COVID-19 has both short and long-term effects for patients around the world. Recent evidence has shown symptoms can remain long after an acute COVID-19 infection, now referred to as long COVID. Long COVID can affect all COVID-19 patients, from those with very mild symptoms to those with severe COVID symptoms.
Like acute COVID-19, long COVID can involve multiple organs and can affect many systems including, but not limited to, the respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal systems. The symptoms of long COVID include fatigue, dyspnea, cardiac abnormalities, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, muscle pain, concentration problems and headache.
MercyOne providers in central Iowa are working to offer treatment options to long COVID patients. These providers will assess and treat long COVID symptoms and work to improve long-term quality of life for affected patients.
