The most commonly reported Covid symptoms have changed since the virus first spread around the globe almost three years ago.
While loss of taste and smell was a key warning sign at the start of the pandemic, newer variants have brought different symptoms, including cephalgia.
The persistent headache is one of the “top” symptoms currently seen in fully vaccinated patients, the Zoe Covid Study App has found.
The health app, which keeps track of dominant Covid symptoms, suggests the reason why jabbed patients might experience different signs comes down mostly to the severity of symptoms.
Cephalgia includes any type of pain affecting the head or face that’s often described as throbbing, constant, sharp or dull pressure.
According to recent data from Zoe, this symptom affected around 69 percent of their users.
While headaches can be triggered by viruses like cold and flu, the app explains how to identify Covid from this warning sign.
Cephalgia is considered one of the earliest signs of coronavirus and more common than the “classic” symptoms like cough, fever and loss of smell.
Most people experience headaches at the very start of the illness, with it lasting for an average of three to five days.
Other people have suffered from the stubborn pain for much longer, with the persistence of this symptom suggesting you might have long Covid.
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The Zoe study also shares other tell-tale signs of Covid headache, including:
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Being moderately to severely painful
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Feeling ‘pulsing’, ‘pressing’ or ‘stabbing’
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Occurring across both sides of the head (bilateral) rather than in one area
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Lasting for more than three days
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Being resistant to regular painkillers.
While headaches are a “very common” symptom of the virus, many people suffer from them on a daily basis - meaning the stubborn pain doesn’t guarantee you’ve caught coronavirus.
Cephalgia often comes hand-in-hand with other Covid symptoms, the app claims.
The study states: “A headache is highly likely to occur alongside fatigue and loss of smell (anosmia).
“It often comes together with symptoms like a sore throat, fever, unusual muscle pains, a persistent cough and dizziness.”
Apart from headaches, there are also four other prevalent Covid symptoms that seem to be targeting those with their immunisation.
Other coronavirus signs appearing in the double jabbed include:
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Sore throat
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Runny nose
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Blocked nose
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Persistent cough.
The research explains: “There are a few reasons why symptoms may be changing, including the fact that those who have been vaccinated experience less severe symptoms, as well as more cases being reported by younger people, who we have found experience different, less severe symptoms as well.”
However, The Study app also shares that similar Covid symptoms seem to be targeting those without their jab.
“However, fewer symptoms were reported over a shorter period of time by those who had already had a jab, suggesting that they were falling less seriously ill and getting better more quickly,” the app added.
