Long Covid: An ongoing cough since you’ve had COVID-19 could be a key sign – what to do

Indeed, Asthma and Lung UK explains that if you are recovering from coronavirus, you might find that you have a cough for some time. It notes: “You might have a dry cough, or you might have a productive cough, which produces sputum. If you have a cough with sputum, your breathing might be noisier than normal and you may feel like it’s more difficult to breathe.”

The organisation says breathing exercises can help to clear a cough with sputum.

It suggests trying the active cycle of breathing techniques, which includes:

• Breathing control – breathing gently, through your nose if possible. Keep your shoulders relaxed
• Deep breathing – taking a long, slow, deep breath in through your nose if possible, holding your breath for 2 to 3 seconds, and breathing out gently, like a sigh
• Duffing – breathing out through an open mouth instead of coughing. To huff, you squeeze air quickly from your lungs, out through your mouth and throat as if you are trying to mist a mirror.

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It says other signs can include feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite, a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste, or rashes.

The NHS says you should see a GP if you’re worried about symptoms four weeks or more after having COVID-19.

The British Heart Foundation says that there is no singular test for long Covid.

It suggests: “Make an appointment to see your doctor if you are experiencing lasting symptoms after Covid. They may refer you for tests such as blood tests and other tests, which could help to show how long Covid is affecting you and how it could be treated, or it may even be that there is another cause for your symptoms.”