Spanish
When it comes to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it’s easy to become complacent. Most people experience only mild problems, such as fever, cough, and sometimes nasal congestion and shortness of breath.
But experts say the coronavirus can go far beyond a simple respiratory illness and affect organs throughout the body.
“We see people having symptoms almost all over their body, from the top of their head to their toes, in terms of how they feel, how they function, and what they can do,” said Dr. Adrian Hernandez, a cardiologist and director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, North Carolina. ” he said. .
The new year began with a rise in the number of coronavirus hospitalizations in the United States, with Hernandez and other experts urging caution, especially among those at high risk.
The short-term effects of COVID-19 may be similar to the flu, but even mild symptoms can cause a series of symptoms that can last for weeks or months. This could lead to long-term COVID-19 infections, which is a problem. Hernandez, who has overseen many COVID-19 studies, said more than 200 symptoms have been associated with long-lasting COVID-19.
Many people may think of COVID-19 as primarily a lung disease because it usually affects breathing and can cause problems such as pneumonia. Dr. Nisha Viswanathan, director of the long-term coronavirus program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, says it’s not that simple.
“I would argue that COVID-19 is not a lung disease at all,” she says. “This is most likely a so-called vascular and nervous system infection, affecting both the nerve endings and the cardiovascular system.”
It’s no wonder that experts say SARS-CoV-2 (the name of the virus that causes coronavirus disease) is complex, and many of its pathways are only just beginning to be understood. But a few things are becoming clear. One of the best reviews of long-term coronavirus symptoms was published in Nature Reviews Microbiology last January, Viswanathan said. It detailed the disease’s effects on the entire body, including the pancreas, blood vessels, and reproductive system.
“SARS-CoV-2 is great at taking your immune system from zero to 100,” said Dr. Lindsay McAlpine, a neurologist and director of the Yale NeuroCovid Clinic in New Haven, Connecticut. Ta. The activated immune response causes both “widespread inflammation” and excessive blood clotting, she said.
“Viral replication is probably occurring in the lungs and nasopharynx (the area of the upper throat that connects the nose and respiratory system), but the inflammation that the virus causes is systemic,” McAlpine says. .
Here, we will introduce some parts of the body that have been greatly affected by the new coronavirus infection.
brain and nervous system
“Virus and immune responses can have several different effects on the brain,” said the lead author of a 2021 study published in the journal Stroke that looked at strokes in patients with COVID-19. Mr McAlpine said. She is researching issues related to COVID-19 and brain fog, which she calls “a very common symptom.”
The exact cause of brain-related problems is not clear, but the virus does not appear to be attacking brain tissue directly, she said. Rather, an increased immune response appears to produce blood clots that can cause brain problems.
“Many patients describe it as feeling like they’re having a concussion,” McAlpine says. “And even if the initial case is mild, it can persist for months after the coronavirus.”
“In addition to cognitive impairment, we also see worsening or new onset of migraines,” she says. “I have new nerve damage in my legs and arms, including numbness, tingling, and difficulty walking.”
COVID-19 may also reveal other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, she said. Dr. McAlpine has diagnosed new cases of Alzheimer’s disease in people who were functioning normally before COVID-19 but then developed symptoms. “I don’t know why,” she said.
heart and blood vessels
Research shows that COVID-19 may increase the risk of heart-related problems such as myocarditis, a rare heart inflammation, and an arrhythmia known as atrial fibrillation.
Studies conducted before vaccines were available showed that the risk of dangerous clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in large veins) and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs), is small but can last up to a year after infection. remains high.
Viswanathan said many factors could be involved in coronavirus-related heart problems, including microclots and autoimmune reactions targeting heart muscle cells. A recent study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research shows that the virus can infect coronary arteries, causing plaque buildup to become inflamed and sloughed off, causing a heart attack.
digestive system
“Interestingly, the mechanisms in the gastrointestinal system may be slightly different than those that affect the heart,” Viswanathan says. One theory suggests that the virus finds a hiding place while other parts of the body fight it off. “And studies have found that the coronavirus can persist in the gastrointestinal tract for weeks to months after it has cleared elsewhere in the body.”
Exactly where the virus can hide is up for debate, Viswanathan said. But Hernandez said the gastrointestinal symptoms are clear: “Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may occur.”
A large study of military veterans published last year in Nature Communications found that those who contracted COVID-19 were more likely to have contracted the disease at least 30 days after infection. They were found to have a higher risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and other gastrointestinal disorders than those without. Even people with mild infections were at increased risk.
kidney
A 2023 study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine looked at organ damage after coronavirus infection, and kidney problems were common.
Hernandez wonders whether the kidney problems are due to being sick with a high fever and drinking less water, or whether “a virus that can infect anywhere and cause inflammation can cause all kinds of problems. We don’t necessarily know if this is the cause, Hernandez said.
what will you do
Viswanathan said not everyone infected with COVID-19 has these problems. However, people who are experiencing symptoms can contact their GP or long-term coronavirus clinic.
She said what everyone can do is take steps to protect themselves and those around them.
The first step is to be aware of any spikes in coronavirus cases in your area. Consider wearing a mask in crowded public places. “Right now, many people are infected with the coronavirus and it may take some time for them to test positive,” Viswanathan said.
“The second thing is to get vaccinated,” she said. “It appears to be really protective.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone age 5 and older get the latest coronavirus vaccine to avoid getting seriously ill from the virus.
“The third thing is to control cardiovascular risk factors,” she says. That means controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. “It all reduces your risk.”
McAlpine added that if you have symptoms of COVID-19, please stay away from others to avoid putting others at risk.
Hernandez emphasized the importance of vaccination in general for people with heart or lung disease, cancer or a suppressed immune system. “People who have other health conditions don’t need another health condition,” he said. “And if you can avoid illnesses like the coronavirus or the flu, why wouldn’t you?”
