New research from Brazil has raised the alarm about the lasting effects of severe COVID-19 on people’s bodies.
A team of scientists from various universities found that survivors of severe COVID-19 might face elevated stress reactions that could put them at a higher risk for heart-related problems.
The researchers had previously noted that people who had battled severe COVID-19 sometimes showed signs of long-term heart issues.
This led them to investigate how these patients respond to stress, which is another known risk factor for heart problems.
How the Study Was Done
The study involved 15 people who had survived severe COVID-19. For comparison, the researchers also included 15 volunteers of the same age and body size who had never had COVID-19.
Both groups were put through an activity meant to stress them out a bit: they had to look at rapidly changing images and listen to clashing sounds.
The team found that all participants felt a similar rise in stress levels, but their bodies reacted differently.
The COVID-19 survivors had much higher levels of what’s called “muscle sympathetic nerve activity” (let’s just call it stress response for simplicity) compared to those who never had the disease. This stress response is linked to a faster heartbeat among other things.
Why It Matters
These higher stress responses in COVID-19 survivors might make them more likely to have heart problems down the line.
It’s not just the heartbeat; the researchers also found issues with blood flow and vessel function in the COVID-19 survivors.
Although their blood pressure didn’t change much, the way their blood vessels reacted was concerning.
Interestingly, when both groups were asked to squeeze their hands as hard as they could (another kind of stress), their bodies mostly reacted the same.
This shows that the lasting effects of COVID-19 may be more specific to stress that impacts the mind, rather than physical stress.
What Comes Next?
This study is the first to point out that severe COVID-19 could have long-term effects on how our bodies handle stress.
The results suggest that even after recovering, it’s important for survivors of severe COVID-19 to continue monitoring their health, especially their heart health.
The team recommends that future research could look into the effects of different types of exercise on these survivors.
If you or someone you know has survived severe COVID-19, keep an eye on your stress levels and consult your doctor about your heart health.
As the pandemic continues to unfold, understanding its long-term impacts becomes increasingly critical for global health.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about new evidence on rare blood clots after COVID-19 vaccination, and how diets could help manage post-COVID syndrome.
For more information about COVID, please see recent studies that low-sodium plant-based diets may prevent COVID-19 better, and results showing zinc could help reduce COVID-19 infection risk.
The study was published in American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
