Consulting your primary care physician after being diagnosed with COVID-19 is very important, as there are some long-term health effects related to coronavirus that require medical attention and treatment.
A patient with COVID-19 can recover within a few weeks. However, some patients report symptoms even after recovery. These symptoms are usually referred to as post-COVID symptoms, and they tend to last for more than a month after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Despite being more common in older age groups and patients with serious medical conditions, post-COVID symptoms can occur in younger patients, as well.
Post-COVID Symptoms
After a COVID-19 diagnosis, a set of health issues that require the consultation of your primary care physician may develop. These issues include:
Breathing Problems An infection of COVID-19 can leave the lungs damaged, which can cause breathing problems and easy exhaustion after minimal physical effort. Lung recovery is possible with time and proper medical care.
Heart Problems Research shows that COVID-19 can cause inflammation of the heart. In fact, it was found that even after recovery, the inflammation process persists in 60% of patients. An inflamed heart can lead to increased heart rate and shortness of breath.
Loss of Taste and Smell COVID-19 can affect smell and taste. Loss of smell and taste can be either complete or partial, and despite not being a dangerous symptom, it can cause discomfort, confusion, and anxiety.
Blood Clot Formation There’s an increased risk of blood cells clumping together and forming clots following COVID-19. Large clots can cause stroke and heart attack. Small clots can obstruct blood flow in the coronary arteries and affect blood vessels, causing them to leak, which can lead to long-term problems.
Neurological Problems Some patients may develop neurological symptoms, including dizziness, fatigue, and headaches. Stoke and Guillain-Barre syndrome have been associated with COVID-19, as well.
Mood Changes Some patients who had COVID-19 developed anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders. This can be attributed to long isolation periods or a challenging recovery.
When to Visit a Primary Care Physician
Symptoms that occur after a COVID-19 diagnosis can resemble other health conditions, so visiting a primary care physician can be crucial to helping exclude different possible diagnoses.
It’s recommended to visit your primary care physician if you are concerned or feel symptoms like:
- Chronic coughing
- Difficult breathing
- Chest pain
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Increased heart rate
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Mood changes
- Loss of taste and/or smell
- Fatigue
Primary Care After a COVID-19 Diagnosis
Neglecting medical care following a COVID-19 diagnosis can lead to prolonged discomfort and symptoms. A primary care physician’s job is to provide you with a thorough examination, handle arising symptoms, schedule the needed diagnostic tests and screenings, and set a treatment plan that suits your needs.
If you are looking for a reliable primary care physician to consult and express any arising concerns to, Starling Diagnostics is the place for you. Besides our screening and diagnostic services, our board-certified primary care physicians are able to provide you with all the primary care services you need.
If you want to know more about our primary care services, call us at (718) 319-1610, or you can fill out our secure form to request an appointment online.
