Managing long COVID symptoms

Find out how to manage fatigue, breathlessness, chest pains and other long COVID symptoms. 

Help from a GP

There is no specific treatment for long COVID, but there are ways to manage and relieve some long COVID symptoms. For example, you could treat a skin rash with cream.  

Your GP might also give you advice about managing long COVID symptoms at home.  

If your symptoms are affecting your everyday life, your GP may refer you to a specialist service to treat long COVID. Find out what help is available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Social prescribing

Social prescribing is non-medical support in your local area. This is sometimes called community referral.

Living with long COVID can affect every part of your life. To help you manage the impact of long COVID on your life, your GP might also refer you to social prescribing.

If you use social prescribing, you will get a link worker. Your link worker can give you emotional, social and practical support. This support is based on what specific help you need, but it could include things like financial advice or help finding local community groups to join.

Living with long COVID

Here are some ways you can live well with long COVID.

Self-management for long COVID

Long COVID recovery is different for everybody. It’s a good idea to keep a record of your long COVID symptoms, so you can see how your condition changes over time.

Note any changes in your symptoms when you try different activities. You can also track how your symptoms respond to things like activity, different foods, your period, or any treatments and medicines that you’re using.  

Think about what is important to you as this can help you set more achievable goals for your recovery. For example, if you would like to move more, you could start with small movements like standing up once an hour. You can set your activity goals and track your progress in our Keep Active handbook.

While you try different self-management techniques, record the progress you’re making and how you think your recovery is going.  

Here we go over how to manage some of the most common symptoms of long COVID. 

Support groups

You might find it helpful to share your experiences with other people that are living with long COVID. You could join one of our support groups or our HealthUnlocked forum for people with lung conditions.

Get support

Call our helpline for support with your condition. Get advice on your medicines, symptoms or travelling with a lung condition, or just call us to say hello.

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