Symptoms may linger long after official recovery for many COVID patients. Doctors report these are particularly persistent.
Loss of Smell/Taste
This loss occurs in about one out of 10 patients and can last as long as six months, according to Dr. Joshua LaBaer, director of Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute. He says the primary loss is smell, which can affect how a person perceives taste. There are no proven remedies that can accelerate recovery.
Poor Lung Function
“Shortness of breath, decreased exercise tolerance and low blood oxygen are common symptoms and signs,” LaBaer says. Up to half of patients with serious cases of COVID complained of shortness of breath months after the infection, according to a recent study from Nature Medicine.
Brain Fog
Dr. Frank LoVecchio, a physician in the Department of Medical Toxicology at Banner University Medical Center, says about 25 percent of COVID patients experience poor concentration, headaches and memory issues for weeks to months after recovery.
