While thankfully, most people who contract the Covid-19 virus do recover from the illness, there are currently almost 1 million people in the UK experiencing ‘long Covid’ – symptoms that persist for more than four weeks after their first infection. 88% of these people report having experienced symptoms for over twelve weeks, while 40% report experiencing symptoms for over a year.
Long Covid also seems to impact people between 35 and 69 years of age at the highest rates, and therefore can have a huge impact on the health of a large portion of the UK workforce. In fact, 64% of people currently suffering with long Covid have reported that their day-to-day activities, including their work lives, have been adversely affected by their symptoms.
Thankfully, our Medicash employer health plans can cover a variety of treatments to ease the symptoms of long Covid, helping your workforce get back on their feet.
Long Covid is has a number of symptoms, including symptoms common to the initial Covid-19 infection. According to the NHS, the most common long COVID symptoms include:
- extreme fatigue
- shortness of breath
- chest pain or tightness
- problems with memory and concentration
- difficulty sleeping
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- pins and needles
- joint pain
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus, earaches
- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
- rashes
Virtual GP & Best Doctors
With a Medicash health plan, you can gain access to our on-demand healthcare services. With Best Doctors, you can access the knowledge and experience of over 50,000 world-leading experts and consultants to provide you with their expert second opinion on a recent diagnosis or medical condition.
Alternatively, you can download the Virtual GP app to your phone from the app store or Google Play. Providing you with round the clock access to video consultations with a private NHS-registered GP, open referrals and fit notes, and more. If you or your employees are struggling with the physical symptoms of long Covid like nausea, diarrhoea, headaches, or rashes, you can use these great services to see what a healthcare professional can do for you.
Physiotherapy and Complementary Therapies
Struggling with joint pain or muscle aches as a result of long Covid? You’re not alone – this is considered a very common symptom of Post Covid-19 Syndrome, particularly for anyone already suffering with arthritis or other musculoskeletal disorders.
With a Medicash health plan, however, you can receive cover for a variety of physical and complementary therapies to support you or your employees with these symptoms. Private physiotherapy is covered by most plans, as is access to the amazing digital service Phio, a clinically-led, 24/7 digital physiotherapy assessment app that provides fast, remote access to the right care for the user. Phio can also adapt to over 3,000 different scenarios and is able to support users throughout their recovery with a range of exercises and trackers to help users stay engaged.
You can also get cover for a range of other complementary therapies, including osteopathy, acupuncture, and chiropractic treatments that may help you through the symptoms of long Covid.
Advice Line
Surveys have also shown a connection between long Covid and poor mental health. The Office for National Statistics has discovered that those living with long Covid are almost twice as likely to report suffering depressive symptoms than those who have not had Covid-19, and around 10% more likely to struggle with anxiety.
With a Medicash health plan, you can access a range of options to help with these mental health difficulties associated with long Covid, including access to our 24/7 advice line and counselling service. This free, confidential telephone helpline service provided by Care first allows users to talk instantly to a qualified counsellor whenever and wherever they need it. Plus, where it is clinically appropriate and included in their plan, users can access up to eight quick and confidential face to face counselling sessions – ensuring that they are supported when a more long-term strategy is required.
mProve YOURSELF
Our mProve YOURSELF app isn’t just for everyday wellbeing! With over 70 guided fitness videos and 50+ hours of mental wellbeing and mindfulness content, our app can be a great tool for overcoming both the physical and mental side effects of long Covid. With sleep guides to help beat insomnia, a variety of brain-building exercises to fight brain fog, and a range of fitness guides from beginner to expert to help you recover your strength at a pace that suits you, mProve YOURSELF can be a fantastic – and free! – tool in long Covid recovery.
You can download a pdf copy of the infographic here.
Useful Links:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-long-covid/