--- title: Domovská stránka date: 2025-12-26T13:22:00+01:00 canonical_url: "https://dlhycovid.sk/en/" section: Domovská stránka --- ![logo](/assets/images/appv.png) # From infection to long-term consequences. We uncover the mechanisms. COVID ![virus](/assets/images/bacteria.png) ![Bf6f864fca5fe28260233ae441698eaa3424246c](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/_transforms/2026/05/domovska-stranka/_homepageHero/bf6f864fca5fe28260233ae441698eaa3424246c_2025-12-26-125833_yebq.jpg) ![gradient](/assets/images/homepage-hero-gradient-2.png) ![gradient](/assets/images/homepage-hero-gradient-2.png) [ ![Family](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/images/2026/02/pre-pribuznych/family_2025-12-26-130004_wtmp.png)Information For caregivers and relatives ](https://dlhycovid.sk/pre-opatrovatelov-a-pribuznych) [ ![User tie hair 1](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/images/2026/02/pre-pacientov/user-tie-hair-1_2025-12-26-125947_vevj.png)Information For patients ](https://dlhycovid.sk/dalsi-clanok-4) [ ![User md](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/images/2026/02/pre-lekarov/user-md.png)Information For physicians ](https://dlhycovid.sk/diagnoza-dlhy-covid) [ ![Man scientist 1](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/images/2026/02/pre-vyskum/man-scientist-1.png)Information For researchers ](https://dlhycovid.sk/spolupraca) ## Life after the **COVID-19** ![viruses](/assets/images/viruses.png) Many patients experience long-term health problems after recovering from COVID-19 – ranging from extreme fatigue to difficulties with sleep, circulation, or breathing. Long COVID is not a simple condition. It appears to be driven by different underlying biological mechanisms in different individuals. Therefore, there is no single standardized treatment, and many patients remain in uncertainty for years – without answers and without a clear explanation of why their condition is not improving. This research aims to uncover what is actually happening in the body in long COVID. The content of this website is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace individual medical examination or professional medical advice. ## We research primarily 01 ![Vascular](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/images/2026/02/stav-cievneho-endotelu-ktory-riadi-zdravie-krvnych-ciev-a-je-zasadne-naruseny-pri-dlhom-covid-e/vascular.png) The vascular endothelium, which regulates the function of blood vessels, because it is damaged in long COVID. ![bg](/assets/images/homepage/reserach-tile-gradient.png) 02 ![Red blood cells](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/images/2026/02/spravanie-a-vlastnosti-erytrocytov-cervenych-krviniek-ktore-mozu-menit-transport-kyslika-a-zhorsovat-unavu/red-blood-cells.png) Properties of erythrocytes (red blood cells) that affect oxygen transport and whose damage may contribute to increased fatigue. ![bg](/assets/images/homepage/reserach-tile-gradient.png) 03 ![Brain](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/images/2026/02/zapal-zrazanlivost-krvi-a-oxidacny-stres-ktore-mozu-udrziavat-chorobne-procesy-mesiace-po-infekcii/brain.png) Inflammation, blood coagulation, and oxidative stress, which can sustain pathological processes for months after infection. ![bg](/assets/images/homepage/reserach-tile-gradient.png) ## Help us! Help us better understand long COVID. Join our research. The results could contribute to developing better ways to recognize and treat it more effectively. [Chcem sa zúčastniť výskumu ![arrow](/assets/images/arrow-narrow-right.svg) ](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/images/Informacny-letak.jpg) ![bg](/assets/images/homepage-hero-gradient.png) ![bg](/assets/images/homepage-hero-gradient.png) ## News ![arrow](/assets/images/arrow-narrow-right.svg) ![arrow](/assets/images/arrow-narrow-right.svg) ### [New publication in Cardiology Letters](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/nova-publikacia-v-cardiology-letters) Our review article on long COVID was published in the Slovak scientific journal Cardiology Letters. An image from the article was also featured on the cover of the journal. You can read the article here: Cardiol_2026_1_23.pdf, or download it from the Outputs section. [Read more ](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/nova-publikacia-v-cardiology-letters) [ ![Screenshot 2026 03 16 103723](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/_transforms/2026/03/nova-publikacia-v-cardiology-letters/_homepageArticle_3/2322/Screenshot-2026-03-16-103723.jpg) ](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/nova-publikacia-v-cardiology-letters) ### [What’s new in long COVID research?](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/test-stranka) Welcome to the News section, where we bring you the latest information on research, publications, and updates in the field of long COVID. Here you will find summaries of scientific articles, information on new studies, and important updates related to our project. [Read more ](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/test-stranka) ### [A new publication in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/erytrocyty-a-transport-kyslika-nove-objavy-po-covid-e) On December 3, 2025, our review article on long COVID was published in the international journal Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. The article addresses the causes of long COVID, ways to prevent it, and available treatment options. You can read the article here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1671951/full, or download it from the Outputs section. [Read more ](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/erytrocyty-a-transport-kyslika-nove-objavy-po-covid-e) [ ![Screenshot 2026 02 04 100806](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/_transforms/2026/02/erytrocyty-a-transport-kyslika-nove-objavy-po-covid-e/_homepageArticle_3/1042/Screenshot-2026-02-04-100806.jpg) ](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/erytrocyty-a-transport-kyslika-nove-objavy-po-covid-e) ### [New publication in Cardiology Letters](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/cikk) Our review article on endothelial dysfunction in long COVID has been published in the Slovak medical journal Cardiology Letters. One of the figures from our publication was selected and featured on the journal’s cover. You can read the article here: Cardiol_2025_5_270.pdf, or download it from the Outputs section. [Read more ](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/cikk) [ ![Cardiology Letters 2025](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/_transforms/2026/03/cikk/_homepageArticle_3/Cardiology-Letters_2025.jpg) ](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news/cikk) [Show other articles ![arrow](/assets/images/arrow-narrow-right.svg) ](https://dlhycovid.sk/en/news) ## Frequently asked questions What causes long COVID, and why does it affect people differently? Long COVID, or post-COVID syndrome, is a collective term for conditions in which persistent health problems occur after recovering from a COVID-19 infection. These difficulties can last for months, and in some cases, even years. Long COVID occurs when the body cannot fully recover after an infection, and inflammation, blood vessel problems, or other issues persist for several weeks, months, or even years. It can affect each person differently, depending on how intense their body responded to the virus, their underlying health conditions, and how their immune system functions. Some people mainly experience fatigue, while others have breathing or heart problems. The exact mechanisms behind its development are still not fully understood. What tests can reveal the biological processes that cause long COVID? Various tests are used to uncover the biological processes that cause long COVID. These include blood tests that monitor inflammation, blood clotting, or oxidative stress, assessments of vascular and heart function, as well as analyses of the properties of red blood cells and endothelial cells. These tests help scientists better understand what happens in the body after an infection and why long COVID affects each person differently. How does COVID-19 affect blood circulation and the function of the vascular endothelium? The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can damage the vascular endothelium – a thin layer of cells that lines the blood vessels and regulates their proper function. This damage can trigger inflammation, disrupt blood flow, and increase clotting, which worsens circulation and may contribute to fatigue and various health problems. In some people, these changes persist long after the infection has passed. Why can the properties of red blood cells change after COVID-19? After COVID-19, red blood cells can change because inflammation, and oxidative stress can affect their shape, flexibility, and ability to carry oxygen. These changes can reduce oxygen delivery to tissues and contribute to long COVID symptoms, such as fatigue and decreased physical performance. How long can inflammatory processes or oxidative stress persist after an infection? Inflammation or oxidative stress after an infection can persist for varying lengths of time, sometimes even for months or years. This depends on the severity of the infection, overall health status, and the individual’s immune response. Which biomarkers can help in the diagnosis of long COVID? For long COVID, there is currently no single test or definitive diagnostic biomarker that can reliably confirm the condition. Therefore, the diagnosis of long COVID is clinical, based on the presence and duration of symptoms. However, various blood tests and other examinations can help doctors determine whether there is ongoing inflammation, immune system dysfunction, or damage to certain organs. The most commonly monitored biomarkers include inflammatory markers (such as CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β), markers of immune dysregulation, coagulation markers, markers of endothelial damage, and oxidative stress. Research in this area is still ongoing. Is there currently an effective treatment for long COVID? There is currently no specific treatment that can completely cure long COVID. Treatment is primarily symptomatic and individualized, focusing on relieving specific symptoms. However, research is still ongoing to find effective therapeutic approaches. What symptoms can occur in long COVID? Long COVID can present with a wide range of symptoms, which may persist for weeks, months, or even years after recovering from the infection. The most common symptoms include: fatigue and exhaustion, activity intolerance, breathing difficulties, muscle and joint pain, heart palpitations, dizziness, sleep disturbances, problems with memory, concentration, or thinking, headaches, sensitivity to light and noise, anxiety, depression, irritability, nausea, abdominal pain, and changes in appetite. However, there are over 200 possible symptoms, which can vary in scope and intensity from patient to patient. Symptoms may appear individually or in combination and often change over time. ![gradient](/assets/images/homepage/faq-gradient.png) ## Partners ![Apvv sk](https://dlhycovid.sk//assets/uploads/images/other/apvv-sk.png) ![bg](/assets/images/homepage/reserach-tile-gradient.png)