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Category: Understanding Long Covid
Long Covid is complex, confusing, and often misunderstood. This section brings together clear, evidence-informed articles that explain what researchers know so far, what remains uncertain, and how Long Covid can affect the body. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or looking for deeper answers, this is a good place to start.
Long Covid in Children: Everything Parents Need to Know
Long Covid can affect children even after a mild infection. A plain words guide for parents on symptoms, school and daily life.
Why IV Fluids Help Some Long Covid Patients and Harm Others
Intravenous (IV) fluids can significantly aid some Long Covid patients by improving circulation temporarily, but they can exacerbate symptoms in others due to issues like endothelial dysfunction and microcirculation problems. Understanding individual responses requires examining underlying biological factors, as indiscriminate use may worsen symptoms rather than provide relief.
Should You Exercise With Long COVID? Why the Answer Depends on Post-Exertional Malaise
Exercise can harm Long COVID patients experiencing post-exertional malaise (PEM), contradicting standard advice to increase activity. Current research indicates that exercise exacerbates biological abnormalities in these patients, rather than improving their condition. Pacing, not exercise, is the recommended approach for managing PEM to avoid severe symptom flare-ups.
Dizziness and Vertigo in Long Covid: What Is Happening and What Actually Helps
Last updated: August 2026 | Brain fog friendly Dizziness is one of the most unsettling symptoms of Long COVID. It can feel as though the room is spinning, as though you're about to faint, or simply as though your balance has disappeared overnight. The confusing part is that these sensations can have completely different causes, … Continue reading Dizziness and Vertigo in Long Covid: What Is Happening and What Actually Helps
People the Internet Cannot Reach: Severe Long Covid and the Proxy Layer
This article highlights the neglect of severely ill Long Covid patients who are housebound or bedbound and largely excluded from online communities and research. Their unique challenges, such as cognitive and sensory limitations, hinder participation in digital forums. The proxy layer, consisting of caregivers, navigates these patients' needs, emphasizing the necessity for inclusive support and research tailored to their experiences.
How to Stop Long Covid Getting Worse: Pacing, PEM, Reinfection and Recovery
Long COVID does not always worsen over time, but certain factors—including repeated post-exertional malaise (PEM), reinfection, pushing beyond your energy limits and returning to intense exercise too soon—may increase the risk of prolonged symptoms. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent worsening, research suggests that pacing, avoiding repeated crashes, reducing reinfection risk and managing … Continue reading How to Stop Long Covid Getting Worse: Pacing, PEM, Reinfection and Recovery
Long COVID and the Gut: What the Microbiome Research Really Shows
Long COVID gut research is rapidly changing our understanding of the condition. Scientists now believe the gut microbiome may influence inflammation, the immune system, brain fog and many of the symptoms Long COVID research has found changes in the gut microbiome, gut barrier and immune signalling in some people after COVID. Researchers are investigating whether these … Continue reading Long COVID and the Gut: What the Microbiome Research Really Shows
Living With Long Covid Day to Day: Everything You Need to Know in 4 Minutes
Reading time: 4 minutes | Last updated: July 2026 | Brain fog friendly Living with Long COVID day to day is very different from understanding it clinically. The clinical articles explain what Long Covid does to your body. This one explains what it does to your life. To your days, your relationships, your work, your … Continue reading Living With Long Covid Day to Day: Everything You Need to Know in 4 Minutes
The Cure for Long COVID: Apparently, It’s Everything
Long COVID has been “cured” by exercise, rest, yoga, breathing, cold water, vagus nerve devices and dozens of other approachesat least according to headlines. This evidence-based guide separates genuine symptom relief, promising research and personal recovery stories from claims of a cure.
Long COVID and the Immune System: Why It Can Be Both Overactive and Underactive
Long Covid presents a complex immune dysfunction characterized by simultaneous hyperactivity and hypoactivity, leading to inflammation, immune exhaustion, autoimmunity, and reactivation of latent viruses. Patients face chronic immune dysregulation, resulting in persistent fatigue and increased vulnerability to infections. Understanding these interconnected mechanisms is crucial for effective management and treatment.
Hospital Acquired COVID in England: What the Data Shows, What Changed, and Why the Numbers Remain Unclear
Hospital acquired Covid became one of the most contested data stories of the pandemic. This is what the numbers actually showed and why they were so hard to count.
Long COVID Phenotypes Explained: Understanding the Different Types of Long COVID
Long COVID phenotypes are the different symptom patterns and biological mechanisms that make each person's experience unique. Learn about the six main Long COVID phenotypes, why they overlap, how reinfections can change them and why understanding your phenotype can help make sense of your symptoms.
Functional Capacity in Long Covid: Why Diagnosis Alone Is Not Enough
Traditional healthcare relies heavily on diagnosis, which can inadequately assess chronic conditions like Long Covid. Many individuals face functional impairments despite clear diagnostic indicators. Emphasizing functional capacity offers a more accurate measure of impact, suggesting necessary reforms in policy and systems to accommodate fluctuating patient needs and improve support for those affected.
Long COVID Tests: Why “Normal” Results May Not Tell the Whole Story
The article discusses the limitations of binary thinking in clinical practice, particularly regarding Long Covid. It highlights how standardized tests often fail to capture individual patient experiences and recovery patterns, leading to misinterpretation and potentially harm. Emphasizing the importance of functional assessments and trajectory-based reasoning, it calls for a more nuanced approach to patient care.
Dry Mouth, Burning Mouth, Mouth Ulcers, Taste Changes and More
The article discusses unexpected post-COVID symptoms affecting the mouth and eyes, including dry mouth, mouth ulcers, taste changes, and various eye irritations like conjunctivitis. It highlights the role of the immune system and suggests management options such as antivirals and eye drops. Understanding these symptoms can alleviate concerns for affected individuals.
Can COVID Trigger Sjögren’s Syndrome? Symptoms, Causes and What We Know
Can COVID-19 trigger Sjögren's syndrome? Learn how Long COVID and Sjögren's overlap, why dry eyes and dry mouth develop, and what current research says about COVID-induced autoimmunity.
How COVID-19 Spreads: Airborne Transmission Explained
COVID-19 primarily spreads through airborne aerosols, complicating public understanding due to initial mixed messaging emphasizing hand hygiene. Effective prevention requires focusing on proper ventilation, high-quality masks, and avoiding crowded spaces. Recognizing the airborne nature of the virus is crucial for reducing transmission and protecting vulnerable populations in the UK and Europe.
Can Healthy People Get Long COVID? Why Fitness Doesn’t Protect You
Can healthy people get Long COVID? Yes. Long COVID can affect anyone, including young, fit and otherwise healthy people. Learn what current research says, why fitness is not a guarantee of protection, and what we know about the risk of persistent symptoms after COVID-19.
Long Covid Myths Busted: What It Is Not (With a Side of Humour)
Long COVID is a serious and misunderstood condition characterized by lasting symptoms like chronic fatigue, brain fog, and muscle pain. It is not imaginary or caused solely by stress, laziness, or a positive attitude. Awareness and understanding are vital for providing support to those affected and dispelling myths surrounding this complex illness.
Long COVID The Real Invisible Challenge
Long COVID is a complex condition distinct from simple deconditioning. It presents unique symptoms like brain fog, nerve pain, and post-exertional malaise (PEM), where exertion causes severe fatigue. Autonomic dysfunction further complicates recovery, making exercise challenging. Research indicates it’s not linked to laziness or lack of fitness but involves systemic issues needing careful management.