The Office for National Statistics reported that approximately 1.3 million people in the United Kingdom were suffering from long COVID symptoms as of December 6, 2021.

A Daily Express report specified that there are several possible signs of long COVID, and some complications can be considered severe.

 

The ONS report stated that whereas large clots can lead to heart attacks and strokes, much of the heart impairment resulting from COVID-19 is believed to have stemmed from very tiny clots that block small blood vessels or capillaries in the heart muscle.

The agency also said that other parts of the body affected by blood clots include the liver, kidneys, legs, and lungs.

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Long COVID Symptom - Smell Loss
(Photo : PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
47-year-old Cristina Valdivia, affected by smell loss due to COVID-19, uses her smell training test kit in Barcelona.


Long-Term Issues with Kidneys and Liver

According to Mayo Clinic, COVID-19 symptoms can sometimes persist for months. It explains the virus can impair the lungs, brain, and heart, which increases the risk of long-term health issues. The organization also said that coronavirus can make blood cells more possible to clump up as well, and form clots.

Essentially, COVID-19 can weaken blood vessels as well, and cause them to leak, contributing to possible long-term issues with the kidneys and liver.

John Hopkins Medicine explained that blood clots could lead to problems that range from mild to life-threatening. It elaborated, "if a clot blot blocks blood flow" in an artery or vein, the tissue typically nourished by that blood vessel can be deprived of oxygen, then, cells in that site can die.

The National Health Service said patients infected with COVID-19 may be at a higher risk of a blood clot. It added, that one may be prescribed drugs against coagulation to lessen the risk of developing a blood clot.

Blood Clots

An anticoagulant, in particular, also known as "blood thinners," increases the time it takes the blood to clot.

The NHS explained, that blood clots can be very severe and need to be treated fast. Keeping a healthy condition and staying active can help prevent such occurrences, a similar Worlds Family Report said.

Stop the Clot said that there are many important indications and symptoms of blood clots, It added, that if an individual can recognize these signs and symptoms, he can save his life or the lives of others, or their loved ones and families.

Other than blood clots, there are other signs of Long COVID. These include fatigue, cough, chest, and joint pains, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, depression or anxiety, and taste or smell loss, among others.

Vaccine May Help Lessen Long COVID Symptoms

Some health experts have suggested that a vaccine can help reduce the symptoms of long COVID. According to the British Heart Foundation BHF, in a 2021 study, the ONS used data from the United Kingdom Coronavirus Infection Survey to investigate the link between COVID-19 vaccination and long COVID in those who already had it prior to the vaccine.

The NHS noted that how long it takes for one to recover from COVID-19 is different for others, although many people are feeling better in just a few days or weeks.

The health agency also explained that the chances of experiencing long-term symptoms do not appear to be associated with how ill a person is when he first got infected by the virus, as those who had mild symptoms at first can still experience long-term problems.

Related information about the said long COVID symptoms is shown on DW News's YouTube video below:

 

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