Over two years have passed since the novel coronavirus held a grip on our lives.
Now, while cases have dropped considerably, with infections becoming milder and more manageable, long-term effects of the SARs-CoV-2 virus continue to take a toll on our day-to-day activities.
Of the many implications of long Covid, neurological symptoms remain to be one of the most concerning long-haul complications.
Even though coronavirus is a respiratory illness, it is known to affect other vital organs of the body, including the brain.
Time and again, researchers have studied the impact of Covid-19 on the brain and some have even noted mild to severe inflammation in the brains of people with persisting symptoms weeks after initial infection.
According to an early study published in JAMA Neurology, one-third of 214 hospitalized Covid-19 patients in Wuhan were found to have had neurological symptoms, of which seizures and strokes were some of the most severe complications.
Brain autopsy results have also noted the prevalence of damaged blood vessels and inflammatory cells in patients who have had Covid-19 in the past.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said, “People with post-Covid conditions can have a wide range of symptoms that can last more than four weeks or even months after infection. Sometimes the symptoms can even go away or come back again.”
As per the health agency, some of the neurological symptoms of long Covid include:
- Brain fog, meaning difficulty in thinking or concentrating
- Headache
- Sleep problems
- Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
- Pins and needles
- Change in smell or taste
- Depression or anxiety
Apart from the neurological symptoms, there are other long-haul signs one should beware of. These include:
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Joint or muscle pain
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Impaired sense of smell and taste
