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Symptom Management

As a general rule of thumb, try to incorporate the following things into your daily life

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  • Pacing and resting

  • Break tasks into bite size, more manageable chunks

  • Be aware of your energy levels and rest as required

  • Be aware of your mental health – stay in touch with friends and family, keep active

  • Have a healthy diet – lots of vegetables, nuts, fruit

  • Take gentle exercise if you feel able to

  • Aim to get a good sleep

  • Contact your GP if symptoms continue or get worse

Ideas to help with some of the more common symptoms of Long Covid
Respiratory symptoms

  • Breathlessness

    • Think about what brings on the breathlessness

    • If it’s brought on by exertion, slow down or stop

    • If it’s brought on by anxiety or panic, stop what you’re doing

    • No matter what causes it, sit down in a comfy chair, relax your shoulders and breathe gently, in through your nose and out through your mouth until your breathing normalises  

    • Keep your hand on your tummy as you do this – you should feel your tummy rising and falling

    • You can learn more about breathing if you watch Wendy's Respiratory Physio videos

    • If breathlessness is a regular feature of your Long Covid, watch the videos on Relaxation and Singing

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  • Cough

    • If you have a cough and your doctor has ruled out any cause other than Long Covid try some of the following –

    • Stay well hydrated

    • Sip water regularly

    • Suck on a fruity sweet.  Avoid medicated lozenges

    • Blow your nose if your throat is tickly – try not to sniff as this propels the mucous to your throat and causes irritation

    • If the above symptoms are familiar then you may find Annabelle's video on voice problems helpful

Heart and circulation symptoms

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  • Chest pain or tightness

    • If there is accompanying breathlessness or breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, pain radiating to the left arm and/or the jaw or any other part of the torso, you should dial 999

    • Otherwise, you should have any chest pains or tightness assessed by a doctor

    • If there is no obvious cause for these symptoms, try taking part in the Seated Relaxation Routine video

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  • Palpitations

    • Palpitations are usually harmless and cause you to feel your heart beating in your chest

    • They can cause light headedness 

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If your doctor is satisfied that there is no underlying cause for the palpitations, try Fiona's video on relaxation

An excellent resource relating to symptom management and tips for recovery provided by the British Heart Foundation can be found > here

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