Long-COVID
or
Post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC)
WHAT IS long-covid or PASC?
Long-COVID is an emerging condition and is not well-understood. Long-COVID refers to lingering symptoms following the initial COVID-19 infection that are not explained by any alternative diagnosis. 10-20% of individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 infections will experience symptoms of long-COVID. Symptoms of long-COVID typically occur about 4 weeks to 3 months from the initial COVID-19 infection. In order to get a diagnosis of long-COVID, these symptoms need to last for at least 2 months. Individuals living with long-COVID and who are not currently experiencing an active COVID-19 infection are not infectious to others.
These symptoms can be novel, meaning they were not experienced during the acute infection, or ongoing. These symptoms can last weeks, months, or even years after the individual is first infected. These symptoms can occur in anyone that has had COVID-19 regardless of severity (mild, moderate, severe), whether they were hospitalized, or whether they were put on a ventilator. Females are more likely than males to experience long-COVID.
Long-COVID can be severely debilitating. Symptoms of long-COVID can result in inability to complete occupational requirements or day-to-day tasks of daily living. “Brain fog” after COVID, which is one of the most common long-COVID symptoms, resembles cancer-therapy-related cognitive impairments. Individuals with long-COVID who experience post-exertional malaise (PEM) or post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE) can experiences “crashes” that can last for hours to days. These “crashes” can be triggered by physical exertion, cognitive exertion, stress, dehydration, weather changes, consuming larger meals, alcohol consumption, and hormonal changes, such as during the premenstrual period.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF long-covid or pasc?
Individuals with long-COVID may experience any combination of the following symptoms:
"Brain fog"
Word finding problems
Difficulty with memory
Difficulty with attention
Difficulty with problem solving
Difficulty with executive function
Cognitive fatigue
Difficulty with communicating
Difficulty processing written information
Difficulty comprehending speech
Difficulty communicating via writing
Slurring words/speech
Speaking unrecognizable words
"Brain fog"
Word finding problems
Difficulty with memory
Difficulty with attention
Difficulty with problem solving
Difficulty with executive function
Cognitive fatigue
Vocal fatigue
Vocal quality changes
Breathiness
Hoarseness
Difficulty projecting the voice
Pain or discomfort while speaking
Vocal tract discomfort or sore throat
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath
Chest pain or tightness
Rapid breathing
Inducible laryngeal obstruction or paradoxical vocal fold motion
Chronic cough
WHAT can be done about long-covid or pasc?
Difficulty with communicating
Difficulty processing written information
Difficulty comprehending speech
Difficulty communicating via writing
Slurring words/speech
Speaking unrecognizable words
Anxiety, depression, or PTSD
Emotional lability
Irritability
Impulsivity/disinhibition
Difficulty swallowing or dysphagia
Loss of appetite
Change in taste
Change in smell
Gastrointestinal pain and problems
Nausea
Autonomic dysfunction
Headaches
Fatigue
Post-exertional malaise (PEM)
Vocal fatigue
Vocal quality changes
Breathiness
Hoarseness
Difficulty projecting the voice
Pain or discomfort while speaking
Vocal tract discomfort or sore throat
Post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE)
Neuropathies
Racing or pounding heart
Increased resting heart rate
Dizziness on standing
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Tinnitus and/or earaches
Joint and/or muscle pain
Sleep problems
Vision impairment
Hair loss
Changes in menstrual cycle
There are treatment options for symptoms of long-COVID. Speech-language pathologists at Empowered Voice Rehabilitation LLC can assist in evaluation, management, and treatment of the following long-COVID symptoms:
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath
Chest pain or tightness
Rapid breathing
Inducible laryngeal obstruction or paradoxical vocal fold motion
Chronic cough
Additional treatment for other long-COVID symptoms may be provided by other members of the multi-disciplinary team. If you suspect that you may have long- COVID or have received a long-COVID diagnosis, seek out providers that are familiar with the diagnosis. Treatment techniques for long-COVID differ from treatment techniques used for other diagnoses. Ask you primary care physician for referrals to appropriate providers to manage your symptoms. There are ways to improve your quality of life after a long-COVID diagnosis.