Long COVID

What is Long COVID (LC)?
The CDC uses the term “Long COVID” to describe post-COVID health issues that persist more than four weeks after a person is first infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  Common symptoms include tiredness, fatigue, abnormal sleep, difficulty concentrating, loss of taste/smell, palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, joint or muscle pain, depression, anxiety, autonomic dysfunction, post exertional malaise, and/or fevers.

How Common is Long COVID (LC)?
It is estimated that  5% to 30% will experience symptoms 4 weeks after the initial infection. LC more commonly affects older patients and middle aged females with the following underlying conditions:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Obesity
  • Smokers
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Immune suppressed

How Long Does LC Last and Does It Ever Go Away?
We are still learning about LC since it hasn’t been around very long.  LC is variable in how long it lasts, and clearly lasts different amounts of time in different people.  Encouragingly, most symptoms tend to improve over time, although slowly.  Many people have reduction in their severe symptoms by 3 months, although persistence for over a year has been observed in about 20% of cases.

Are There Treatments for LC?
Not yet.  This will likely change soon, however, for now, the primary targets are symptom related medications, for example Tylenol for headaches, Antihistamines for fatigue, cough medications, etc.

Our Research
We at the Respiratory Research Center conduct clinical trials for investigative medications and exercise rehabilitation for the treatment of Long COVID (LC). Qualified research participants will receive financial compensation for their time and travel, study-related medical evaluations, and the investigative study medication at no cost. Help advance medicine and medical research through participating in one of our clinical trials.

Other Resources

Learn more about Long Haul COVID and the current research

Respiratory Research Center

Learn More About Our Long Covid Clinical Trials

Long COVID Symptoms

  • Tiredness, fatigue, abnormal sleep, fevers
  • Difficulty concentrating, loss of taste and/or smell
  • Chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, joint or muscle pain
  • Depression, anxiety, autonomic dysfunction, post exertional malaise
  • Feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart.

More of Our Research Specialties

  • Exercise Training and Rehabilitation

    Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a supervised medical program that helps people who have lung diseases live and breathe better.

  • Muscle Weakness

    There are many reasons why individuals may lose strength, but in many patients with chronic heart, lung or kidney diseases the loss of muscle mass and strength is faster than normal.

  • Asthma

    Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing)

  • Unexplained Dyspnea & Exercise Intolerance

    Shortness-of-breath, or Dyspnea, is a common symptom that causes exercise limitation or “intolerance”. Breathlessness during exercise is often