New Delhi: Even as the COVID-19 pandemic fades from daily headlines, its impact continues to echo in hospital wards, diagnostic labs, and—most worryingly—in the bodies of millions who believed they had recovered. For many Indians, the journey after a negative test result has proved longer and more uncertain than expected. Fatigue that lingers for weeks, a strange pressure in the chest, occasional memory lapses, or a recurring sense of breathlessness—these aren’t isolated complaints. Increasingly, they point to a phenomenon that healthcare workers across India now refer to with growing concern: post-COVID complications, or what is globally termed long COVID.
In an interaction with News9Live, Dr Rashmi Talwar, Deputy Laboratory Head- Gurugram, Agilus Diagnostics, spoke about the importance of detecting post-COVID complications timely.
A Recovery That Isn’t Always Complete
While many individuals bounce back to good health after a COVID infection, a significant number continue to experience symptoms weeks or even months later. These complications span across systems, including respiratory, cardiac, neurological, and psychological.
Commonly reported issues include:
- Breathing difficulties such as shortness of breath and reduced lung function
- Cardiac symptoms like irregular heartbeats or inflammation of the heart muscle
- Neurological complaints such as “brain fog,” disturbed sleep, and headaches
- Mental health conditions, ranging from anxiety to depression
- Severe fatigue that disrupts everyday tasks
What’s worrying is that these symptoms are not confined to those who had severe COVID-19. Even individuals with mild or asymptomatic infections have shown abnormal imaging results or blood markers weeks after recovery.
Why Do These Symptoms Linger?
The exact mechanisms are still being studied, but experts believe a prolonged inflammatory response in the body plays a central role. In some cases, the immune system—activated by the virus—continues to attack healthy tissues. Others may experience slow recovery due to silent organ damage that went undetected during the acute phase of illness.
Factors such as pre-existing health conditions, a high viral load during infection, and insufficient rest post-recovery appear to increase susceptibility. But there’s no single rule. What’s clear is that long Covid doesn’t always follow the typical trajectory of a post-viral syndrome.
Diagnosing What Can’t Be Seen at First Glance
The real challenge lies in detecting complications before they evolve into serious health issues. In many cases, the signs are subtle or completely silent. A person may feel well but have evidence of cardiac stress, pulmonary fibrosis, or clotting abnormalities on further investigation. This is where timely diagnostics become essential. Early testing not only confirms what’s going wrong but also helps doctors determine the best course of action. It can mean the difference between a short-term discomfort and a long-term condition. Among the most useful diagnostic tools in post-COVID care are:
- Lung function tests to assess reduced respiratory capacity
- Cardiac screenings, including ECGs and echocardiograms
- Inflammatory and clotting blood markers to detect silent risks
- Neurocognitive assessments to monitor brain function and memory
- Imaging studies, such as chest CTs, to track lingering lung damage
In several hospitals in Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, physicians have begun proactively recommending these tests for patients reporting unresolved symptoms. In Bengaluru, a few cardiology centres are closely monitoring recovered patients for heart rhythm abnormalities.
The Role of Proactive Monitoring
Post-COVID complications don’t always show up in the early weeks. Some develop slowly, making regular follow-ups with healthcare providers even more important. Unfortunately, in rural and semi-urban regions, follow-up care is often neglected once the immediate infection subsides. Experts argue for the need to build awareness around long COVID as part of primary care. A simple checklist of symptoms at outpatient clinics could prompt early referrals and prevent complications like stroke, heart failure, or long-term respiratory distress.
What the Evidence is Beginning to Show
Emerging Indian research—including work from institutes like IIT-Indore—has started identifying biomarkers that may help predict post-COVID complications. Meanwhile, anecdotal evidence and small-scale studies across states show consistent trends: the sooner post-COVID complications are diagnosed, the better the outcomes. One under-reported concern is the potential link between COVID-19 and new-onset diabetes, possibly due to the virus affecting the pancreas. Similarly, some patients who never needed hospitalisation have shown lung scarring on CT scans weeks after recovery.
Conclusion
Recovering from COVID-19 doesn’t always mean being fully recovered. For thousands across India, the virus has left a slower, more complicated legacy. Recognising this is the first step. Acting on it—through timely diagnosis and informed medical care—is the next. If you or someone you know continues to feel “off” weeks after COVID recovery, don’t brush it aside. The signs might be invisible, but the tools to detect them early are within reach. The earlier we look, the better we can heal.