Ever wondered why some folks have a harder time with COVID-19, especially those with heart troubles?
A team of scientists, donned in their lab coats and peering into microscopes, think they’ve figured out a piece of the puzzle.
They found that the virus responsible for COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, can create problems in the heart’s blood vessels, making it more difficult for those already dealing with heart issues.
Unpacking the Science: A Sneak Peek Inside Our Bodies
To understand the scientists’ findings, let’s imagine our blood vessels like pipes. Over time, for various reasons, stuff (called plaque) starts to stick to the walls of these pipes.
Too much plaque, and our pipes, or blood vessels, can’t do their job properly. This is what doctors call atherosclerosis, and it can lead to heart disease.
Now, the scientists discovered that in some people, the COVID-19 virus can create chaos in these already troubled pipes, making things even more difficult for the heart.
They found that our body’s defense system, trying to fight off the virus, actually causes more swelling and problems in these areas, leading to more serious heart issues.
A Closer Look: Studying the Heart and the Virus
Researchers from NYU Grossman School of Medicine decided to investigate how the virus impacts those who already have this plaque buildup.
They studied samples from the hearts of people who, sadly, passed away due to severe COVID-19 between May 2020 and May 2021. All these people had known heart issues before catching the virus.
The researchers, using some smart computer programs, were able to see how the virus affected each cell in the heart samples.
They found that the virus was present in the special cleanup cells of the body, known as macrophages. These cells usually help by cleaning up extra fat in our blood vessels.
When the virus enters these cells, it causes them to release signals that create more swelling and blockage in our ‘pipes’.
The Bigger Picture: What Does This Mean for Us?
So, why does this matter to us regular folks? Well, this study tells us more about why people with heart issues might have a tougher time with COVID-19.
It seems the virus finds a cozy home in the cells that are supposed to protect our heart, allowing it to stick around in the body and create long-term problems, what we commonly hear as “long COVID”.
Long COVID includes a range of lingering problems like feeling your heart racing, chest pain, and constant tiredness, among other issues.
Knowing this, the researchers are planning to dive deeper to explore the link between the virus, heart issues, and long-lasting COVID symptoms.
This research is crucial because it helps us understand more about how and why the virus affects some people more severely.
By understanding this, doctors and scientists can come up with better ways to help those who are suffering. This study primarily looked at the early strains of the virus, so the researchers are eager to see if newer variants behave in the same way.
Conclusion
In simple words, this research has shone a light on the connection between the virus and heart complications.
By looking closely at heart samples and using sophisticated tools, researchers have uncovered how the virus can linger and cause problems in those with heart conditions.
This is an essential step towards developing better ways to care for those at risk and dealing with the lingering symptoms of COVID-19.
It shows the commitment of the scientific community to peel back the layers of mystery surrounding this virus, with the hope of making our journey through this pandemic a little less daunting.
Remember, the more we understand, the better we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from the hidden troubles this virus can bring, especially to those hearts that are already bearing a burden.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies about a big cause of heart failure, and common blood test could advance heart failure treatment.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about a new way to repair human heart, and results showing drinking coffee may help reduce heart failure risk.
The research findings can be found in Nature Cardiovascular Research.
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