Fatigue After COVID Is a Real Issue. Here Are 5 Things You Can Do About It

People are surprised by how tired they are.

Being tired is more than sleepy. It is an excessive tiredness that persists despite resting or good sleep. Our body has a strong immune response to the virus.

The fatigue drags on even after the infection is gone. This can be hard to deal with. Simply resting more doesn't make a difference.

What we know about post-COVID fatigue and what can help.

Fatigue or tiredness? What's the difference?

Different people have different meanings to the term fatigue. Some people think their muscles are weak. They feel like they have run a marathon as they walk to the mailbox.

They describe a generalized exhaustion, whether they are moving or not. People can experience physical, mental, or emotional fatigue.

Tiredness can get better with more rest, but fatigue persists even if someone is sleeping and resting more than ever.

How big a problem is this?

It is not possible to give an exact number of how many people experience post-COVID fatigue.

Estimates vary around the world. 13-33 percent of people were fatigued 16-20 weeks after their symptoms started, according to a review of 21 studies. This is a big problem.

There are many possible causes of fatigue. One of the most common reasons to see a GP was fatigue.

When your GP asks about your symptoms, most serious causes can be ruled out. Your GP may order blood tests to investigate further.

Unusual bleeding, unexplained weight loss, and pain that wakes you from sleep are some of the symptoms that should raise particular concern.

If you can't care for yourself or your fatigue is getting worse, you should seek medical care.

Is it like long COVID?

We call it long COVID because we realized some patients had a cluster of symptoms that dragged on for months.

One of the most common long COVID symptoms is fatigue.

People with long COVID have a range of other symptoms, such as brain fog, headaches, and muscle aches. Patients with long COVID experience more fatigue and sometimes do not have fatigue at all.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, was something we knew about.

This develops after a viral infection. There is concern that the coronaviruses could cause chronic fatigue syndrome.

There are similarities between chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID. Both involve fatigue and brain fog.

Researchers are still trying to figure out a link between post-COVID fatigue, long COVID, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Many people will have post-COVID fatigue but do not develop long COVID or chronic fatigue syndrome.

What helps me manage my fatigue?

You or a loved one may develop post-COVID fatigue, regardless of how unwell you or they were during the actual infection.

Vaccines help reduce the risk of fatigue by decreasing the chance of catching COVID in the first place. People who catch COVID are less likely to report fatigue and are less likely to develop long COVID.

There are many people who go on to develop long term fatigue if they are fully vaccined.

The evidence on what helps you recover from post-COVID fatigue is still in its infancy. A few things can help.

1. You should adjust the return to normal activities to your energy levels. If you want to do what you can, choose your priorities and focus on what you can do.

2. You may need some support about how to manage or avoid fatigue after a gradual return to exercise. Some therapists specialize in this. Ask your doctor for a recommendation.

3. Don't feel guilty about sleeping so much, remember that your body heals and conserves energy when you sleep. It is an unfortunate symptom of disrupted sleep patterns. It's important to have a strict bed time and also rest when you feel tired.

4. Losing smell, taste, and appetite from COVID can make it difficult to eat a range of healthy foods. Try to see food as a way to replenish your body with both energy and vitamins. It is important to not spend a lot of money on medicines that look good in small studies, but more robust research finds make little difference.

5. Look for a gradual improvement in your fatigue by keeping a diary. There will be good and bad days, but there should be a slow trajectory towards recovery. If you are going in a different direction, you should get advice from your doctor.

The assistant professor is from Bond University.

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