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Medical Discovery News
Science permeates everyday life. Yet the understanding of advances in biomedical science is limited at best. Few people make the connection that biomedical science is medicine and that biomedical scientists are working today for the medicine of tomorrow. Our weekly five-hundred-word newspaper column (http://www.illuminascicom.com/) and two-minute radio show provide insights into a broad range of biomedical science topics. Medical Discovery News is dedicated to explaining discoveries in biomedical research and their promise for the future of medicine. Each release is designed to stimulate listeners to think, question and appreciate how science affects their health as well as that of the rest of the world. We also delve into significant biomedical discoveries and portray how science (or the lack of it) has impacted health throughout history.
Medical Discovery News
Don't Mess with COVID
980 - Don't Mess with COVID
Welcome to Medical Discovery News. I’m Dr Norbert Herzog.
And I’m Dr. David Niesel
Even as we try to push past the COVID pandemic, the virus is here to stay, not only as a current infection threat but as a chronic disease in the form of long COVID.
Global estimates are that some four hundred million people have experienced long COVID. when an infected person’s symptoms persist past three months. Some can no longer work or return to their lives due to fatigue and brain fog.
Five years after the pandemic, we have a clearer picture of the challenges. Lingering inflammation across the body is a major cause of “long COVID” symptoms.
Because the virus infects cells along our airway, the resulting inflammation damages the lungs of about ten percent of those infected. There’s lung scarring, shortness of breath, and persistent coughing.
Long COVID can also lead to problems in our intestinal tracts. Diarrhea and constipation can continue for months or years. Up to a third suffer some neurological problems.
They’re more at risk for heart attack, stroke, and irregular heart rate. The virus may be causing inflammation of the heart muscle, and their bodies are less efficient at moving blood around.
Other results suggest our mitochondria, the powerhouse of our cells become dysfunctional at delivering the energy needed for full function.
With these long-term effects, it seems unwise to reduce support for COVID testing, vaccines and research. We support the lifesaving value of vaccination. Trust reputable science and medical sources and consult your physician.
We are Drs. David Niesel and Norbert Herzog, at UTMB and Quinnipiac University, where biomedical discoveries shape the future of medicine. For much more and our disclaimer go to medicaldiscoverynews.com or listen to our podcast on your favorite podcast service.
