Long COVID is no longer a theory. An estimated 65 million people worldwide, including millions in the U.S., have had the condition or have it now, according to a new review article published in Nature Reviews Microbiology. Researchers, meanwhile have identified more than 200 different symptoms, spanning multiple organ systems. Fatigue, brain fog, post-exertional malaise, new-onset conditions like heart issues, diabetes, blood clots, stroke– all have been reported, and many more.
By the CDC’s definition, long COVID occurs when people experience new, returning or ongoing health problems beyond four weeks after their acute COVID infection. More broadly, long COVID is a still-emerging condition whose toll continues to grow, and although much has been learned about it, far remains unknown—including the best ways to treat and prevent it.
