Is long COVID still a problem in Texas, U.S.? Here’s what to know about the symptoms

Tiffani Jackson
·2 min read
3
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

COVID-19 still poses a deadly threat to Americans in 2024. Symptoms have reactivated in nearly nine million people who are suffering from the virus in its long term form.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, long COVID presents symptoms that continue to develop four weeks after an initial COVID infection. Despite the rise of vaccines, the effects of long covid are as disabling as four years ago when the pandemic began.

Chronic pain, shortness of breath, headaches, and intense fatigue are common symptoms of long covid, but in some cases they could linger for months, or years. Studies show long COVID is more common in women, Hispanic or Latino patients, and adults ages 35-49.

⚡ More trending stories:

→ There’s no ‘better place’ to see April 8 total solar eclipse than in this tiny Texas town.

→ How a six-pack of beer, $100 got rescuers to pull pig out of thorns.

→When do tornadoes occur the most in Dallas-Fort Worth?

Experts say there are three main factors they see in people with long covid: An abnormal T- cell function, low cortisol level, and the reactivation of viruses like mono and chicken pox. People who‘ve had severe COVID and needed intensive care, have underlying health issues, or did not get a COVID vaccine are most at risk, according to the CDC.

Though the Trump Administration declared a national emergency back in 2020 due to the virus’s uncontrollable spread, many Americans continue to deal with what feels like its permanent impact on daily life today. Some report still working remotely, socializing less, home schooling kids, and fear of going to public spaces without a mask.

There is no specific treatment for long COVID yet but the CDC recommends people stay up to date on vaccines and boosters. It says people who are not vaccinated and become infected with COVID have a higher risk of developing long Covid than people who are.

Further research indicates that vaccination-related infections are associated with a lower risk of long-term COVID-19 symptoms. Scientists are studying current COVID-19 treatments to see whether they lower the risk of long term symptoms.