What is Post-Covid Fatigue? Things you should know

If you have ever tested positive for Covid-19 and you have found yourself feeling a lot more tired than normal afterwards, you are not alone.

One of the many side effects of a Covid-19 infection, that has been known to affect many people is extreme fatigue. And unlike normal fatigue or daytime tiredness, this does not necessarily get better with lots of rest and can inhibit your day-to-day activities. As frustrating as this may seem, this is part of the body’s immune response to the virus for many people. Rest assured, it will get better, but it will take some time and it won’t happen overnight.

Here are a few tips to help you deal with the effects of post-Covid fatigue:

Pace yourself: It will take some time for your energy levels to return to what they were before you were sick. Listen to your body and adjust your return to normal activities based on your energy level and take a break if you need to. Try to prioritize things based on what you can and cannot do.

Gradually return to physical activity: You may not necessarily be able to run a marathon or participate in sports if you are dealing with Covid fatigue. If you live a physically active lifestyle, you will need to take your time to ease back into exercise, doing so too quickly could make it worse and prolong your recovery. Start with shorter walks and work up from there.

Get lots of sleep: Although you may already be sleeping more than you normally do, this will help your body to conserve energy and will enable you to take it slow with your recovery. Sticking to a solid and consistent bedtime routine will help with this.

Maintain a healthy diet: Although this may be difficult if you are dealing with a loss of taste and smell, nourishing your body with the proper vitamins and nutrients will be important in the healing process. Make sure you fuel your body with lots of healthy foods to aid with your recovery.