Long COVID and physical health
An estimated 1.3 million people in the UK have long COVID, with 40% of those having suffered with symptoms for over 12 months. With restrictions easing and around 1 in 20 people testing positive, managing COVID-19 recovery and understanding this illness is an increasing concern for people. It is estimated that 1 in 10 people who have had COVID go on to experience prolonged symptoms including:
extreme tiredness or fatigue
shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain or tightness
problems with memory and concentration ("brain fog")
changes to taste and smell
joint pain
According to the NHS, most COVID symptoms have resolved after 4 weeks and ‘long COVD’ is used to describe symptoms that persist after this time. After 12 weeks, persistent symptoms are referred to as ‘post-COVID syndrome’. The length of time that you experience symptoms is not related to how severe symptoms initially were and symptoms can vary over time. For many people, recovery can be up and down, which can make managing symptoms difficult and harder to predict when they are ready to resume daily activities including work and caring responsibilities.
Currently, there is no test to detect long COVID, symptoms vary widely person to person which means no one single treatment is effective to manage symptoms and the mechanisms that underlie the condition are not well understood. Currently, approximately 90 long COVID treatment centres have been set up in the UK to support sufferers.
Researchers are working hard to use data from long COVID patients from around the world to identify its cause, improve treatments, and understand who may be at greater risk. So far studies have shown that women, people aged 35-69, those with underlying health conditions, people working in health and social care, and people living in poorer areas are at greater risk.
A recent encouraging finding is evidence that COVID-19 vaccinations reduce the risk of long COVID, which is a hopeful finding as vaccine coverage continues to improve in the UK and further afield.
Long COVID and mental health
It is estimated that 1 in 4 people with long COVID develop a mental health issue. Many people experience anxiety over when they will be able to get back to work and have the energy to engage in the activities that they enjoy again. If you are suffering from mental health difficulties when recovering from long COVID, it’s important that you seek the right support from mental health services and take proactive steps to support your recovery.
Getting emotional support from loved ones, asking for practical help when symptoms are difficult to manage, and making sure you eat well and get plenty of rest can help both physical and psychological symptoms of long COVID.
While it can be tricky to know how much physical activity is healthy when your energy varies day to day and over-exertion may lead to exhaustion, getting active again is an important part of recovery, can reduce fatigue and boost your mood. The NHS recommends that gradually building up your activities such as adding five minutes onto a daily walk, and doing things ‘little and often’ is a helpful approach to being active. Remember that finding some days harder than others is a normal part of the recovery process.
How can I support a member of my team that has long COVID?
For managers and colleagues, it’s important to understand that the timeline for COVID recovery is not straightforward. Strategies to support employees who have long COVID when they return to work recommended by ACAS include carrying out an occupational health assessment, making changes to workplace settings, and considering flexible hours where possible.
While a member of staff can feel fully recovered, they may experience symptoms after they have returned to work, in some cases more severe than initial ‘mild’ symptoms. Keep open clear lines of communication, monitor workload and adjust expectations to prevent a member of staff from overwork that can impede their recovery.
For more information about long COVID please see this YouTube video. See also our other articles on physical health.