Post-COVID Syndrome: The Long-Term Effects of SARS-COV-2

For those who have survived infection by the SARS-COV-2 virus, there are ongoing risks. Much of what happens to individuals after the virus has passed through their system needs to be researched further, but it is known that post-COVID syndrome is a reality.

Post-COVID syndrome is a continuation of symptoms after the infection has run its course. Similar to COVID itself, post-COVID syndrome can be more or less severe and is reported to affect about 70% of individuals who have been infected by the virus, including those who were asymptomatic. Less severe symptoms include chronic fatigue and depression, while more severe cases can involve difficulty sleeping and breathing, chest and joint pain, memory and cognitive problems, as well as ongoing loss of taste and smell. Research does not indicate that severity of the original virus, age, or gender can predict the occurrence of post-COVID syndrome, though pre-existing conditions, such as cardiopulmonary issues, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes often lead to more severe symptoms. While some may experience post-COVID symptoms immediately following the actual virus, the timing is variable, and it may take weeks for symptoms to occur.

Individuals suffering from post-COVID Syndrome, or for whom COVID has run its course, may be wary of receiving a vaccine. While it is currently recommended that those who have suffered from COVID should get vaccinated, those experiencing post-COVID syndrome should wait until their symptoms have passed. Since the current vaccinations stimulate a strong immune response in the body, a symptomatic individual will most likely be negatively affected.

Though research on the effects of post-COVID syndrome is ongoing, a healthy microbiome may help with related long-term health issues. Eating a healthy, balanced diet with sufficient intake of vitamin D and vitamin A is cited as critical to the health of those who have survived COVID-19.