What You Need to Know if You Have Survived COVID-19
In the vast majority of cases, COVID-19 symptoms clear up in a matter of weeks, with most patients experiencing mild symptoms and some patients not experiencing any symptoms at all. Even if you survive COVID-19 without any serious tolls on your health, though, you may not be completely out of the woods. While research into the long-term effects of COVID-19 is still ongoing, what we’ve learned so far has generated plenty of cause for concern.
The Long-Term Consequences of COVID-19
The CDC’s resource on post-COVID conditions lists a wide range of potential long-term health consequences of COVID-19, including:
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Chest or stomach pain
- Sleep problems
- Cough
- Headaches
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating
- A pins-and-needles feeling
- Lightheadedness
- Diarrhea
- Heart palpitations
- Rash
- Mood changes
- Changes in smell or taste
- Changes in menstrual period cycles
According to the CDC, patients who contract COVID-19 sometimes report these symptoms months after contracting the virus. Along with these symptoms, the CDC also states that COVID-19 is sometimes responsible for causing long-term organ damage and autoimmune conditions, stating that the multi-organ effects of COVID-19 can impact heart, lung, and brain function along with causing various autoimmune conditions.
According to a new study published by The BMJ, though, the long-term health effects of COVID-19 don’t end there. In a study that compared 1,057,174 who had tested positive for COVID-19 against a control group of 4,076,342 individuals who never contracted the virus, researchers found that COVID-19 survivors were substantially more at risk for deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and bleeding than the general population. The study states that, “the risk ratios during days 1-30 after COVID-19 were 4.98 (4.96 to 5.01) for deep vein thrombosis, 33.05 (32.8 to 33.3) for pulmonary embolism, and 1.88 (1.71 to 2.07) for bleeding, after adjusting for the effect of potential confounders. The rate ratios were highest in patients with critical COVID-19 and highest during the first pandemic wave in Sweden compared with the second and third waves.”
The study concluded by stating that, “The findings of this study suggest that COVID-19 is a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and bleeding. These results could impact recommendations on diagnostic and prophylactic strategies against venous thromboembolism after COVID-19.”
None of these three long-term effects of COVID-19 are conditions that should be taken lightly. Deep vein thrombosis causes blood clots to form in the deep veins of the body, leading to pain and discomfort and potentially leading to a dangerous condition where the blood clots loosen and become lodged in the lungs. This condition is known as pulmonary embolism and is listed by the study as a separate COVID-19 risk factor due to its severity. Lastly, an elevated bleeding risk means that COVID-19 patients are more likely to suffer serious blood loss from otherwise minor injuries – a risk factor made even more concerning by the fact that the anticoagulants that are typically used to prevent blood clots in COVID-19 patients also increase the risk of severe bleeding.
What to Do if You Have Survived COVID-19
If you have contracted COVID-19 at any point in the past year, it is important to speak with your physician regarding your risk of post-COVID complications. Some individuals are more at risk for post-COVID complications than others, and it’s important to determine whether additional treatment is necessary even after the initial symptoms of the virus have faded. By discussing your risk of post-COVID complications with your physician, you can determine the preventive treatment plan that is best suited for you.
Schedule an Appointment for COVID-19 Antibody Testing With St. Jude Labs
Before you can begin preventive treatments for post-COVID complications, it is first necessary to determine whether you have indeed contracted COVID-19. In cases with milder symptoms, it isn’t always so easy to tell. However, even mild cases of COVID-19 can still sometimes lead to serious long-term complications. At St. Jude Labs, we proudly offer COVID-19 antibody testing that is able to determine if you have been infected with COVID-19 at any point in the past as well as molecular testing to determine if you are currently infected with the virus. To schedule an appointment for one or both of these tests and begin your path to COVID-19 recovery, be sure to contact us today.
