Before COVID-19 was reported, researchers studied how infections such as COVID-19 can affect the mind and body. Now, three years after initial reports of COVID-19 emerged, researchers continue to study COVID-19’s long-term effects on the well-being of people.
There are many names for Post-COVID Conditions (PCC). You may have heard it referred to as Long COVID, long-haul COVID, post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, post-acute COVID-19, chronic COVID, or long-term effects of COVID. Regardless of what it’s called, Post-COVID Conditions can affect your mind and body.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other agencies studied reports of long-haul COVID symptoms and created a definition of PCC.
People diagnosed with COVID-19 may experience various new, recurring, or continuing health problems. Many may notice the signs of long COVID symptoms days after they’re diagnosed with COVID. Many people’s symptoms will end a few days or weeks after they are infected with COVID-19.
Unfortunately, a test to determine if you have PCC doesn’t exist. However, because PCC is not one illness, your doctor considers your health history and whether you have had COVID-19 to determine if you have PCC.
Diagnosing PCC isn’t easy. Several PCC symptoms can last from weeks to years after a diagnosis of COVID-19. In some cases, those symptoms can disappear and recur. Sometimes a combination of symptoms exists, all occurring at various lengths. A few (not all) of the symptoms are: