Nearly 100,000 Scots living with Long Covid
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THOUSANDS of people in Scotland are still being devastated by the long-term effects of Covid-19.
That's according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The overall number of Scots living with Long Covid is up to 99,000, an increase of 7,000 from last month. People living with the condition for more than 12-months has gone up as well with the latest total sitting at 31,000, an increase of 2,000 from last month.
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, the charity supporting those living with Long Covid, is appealing to people to remain vigilant and stay safe this winter as numbers continue to rise.
Long Covid sufferers experience a variety of symptoms ranging from breathlessness, chronic fatigue, chest pain, digestive issues, brain fog and anxiety.
Dr Amy Small, a sufferer of Long Covid and Clinical Advisor at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, has urged people to stay vigilant.
Dr Small said: "As someone living with the condition and supporting people who are, it is so important to remind people to not be complacent and to take simple steps to keep yourself and others as safe as possible this winter. We're appealing to the public to keep yourselves safe by wearing your face masks, getting your Covid-19 booster vaccine, and taking regular lateral flow tests."
Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, added: "As the number of people living with Long Covid continues to rise in Scotland, we want to make sure people don't suffer in silence and are urging people to please contact our Long Covid Advice Line on 0808 801 0899.
"We have health professionals on the end of the phone who can give you advice on managing symptoms like breathlessness, pacing and fatigue management. We can also help people to prepare for consultations with their GPs so that they can get the most out of their appointments.
"We want to make sure that people living with Long Covid get the support they need to live well."
Long Covid sufferers are encouraged to contact 0808 801 0899 for advice and information. Texts can also be sent to NURSE on 66777 and emails can be sent to adviceline@chss.org.uk.
