Many of the 200 plus symptoms may also be the result of the virus itself directly damaging the organs and tissues of the body.
Covid is known to cause excessive inflammation, including of the heart muscle. Researchers explain that this could be what leads to reported heart palpitations and shortness of breath in long Covid.
The symptoms could also be explained because the body simply hasn’t repaired damaged organs, such as the lungs. Severe Covid is known to cause permanent problems in the lungs.
Most recently, a study published in MedrXiv found three types of long Covid, which consist of different symptoms.