I am a Virus Expert and Here's a Sure Sign You Already Had COVID
If you've experienced a period of fatigue or other unexplained symptoms, you may have had COVID-19 at some point and didn't know it. According to a recent study in the JAMA Network Open, "56% reported being unaware of any recent Omicron variant infection." While there's no positive way to tell if you've had the virus other than a test, there are signs that indicate you could have had COVID. Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with Thomas Gut, D.O. Associate Chair of Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital who tells us, "There are a handful of symptoms that we commonly see associated with people that have survived COVID. Many of these symptoms have now been grouped together under the syndrome of Long-COVID." Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.
What to Know About COVID Right Now
Dr. Gut explains, "COVID is still an important virus to look out for. Although numbers are low and recent strains of Omicron are far less deadly than previous COVID variants, it's still a frequent cause of symptoms that may require hospitalization. Luckily, there are treatment options to target newest variants and we even have a new vaccine that, unlike previous vaccines, specifically targets the current most common strains of COVID in the community."
We're Still in a Pandemic, but Maybe Not for Long
According to Dr. Gut, "The pandemic is slowly beginning to transition into an endemic phase. I would be hesitant to say the pandemic has ended since COVID is still a very serious and deadly virus and many issues that the pandemic state has created are yet to be fully resolved."
Brain Fog
Dr. Gut says, "Brain fog frequently starts after the infection has resolved yet can last for several months. Oftentimes it makes it difficult to process thoughts quickly or recall memories as well as previously."
Extreme Exhaustion
"Fatigue often begins during or shortly after the COVID virus has been cleared by the immune system, but can also last for several months," Dr. Gut states. "Very frequently, patients will see multiple doctors including cardiologists and pulmonologists without finding a cause."
Insomnia
Dr. Gut shares, "Insomnia or difficulty falling asleep often occurs after the COVID infection has passed and usually self resolves within a few months. There are ways to help some of these symptoms until the body has recovered, so talk with your physician." And to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
