Q I sometimes have chest pain and get very short of breath. Should I just chalk it up to after-effects, or are there warning signs?
A If you have chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or swelling and pain in one leg, don't dismiss it as an after-effect—seek emergency care immediately. These can signal dangerous complications such as myocarditis or blood clots that must be ruled out.
Detailed Answer
Most long COVID symptoms aren't dangerous, but a few must always be checked as emergencies. Chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, and swelling and pain in one leg can be signs of myocarditis or blood clots (such as pulmonary embolism), which can rarely occur after COVID infection. These are warning signs that should never be dismissed as mere after-effects—seek emergency care right away.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
At Dongjedang, we also screen for these warning signs at your first visit, and if chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or leg swelling are suspected, we recommend emergency and specialist evaluation first. Korean medicine treatment is appropriate only once these dangerous complications have been ruled out and the condition is judged to be functional after-effects—this order ensures treatment that is both safe and genuinely helpful.
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