Gemma Collins admits her dad, 73, is 'not the same man' after suffering 'long COVID'

Gemma Collins has admitted her 73-year-old father Alan isn’t ‘the same man’ after suffering from ‘long coronavirus’.

In a new interview, the former TOWIE star, 40, admitted to being distressed by her parent’s health troubles, after he was previously diagnosed with coronavirus and spent time in hospital.

‘He’s got long COVID. He’s not the same man he was before he went into hospital’, the media personality confessed.

‘It’s really distressing’: Gemma Collins has admitted her 73-year-old father Alan isn’t ‘the same man’ after suffering from ‘long coronavirus’ (pictured together with mum Joan)

The reality star, whose mother also suffered from coronavirus, detailed her dad’s current condition to new! magazine, sharing: ‘He’s very tired, he gets weak, he gets out of breath and still coughs a lot.

‘It’s really distressing, but we’re just so grateful that he’s alive and hope he will come through the long COVID soon.’

Scientists claim seven in 10 patients hospitalised by coronavirus still suffer debilitating ‘long Covid’ symptoms five months after being discharged.

Research laying bare the toll of the condition revealed survivors were plagued with problems including breathlessness, fatigue and muscle pain.

‘We’re just so grateful that he’s alive’: In a new interview, the former TOWIE star, 40, admitted to being distressed by her parent’s health troubles after he was admitted to hospital

‘He still coughs a lot’: The reality star, whose mother also suffered from coronavirus, detailed her dad’s current condition

Candid: ‘He’s got long COVID. He’s not the same man he was before he went into hospital’, the media personality confessed

University of Leicester experts, who quizzed 1,077 long-haulers, found two in five had reduced their workload or were off sick because of their persistent symptoms.

They also found evidence of organ damage in sufferers, and that those who required mechanical ventilation took longer to recover from long Covid.

Separate data from Glasgow University released today further highlighted the plight of long Covid victims, saying women under-50 were worst affected.

Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, claimed the studies added to knowledge of long Covid, which is still surrounded in mystery.

WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19?

Most coronavirus patients will recover within a fortnight, suffering a fever, cough and losing their sense of smell or taste for several days.

However, evidence is beginning to show that the tell-tale symptoms of the virus can persist for weeks on end in ‘long haulers’ — the term for patients plagued by lasting complications.

Data from the COVID Symptom Study app, by King’s College London and health company Zoe, suggests one in ten people may still have symptoms after three weeks, and some may suffer for months.

Long term symptoms include:

Chronic tiredness
Breathlessness
Raised heart rate
Delusions
Strokes
Insomnia
Loss of taste/smell
Kidney disease
Mobility issues
Headaches
Muscle pains
Fevers

For those with more severe disease, Italian researchers who tracked 143 people who had been hospitalised with the disease found almost 90 per cent still had symptoms including fatigue two months after first falling unwell.

The most common complaints were fatigue, a shortness of breath and joint pain – all of which were reported during their battle with the illness.

Another study in Italy showed one in ten people who lose their sense of taste and smell with the coronavirus – now recognised as a key sign of the infection – may not get it back within a month.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, involved 187 Italians who had the virus but who were not ill enough to be admitted to hospital.

The UK’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has said the longer term impacts of Covid-19 on health ‘may be significant’.

Support groups such as Long Covid have popped up online for those who ‘have suspected Covid-19 and your experience doesn’t follow the textbook symptoms or recovery time’.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was ‘determined’ to improve care for Britons suffering the ‘lasting and debilitating’ impacts of Covid — which is estimated to have infected around 15million people in the UK.

The TV star previously shared an update on Alan’s health after uploading a video of him wearing an oxygen mask and struggling to speak.

Gemma revealed: ‘He has long Covid so every day is a step in the right direction his mental strength is unreal and he’s determined to get back to his best!!

‘I did have to tell him off this week when I found out he sneaked into work!!’

In January, Gemma revealed her dad’s recovery from COVID-19 was the ‘biggest gift of all’.

‘He’s determined to get back to his best’: The TV star previously shared an update on Alan’s health after uploading a video of him wearing an oxygen mask and struggling to speak

The influencer didn’t sleep for days as her beloved dad battled the novel coronavirus in hospital.

She said: ‘My dad was really unwell – you can see how tired I am. I literally haven’t slept. Because he was in hospital I was just so worried all the time.

‘It’s only really now that I’m catching up on my sleep,’ she continued, before revealing: ‘He’s out of hospital, I don’t need to worry. It’s only really now he’s home I can start getting everything back together again.

‘I couldn’t ask for any more. I turn 40 on Sunday. Yes, I’ve got bags under my eyes but my dad is alive. I’m able to eat a piece of cake with him.’

‘Bless him’: In January, Gemma revealed her dad’s recovery from COVID-19 was the ‘biggest gift of all’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk

Gemma Collins admits her dad, 73, is ‘not the same man’ after suffering ‘long COVID’

WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19?