Where to get help

Where to get help for physical concerns

This section gives advice on where to get help for any physical concerns you may have while living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19.

Here are the physical symptoms we cover in this section:

Breathlessness

for example, if you often feel short of breath, or like you can’t breathe properly

You may need to book an urgent appointment with your GP. If you are living with breathlessness, it’s important to get medical help. Although it can be due to the effects of COVID-19, there are many possible causes of breathlessness. You may need urgent treatment. Lots of other conditions can also cause breathlessness, so it’s important that your symptoms are investigated quickly.

You may need to book an urgent appointment with your GP if your breathlessness is new or is getting worse.

For advice on what to ask your doctor, take a look at the NHS website. If you can’t see your GP, you might want to call 111 – they can tell you where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do.

And for more information on breathlessness, visit the BLF website.

It’s also a good idea to book a non-urgent appointment with your doctor if you’ve been getting breathless for a long time, but haven’t seen them.

These results aren’t medical advice. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you’re worried about getting out of breath, especially if your breathlessness has just started or got worse recently.

Cough

for example, a cough that won’t go away

You may need to book an urgent appointment with your GP. If you are living with a lasting cough, it’s important to get medical help. Although it can be due to the effects of COVID-19, there are many possible causes of a cough. You may need urgent treatment. Lots of other conditions can also cause a lasting cough, so it’s important that your symptoms are investigated quickly.

You may need to book an urgent appointment with your GP.

For advice on what to ask your doctor, take a look at the NHS website. If you can’t see your GP, you might want to call 111 – they can tell you where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do.

And for more information on managing a lasting cough, visit the BLF website.

Heart problems

This might be pain or tightness that appears suddenly or comes and goes. It might also be heart palpitations, which are heartbeats that are more noticeable than usual.

Chest pain or tightness

this might be pain or tightness that appears suddenly, or comes and goes

You may need to book an urgent appointment with your GP. If you are experiencing chest pain or tightness, it’s important to get medical help. Although it can be due to the effects of COVID-19, there are many possible causes of chest pain or tightness. You may need urgent treatment. Lots of other conditions can also cause chest pain or tightness, so it’s important that your symptoms are investigated quickly.

You may need to book an urgent appointment with your GP.

For advice on what to ask your doctor, take a look at the NHS website. If you can’t see your GP, you might want to call 111 – they can tell you where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do.

And for more information on chest pain or tightness, visit the British Heart Foundation website.

Heart palpitations

these are heartbeats that are more noticeable. Your heart may feel like it’s fluttering, pounding, or beating irregularly.

You may need to book an urgent appointment with your GP. If you are experiencing heart palpitations, it’s important to get medical help. Although it can be due to the effects of COVID-19, there are many possible causes of heart palpitations. You may need urgent treatment. Lots of other conditions can also cause heart palpitations, so it’s important that your symptoms are investigated quickly.

You may need to book an urgent appointment with your GP.

For advice on what to ask your doctor, take a look at the NHS website. If you can’t see your GP, you might want to call 111 – they can tell you where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do.

And for more information on heart palpitations, visit the British Heart Foundation website.

Problems with memory and concentration

you might forget things easily or find it difficult to concentrate or multi-task.

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you’re having trouble with your memory and concentration. This might just be an occasional problem, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor. For some useful advice on how to manage problems with memory and concentration, visit the MS Society website.

Headache

perhaps you have a headache that keeps coming back or is very bad

You may need to book an urgent appointment with your GP. Although it can be due to the effects of COVID-19, there are many possible causes of headaches. You may need urgent treatment. Lots of other conditions can also cause headaches, so it’s important that your symptoms are investigated quickly.

You may need to book an urgent appointment with your GP.

For advice on what to ask your doctor, take a look at the NHS website. If you can’t see your GP, you might want to call 111 – they can tell you where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do.

And for more information on managing headaches caused by COVID-19, visit the Your COVID Recovery website.

Sleeping problems

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you’re having trouble sleeping. You might be able to manage this yourself by changing your sleeping habits, but if you feel like your sleeping problems are taking over your life, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. For some useful advice on how to manage sleeping problems, visit Rethink’s ‘How can I improve my sleep?’ page.

Pins and needles

this feels like pricking, tingling or numbness on your skin

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you regularly have pins and needles. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes of pins and needles. Some of these may need treating urgently For some useful advice on how to manage pins and needles, visit the Your COVID Recovery website.

Stomach problems

For example, feeling sick, losing your appetite, having stomach aches or diarrhoea.

Feeling sick

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you feel sick regularly. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes for you to be feeling sick. Some of these may need treating urgently. For some useful advice on things you can do to stop yourself feeling sick, visit the NHS website.

Diarrhoea

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that your bowel movements have changed and have become looser or more frequent. . Anyone with a change in their bowel habit for 3 or more weeks should seek medical advice. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes for a change in bowel movements. Some of these may need treating urgently, especially if you have a fever, weight loss or are passing blood in your poo. For some useful advice on how to manage diarrhoea, visit the NHS website.

Loss of appetite

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you don’t eat as much as you used to. You might be able to get your appetite back yourself, but if not, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes for a loss of appetite. Some of these may need treating urgently. For some useful advice on eating well, visit the Your COVID Recovery website.

Stomach aches

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you regularly have stomach aches. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes for abdominal pain. Some of these may need treating urgently, especially if you have a fever, weight loss or are going to the toilet more or less than usual. For some useful advice on how to manage stomach aches, visit the NHS website.

Joint or muscle pain

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you regularly have joint and muscle pain. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. For some useful advice on how to manage joint and muscle pain, visit the Your COVID Recovery website.

Changes to taste or smell

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that your sense of smell or taste has changed. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor. For some useful advice on how to manage changes in smell or taste, visit the Fifth Sense website.

Ear, nose and throat problems

For example, a sore throat, earaches or tinnitus.

Sore throat

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you regularly have a sore throat. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes for sore throat. Some of these may need treating urgently, especially if you have a fever. For some useful advice on how to manage a sore throat, as well as other voice and swallowing problems, visit the Your COVID Recovery website.

Earaches

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you regularly have earaches. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes of earache. Some of these may need treating urgently. For some useful advice on how to manage earaches, visit the NHS website.

Tinnitus

you might hear sounds in your head that aren’t from the outside world. This could be a ringing, buzzing, whooshing, hissing, humming or throbbing sound.

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you have tinnitus. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes for tinnitus. Some of these may need treating urgently, especially if just affects one side, or if you also have hearing loss or dizziness/vertigo. For some useful advice on how to manage tinnitus, visit the British Tinnitus Association website.

Rashes, or dry, itchy or sore skin

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you regularly have rashes, or dry, itchy or sore skin. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes of rashes. For some useful advice on how to manage rashes, or dry, itchy or sore skin, visit the Your COVID Recovery website.

Fatigue

this is when you feel tired a lot or all of the time

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that you feel tired a lot or all of the time. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if you feel like it’s taking over your life, speak to your doctor. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes of tiredness. Some of these may need treating urgently. For some useful advice on how to manage fatigue, visit the ME Association website.

High temperature

this is when you feel very hot, perhaps with shivering (chills), sweating or warm, red skin

If you get this symptom regularly, it’s important to get medical help, as it could be a sign of something else that needs treating.

It’s a good idea to book an urgent appointment with your GP.

For advice on what to ask your doctor, take a look at the NHS website. If you can’t see your GP, you might want to call 111 – they can tell you where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do.

And for more information on managing a high temperature, visit the NHS website.

Changes in your weight

you might have gained or lost a lot of weight since having symptoms

If you’re living with longer-term symptoms of COVID-19, you might find that your weight goes up and down. You might be able to manage this yourself, but if not, speak to your doctor. Although it can be due to COVID-19, there are many possible causes of weight changes. Some of these may need treating urgently. For some useful advice on eating well and managing your weight, visit the Your COVID recovery website.