LONG Covid affects tens of thousands Brits but remains a largely misunderstood condition.
The mysterious illness occurs months and sometimes years after an infection and can cause deadly complications — as was tragically the case for Derek Draper.
The former political advisor and lobbyist’s death at the age of 56 was announced by his wife Kate Garroway today, after a gruelling four-year battle with the disease.
In a moving Instagram post, she wrote: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.
“As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.
“Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.”
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The NHS defines long Covid as having symptoms lasting longer than 12 weeks after an infection, after which point most people have normally recovered.
The disease — also known as post-Covid-19 syndrome — can cause symptoms to fluctuate or relapse over time.
Researchers are currently working on improving our understanding of the condition so medics are better able to treat it.
The most common symptoms include extreme tiredness, feeling short of breath, loss of smell and muscle aches.
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Recent research has shown fatigue may have a physical cause — lower-energy mitochondria in patients’ muscle cells.
Other symptoms can vary but include problems with memory and concentration, known as brain fog, and difficulty sleeping.
Chest pain or rightness, heart palpitations, dizziness, pins and needles, joint pain, depression and anxiety and tinnitus are all potential signs of the condition as well.
Patients may also suffer a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste and rashes.
The health service recommends contacting your GP if you’ve had Covid symptoms for four weeks or more and are worried.
Doctors can perform blood tests and chest X-rays to determine what is causing your problems and will talk to you about care and support.
If symptoms are causing a big effect on your life, you may be referred on to the NHS’s specialist long Covid service which can offer care and rehabilitation.
What are the symptoms of long Covid?
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- feeling short of breath
- loss of smell
- muscle aches
- problems with your memory and concentration ("brain fog")
- chest pain or tightness
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- pins and needles
- joint pain
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus, earaches
- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
- rashes
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