Long Covid: The Symptoms And Tips For Recovery | BHF

What's on this page

Understanding long Covid

• How long does Covid-19 usually last?
• What is long Covid?
• How long can long Covid last?
• What are long Covid symptoms?

Long Covid heart-related symptoms

• Heart palpitations after Covid-19
• Chest pain after Covid-19 
• High heart rate after Covid-19 

Tests and treatments for long Covid

• Is there a test for long Covid? 
• Is there a treatment for long Covid? 

Managing long Covid symptoms

• Shortness of breath after Covid-19 
• Long Covid and fatigue
• Long Covid muscle pain
• Long Covid and brain fog

Understanding long Covid

How long does Covid-19 usually last?

Most people with mild Covid-19 feel better within 1 to 2 weeks of noticing symptoms and fully recover within 3 months.

However, for some people the effects of the virus can last for much longer, or new symptoms can develop. This is called 'long Covid’. 

What is long Covid?

Long Covid, also known as post Covid-19 syndrome, is when Covid-19 lasts for several weeks or months after the initial illness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines long Covid as symptoms that start (usually) within 3 months of having Covid-19, last for at least 2 months, and cannot be explained by another condition.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), says that the term ‘long Covid’ can also refer to Covid-19 symptoms that last 4 to 12 weeks after infection.

You do not need to have been seriously ill with Covid-19 to develop long Covid, and even those who only experience mild symptoms at first can be affected. 

How long can long Covid last?

There have been reports of long Covid symptoms lasting from 3 months up to 3 years.

We're still learning more about how long the illness typically lasts, and it can vary between people.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) reported that around 2 million people in England and Scotland were experiencing self-reported long Covid as of 7 March 2024.

Of those people:

• 87.3 per cent first experienced long Covid symptoms at least 3 months before.
• 71.1 per cent first experienced long Covid symptoms at least 1 year before.
• 51.3 per cent first experienced long Covid symptoms at least 2 years before.
• 30.6 per cent first experienced long covid symptoms at least 3 years before.