COVID chest pain can feel like dull aching, sharp jabs, burning, or tightness, affecting either side of the chest, often linked to inflammation or muscle strain from coughing, and is common in both acute COVID and persistent long COVID. It's a varied sensation, sometimes accompanied by shortness of breath, and can stem from inflamed lung linings (pleurisy) or other bodily responses.
What are the symptoms of COVID lung damage? If you're currently sick with COVID, symptoms of conditions caused by lung damage could include: Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath. Extreme fatigue/tiredness.
The pain is often localized to a specific area, which may be tender or warm to the touch. Usually described as an ache or stiffness, it worsens with certain movements or activities. If you notice decreased pain with rest, heat therapy, or repositioning your body, it's likely a muscle pull.
Common New COVID Variant Symptoms in 2025
Deep breathing technique
The duration of COVID chest pain can vary depending on the severity of your infection and what causes the pain. For some people, chest pain associated with COVID-19 may be a mild symptom lasting only a few minutes. In other cases, chest pain may persist for a few days, several weeks, or longer.
Chest congestion can be a sign of COVID-19, especially if a dry cough becomes wet in the later stages of the illness. Don't take a cough suppressant when you have a wet cough, as you need to cough to move mucus out of your lungs. Drinking plenty of water can help thin mucus and clear chest congestion.
Some people may have symptoms that get worse about 5 to 7 days after symptoms start. Most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. But COVID-19 can cause serious medical complications and lead to death. Older adults and people who already have medical conditions are at greater risk of serious illness.
Take Over-The-Counter Medications
If used accurately, they can shorten the duration of illness by about 24 hours and decrease the risk of complications, especially in high-risk populations. If your symptoms include a sore throat or cough, use over-the-counter cough drops or cough medicine, such as Robitussin or Delsym.
COVID-19 dizziness can be one of the early symptoms of an infection with the coronavirus and may last for a few days to several weeks. In some cases, the dizziness can linger on after the original infection with the coronavirus. This situation is called long COVID, in which symptoms can last for weeks to months.
When is chest pain serious enough to go to the ER? Chest pain is common, but it shouldn't be ignored. Although most cases of chest pain are harmless, you should go to the emergency room immediately if your chest pain is intense, prolonged, or is accompanied by other symptoms.
Your chest pain improves
If your chest pain improves, chances are you're not having a heart attack. Even if you have sharp pain, it's not usually related to your heart if it lasts a short time. The pain may improve without treatment, or you may get relief after taking over-the-counter medicines.
Angina is chest pain or discomfort due to your heart muscle not getting enough oxygen-rich blood. It can feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. It may spread to your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, abdomen or back. Sometimes, angina feels like an upset stomach.
Researchers in Japan have pinpointed a biological cause of Long COVID brain fog using advanced PET brain imaging. They discovered widespread increases in AMPA receptor density linked to cognitive impairment and inflammation.
The best way to prevent COVID pneumonia is to take steps to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19 and other conditions that can damage your lungs. Ways to reduce your risk include: Getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated against pneumococcal disease, which can cause bacterial pneumonia.
Trouble breathing, and often a dry cough, are the most common symptoms of pneumonitis. Treatment focuses on avoiding irritants and lessening the inflammation of lung tissue.
It loves to hang out in your lungs, so don't make things worse by allowing air sacs to collapse by staying in bed,” Dr. Lacy said. “With COVID-19, you don't want to compromise your lungs any more.” So, get out of bed even if it hurts to breathe.
7 Steps to Take After a Virus Has Hit Your Home
Common Symptoms of the New COVID Variant (2025):
The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover. For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer.
Viral shedding by asymptomatic people occurs. Viral shedding may antedate symptom onset by 2 days. Viral titers are highest in the earliest phases of infection, 1-2 days before the onset of symptoms, and then in the first 4-6 days of illness in patients without immunosuppression.
You can be contagious for 1-2 days before symptoms appear and up to 8-10 days following symptom onset. You can spread the virus even if you do not have symptoms. Social distancing should continue until, for at least 24 hours, symptoms improve and you're fever-free without medications.
Chest pain can signal various issues, from heart problems such as aortic dissection to lung conditions such as pneumonia. Gastrointestinal troubles (such as GERD) or bone and muscle issues (such as costochondritis) can also cause discomfort. Anxiety and panic attacks are also potential causes of the condition.
Unusual COVID-19 symptoms: What are they?
The main symptoms are: