We cannot take the epidemic lightly! Doctors reveal that COVID-19 causes the aging of "three organs": the faster the diagnosis, the faster the aging process
Does suffering from COVID-19 lead to “multiple organ aging”? The more times you are diagnosed, the faster you age.
Even though it has been three years since the emergence of the new coronavirus, research on the sequelae of the new coronavirus, “Long Covid”, is still in the ascendant. In addition to the well-known sequelae of brain fog, severe coughs, and insomnia, scientists are now pointing out that the impact of the virus on multiple organs may be “irreversible”! The authoritative journal “Nature” pointed out that patients with COVID-19 may be more likely to show signs of “multiple organ aging.”
Dr. Huang Xuan, an expert in critical care medicine, pointed out in the community that the study was initiated by Ziyad Al-Aly, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic. Al-Aly and the research team analyzed the medical records of nearly 10 million confirmed cases and found:
The subject’s specific organs experienced “accelerated aging” after being diagnosed.
These organs include kidneys, brain, heart, etc.
The phenomenon of accelerated organ aging is likely to occur in patients with COVID-19, confirmed patients hospitalized due to the epidemic, and a small number of patients with mild symptoms.
If the diagnosis is repeated multiple times, the trend of organ aging will be accelerated.
Al-Aly, for example, generally speaking, as people age, their kidney function will decline by about 3-4% within 3-4 years. However, if infected with the new coronavirus, the kidney function of diagnosed patients may decline by 3-4% within one year.
Does the new coronavirus make the body “more inflamed”? Intensivist reveals “6 factors” are key to aging
Why are the organs of COVID-19 patients prone to aging? Dr. Huang Xuan cited research from the University of California in the United States and showed that in fact, the aging of multiple organs caused by the new coronavirus is caused by the superposition of multiple reasons and is not just a single cause, including long-term retention of viral antigens in the body, causing systemic and tissue-specific inflammation in the body, Reactivation of human herpes virus, excessive immune response caused by the new coronavirus, imbalance of microbial flora in the body, microvascular dysfunction, etc.
Dr. Huang Xuan emphasized that repeated inflammatory reactions in the body can easily produce “blood clots” and block organs with rich capillaries such as the heart, kidneys and brain. In addition, viruses can also affect the microbial flora in the body, making it more active, or changing the microbial flora that originally lives in the digestive tract, prolonging the body’s immune response, overactivating autoimmunity, and causing the immune system to attack its own organs. .
In summary, Dr. Huang Xuan said that the current mainstream variant strains XBB.1.5 and BQ.1 have unprecedented immune evasion capabilities and transmissibility, regardless of whether they are previously infected with the virus or the protection generated by vaccination. The antibody neutralization level of the new variant strain is “the lowest ever”.
“We appeal to the public that this is not the time to take it lightly, and they should still avoid being easily infected by the new coronavirus, especially ‘repeated infections’, which may accelerate the aging of the three major organs: the heart, kidneys and brain. Personal epidemic prevention measures are still indispensable today. "
We cannot take the epidemic lightly! Scholar: Viruses still possess “two deadly weapons”
Even though the effectiveness of vaccines is on the decline, academic circles generally believe that “next-generation vaccines” can still provide a certain degree of protection and significantly reduce the risk of moderate to severe illness and severe COVID-19. Professor Yan Mingfang from the Department of Dental Hygiene at Taipei Medical University pointed out that in addition to causing breakthrough infections, viral mutations may indeed cause reinfections over time. Based on the transmissibility of the XBB virus strain, it is expected that more than 10,000 more moderate cases and more than 5,000 severe cases will occur without additional doses of vaccine.
“Many voices are discussing whether to give a booster dose? Judging from the data, the direct mortality rate of the booster dose of the vaccine has dropped by 3/4. Although the virus is becoming influenza-like, the complications and deaths after infection in high-risk groups More attention is needed. Don’t wait if the existing supplements are available!”
In this regard, Vice President Hong Ziren of Shin Kong Hospital also suggested that the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing severe illness and death is obvious. High-risk groups such as the elderly and those with chronic diseases are strongly recommended to receive next-generation vaccines. For people under the age of 50, it is recommended to take the basic dose and the third dose to the full dose. In the future, it is necessary to study whether to conduct a large-scale serum sampling survey to understand the true community infection rate in Taiwan, which will serve as a basis for formulating further prevention and control policies.
Source:
“COVID19 patients, organs are prone to accelerated aging” - Dr. Huang Xuan
Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19
Early clues regarding the pathogenesis of long-COVID
Further reading:
