post-COVID syndrome. Most individuals with COVID-19 recover in a matter of weeks, but evidence is growing that, at least some of the time, the disease is linked to a variety of long-term complications. Some symptoms appear with the initial infection, while others manifest after a delay. Scientists do not currently understand the reason for the disparity in recovery times. The hope is as research continues, we learn more about appropriate treatment methods that are able to assist in managing the condition.
An estimated 35 million Americans have been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Some percentage of those infected will become COVID “long haulers,” experiencing symptoms lasting as much as a year or more. To learn more about COVID-19 and the risk of developing long COVID, contact your local Baptist Health physician.
Are you experiencing side effects after COVID-19 and don’t know how to get answers? You can get the care you need through Baptist Health’s long COVID-19 program, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a virtual visit from a Baptist Health provider.
Long COVID Symptoms & Side Effects
Long COVID symptoms vary widely, with many of them similar to those of the initial infection. Some after COVID symptoms include:
- Dulled senses (loss of taste and smell)
- Fatigue, especially after physical exertion
- Headache
- Coughing
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Labored breathing
- Heart palpitations
- Loss of focus (“brain fog”)
- Chest pain
- Joint and muscle pain
- Anxiety
- Depression
Although COVID-19 is chiefly a respiratory disease, long COVID can impact organs other than the lungs. This is because the SARS-CoV-2 virus contains an enzyme, ACE2, that attaches itself to cells in a variety of tissues. Long COVID has been linked to damaged heart muscles, blood clots, strokes, seizures, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney and skin problems, autoimmune conditions, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome.
COVID side effects can also have negative impact on psychological health, including increased incidences of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
Source Ya5/25/2025