What care to be taken after Covid-19 recovery?

Most of the COVID patients have minimal symptoms and recover completely from the infection. Up to 50% of the recovered patients experience different post-Covid symptoms like minimal persistent breathing difficulty, fatigue, anxiety, and memory loss for the initial 2-3 months. Post-Covid symptoms may develop even in people who had a mild course of the disease. Few patients are at risk of developing cardiac complications during hospitalization or during the recovery period.

WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK OF DEVELOPING CARDIAC COMPLICATIONS?

Patients with the following risk factors have more chances of developing cardiac complications compared to healthy persons after recovery from Covid infection.

1. Diabetes
2. High BP
3. Overweight
4. Post stent or bypass surgery patients
5. Those with poor heart pumping

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR COMPLICATIONS?

Major Complications can develop during the recovery period, especially in the first 30-40 days. These issues happen due to increased clot forming tendency in the body following Covid 19 infection. They are:

1. Clot formation in the legs
2. Clots in the lungs
3. heart attack
4. Heart failure
5. Brain stroke

ARE THERE ANY SYMPTOMS FOR ME TO IDENTIFY THESE COMPLICATIONS?

Warning symptoms for the above complications that you need to observe during the recovery period are:

1. New onset of breathing difficulty or worsening of pre-existing breathing difficulty
2. Chest heaviness or discomfort or chest pain
3. Palpitations
4. Leg swelling
5. Difficulty in talking or weakness of hands or legs(Symptoms related to brain involvement)

WHAT TO DO IF I HAVE THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS?

If you have these symptoms then consult your doctor to rule out any heart-related issues. In most patients, only ECG and ECHO tests will be enough to know the heart involvement. Rarely CT scan of blood vessels of the lungs or 24 hours Holter monitor may be required after assessment by your doctor.

Timely identification of new symptoms and timely treatment can avoid most of the major complications related to heart. Most of the patient will recover completely following prompt diagnosis and treatment.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMPLICATIONS?

Some minor complications that are non-life-threatening can also during the recovery period. They are:

1. Anxiety
2. Myalgia
3. Sleep disturbances
4. Multiple joint pains
5. Short term memory loss
6. Difficulty in concentration

Most of the patients with minor complications need supportive care. Patients who were admitted in ICU tend to have these symptoms for a longer period of time. They need psychological support as well.