Covid left me dizzy all the time - how do I end this nightmare?

After getting Covid a few years ago I now have terrible dizzy spells. It’s so bad that sometimes my legs give way. Do you have any advice?

Dr Ellie replies: Covid can, just like many other viruses, lead to a number of long-term health problems.

This is often called post-Covid syndrome, or long Covid. It’s very similar to post-viral fatigue, a collection of chronic symptoms, including fatigue, triggered by a viral infection such as a cold or flu.

Dizziness is a symptom of long Covid. One theory is that this occurs because the virus affects the inner ear, which plays a pivotal role in our sense of balance.

Unfortunately, for some, these symptoms can continue even after the virus has long gone.

Dizziness can also be a symptom of a cardiovascular problem caused by Covid called postural tachycardia syndrome, or PoTS, where the heart rate increases very quickly after getting up from sitting or lying down.

Some patients benefit from visiting specialist long Covid clinics, where tests can work out whether long Covid is the trigger.

They can also offer a range of treatments, including compression socks which can improv...
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