How To Manage Fatigue and Other Long COVID Symptoms – Cleveland Clinic

You had COVID-19 a few weeks – or even months – ago. But you still have to deal with the symptoms of the infection, such as fatigue and shortness of breath.

You could be part of a group of people suffering from the long-term effects of COVID-19. Whether you call it Long-COVID, Long-haul-COVID, or Chronic-COVID, the terms all mean the same thing: you’re still not 100%.

And if you feel tired or exhausted all the time, along with shortness of breath, it can be frustrating.

So how do you know if you’ve had COVID-19 for a long time, and what can you do to make yourself feel better?

Pulmonologist and critical care physician Michael Ghobrial, MD, explains how fatigue and shortness of breath can persist in patients with COVID-19.

What is Long-COVID?

There is no universal clinical definition of “long COVID,” but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that “some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 may experience long-term effects of their infection, known as post-COVID conditions (PCC) or long COVID.”

While research is ongoing to understand these symptoms and how they affect individuals, we do know a few things:

• Anyone who has had COVID-19 can suffer from post-COVID conditions, even those who have had mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
• But long COVID is often found in those who have had a severe case of COVID-19.
• Those who are unvaccinated and then become infected are at higher risk of long COVID.
• You may test negative or be unaware that you have been infected with COVID-19 and still have long-standing COVID symptoms.

In fact, a study shows that 1 in 8 people who have had COVID-19 will have symptoms for up to three months after being infected.

“In general, women, women with comorbidities or severe COVID-19 infection, and the African American population have shown more persistence symptoms compared to other groups,” says Dr. Ghobrial.

It is also possible for you to develop a long COVID if you contract COVID-19 for the second or third time.

Long COVID fatigue

Sure, we all get tired from time to time. But when you suffer from fatigue, you are overly tired to the point where it impairs your function. You may have trouble getting up in the morning and getting through the day. Your work and personal life can also suffer.

Fatigue can be one of the most common symptoms reported in patients with long COVID.

In fact, a recent study shows that nearly 70% of people who initially had COVID-19 reported still experiencing fatigue three to 12 months after initial infection.

So how do you decipher between run-of-the-mill fatigue or something more? Having a long COVID makes it feel more tired than staying up too late or feeling exhausted after a hard workout.

“It’s a feeling people have reported they’ve never experienced,” says Dr. Ghobrial. “It’s a different experience, a different feeling.”

How to treat fatigue in long COVID

dr Ghobrial says it’s important to speak to a healthcare provider about any persistent fatigue you may have.

It’s also important to work with your doctor to determine the reason for your fatigue, but there are lifestyle changes you can make to help manage these feelings of fatigue, such as:

• Focus on good sleep.
• limit alcohol.
• Eat healthy.
• Manage your stress.
• Train often.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Take breaks throughout the day.

Shortness of breath in long COVID

Shortness of breath, known as dyspnea, is a tight feeling in the chest. It can be difficult to take deep breaths. While most people try to “catch their breath” after a workout or run, if you have long COVID, you may get out of breath or breathless just by walking around or climbing a flight of stairs.

If you’re feeling short of breath after COVID-19, it could also mean your airways have been damaged during your infection. Tests such as X-rays or CT scans can show abnormalities.

“There’s a recent study showing that people who have self-reported symptoms despite normal imaging are more likely to have depression and anxiety,” says Dr. Ghobrial. “It’s the doctor’s role to help elucidate and alleviate their concerns.”

There are also concerns about shortness of breath and the stress it can put on your heart and cardiovascular system.

“Your heart has to work to compensate for your shortness of breath,” explains Dr. Ghobrial. “If you’re hyperventilating, or breathing faster than normal, your expected heart rate and blood pressure will be higher than someone who’s just breathing normally. And that increased heart rate and blood pressure could be stressful for someone who already has a cardiovascular abnormality.”

How to treat shortness of breath in long COVID

If you are struggling with shortness of breath or other respiratory problems six to eight weeks after your first COVID-19 infection, you should see a specialist for your symptoms.

“Your doctor may refer you to special exercise programs designed to improve lung function or to physical therapists who are specifically trained to help patients perform breathing exercises,” says Dr. Ghobrial.

Other ways to support your lung function include:

When to get treatment

If you think you’ve had COVID for a long time, don’t hesitate to talk to a doctor.

“You really need to be seen and heard and report your symptoms,” Dr. Ghobrial.

However, he warns that there is significant wait time for people who want to be seen by specialists for long COVID. Some clinics across the country have started multidisciplinary visits, where you can be seen by a variety of specialties and get all the tests you need.

Also note that it can be difficult to determine exactly how COVID-19 has affected you and your body.

“To date, there is no data showing that any test or specific biomarkers can identify symptoms,” says Dr. Ghobrial. “That’s why we often describe and explain what the tests show and talk to patients about the one to three main symptoms that bother them.”

And remember, there is hope. It may take time to get better, but your doctor can work with you to find a solution that will give you relief.

“During follow-up, people have said their long-term COVID symptoms are getting better and they are able to go about their daily activities,” assures Dr. Ghobrial. “Your improvement is not from day to day. It’s more week-to-week or month-to-month that they notice they’re feeling better.”