COVID-19's lingering shadow: Respiratory and cardiac health aftermath

Many individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 continue to experience persistent breathing problems

 

People who have recovered from COVID-19 frequently experience long-term respiratory and cardiac difficulties, and many continue to have symptoms and physiological abnormalities months after the original infection.

 

At first, COVID-19 was thought to be a respiratory illness, much like bird flu. However, the lungs, brain, nasopharynx, eyes, cardiovascular system, and digestive systems (liver and intestines) have all been found to be impacted by the virus. In essence, every essential organ is impacted by the virus.

 

The majority of patients who had recovered from a coronavirus infection reported feeling weak and lightheaded, having a fast heartbeat, and occasionally losing consciousness. The most common long-term effect is lung involvement, with patients experiencing persistent problems like exhaustion, coughing, and shortness of breath.

 

Sometimes, especially in hospitalized patients, the infection results in lung nodules and scarring, which can restrict lung capacity and hinder oxygen delivery. Wuhan University of Technology research shows that 66 out of 70 individuals who recovered from the infection showed apparent lung damage on their CT scans.

 

This is called pulmonary fibrosis, which is currently incurable and can cause dyspnea. Although fibrosis can normalize, the alterations do not entirely disappear. More research is required to corroborate the claims made by certain scientists that the healing process can take up to 15 years.

 

Regrettably, there have been instances of developing fibrosis, which poses a risk to life and health. 36% of patients report having dyspnea following an infection. In this instance, a shortage of oxygen causes a change in breathing depth and frequency. For several months, the symptoms have continued.

 

Heart and blood vessels

 

Patients with conditions affecting the kidneys, blood, or cardiovascular system have been shown to be more vulnerable to the coronavirus and its consequences. As a result, it is not always easy to ascertain whether the infection caused these alterations or if they had already happened.

 

Based on data, it indicates that 20% of the 500 individuals assessed at Wuhan Hospital had cardiac muscle injury. Nearly half of the 36 individuals who participated in the study had arrhythmias in the intensive care units. A cytokine storm, the body’s defensive reaction that can turn harmful if it spirals out of control, can account for these alterations.

 

One of the causes of viral myocarditis, which results in arrhythmia, blood circulation disruption, and dyspnea, is coronavirus. Changes can also be seen in the blood, as research done in Singapore revealed that pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis were present in half of the coronavirus-related deaths.

 

Patients are still at a high risk of heart attacks and strokes even after they have recovered. People with diabetes are more likely to get cardiovascular problems.

 

Nervous system

 

Neurological symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, and cognitive impairment, were reported by one-third of coronavirus patients. A few patients had persistent headaches.

 

The loss and perversion of taste and smell are potential nervous system problems. According to statistics, these symptoms tend to go away with time, but they can linger, particularly if cognitive abilities are compromised. Age, lifestyle factors, and the severity of the illness course all play a major role in their recovery.

 

 

Kidneys

 

Continue reading the article: https://juskosave.blogspot.com/2025/12/covid-19s-lingering-shadow-respiratory.html