Tag

Long Covid

All articles tagged with #long covid

health8 hours ago•6 min saved

Cheap meds offer brief fatigue relief in long-COVID, study finds

In a randomized trial of nearly 800 adults with long COVID in England, colchicine, a combo of famotidine and loratadine (antihistamines), and rivaroxaban were added to usual care for 12 weeks. Fatigue improved across all groups, with small extra reductions for colchicine and the antihistamine combo versus usual care; rivaroxaban had no significant effect. By 24 weeks, these benefits faded and there were no long-term differences, suggesting these drugs are not a cure and highlighting the need for further research into long-COVID immune dysfunction.

via CIDRAP|

#antihistamines #clinical-trial #colchicine

health9 hours ago•26 min saved

Oklahoma polio survivor, final iron lung patient in the U.S., dies at 78

Martha Lillard, who contracted polio at age 5 and spent much of her life in an iron lung, died in Shawnee, Oklahoma on June 26 at 78. She was the last U.S. polio patient to rely on the iron lung, defying doctors’ early predictions, and her sister says long-haul COVID-19 contributed to her death; the death certificate lists chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome as causes. Lillard led a mostly homebound life, but stayed connected online, even meeting her husband after years of online chats.

via New York Post|

#health #iron-lung #long-covid

health14 hours ago•218 min saved

Last U.S. Polio Survivor Dies as Iron Lung Breaks Down

Martha Ann Lillard, who contracted polio in 1953 and spent decades breathing in an iron lung because modern respirators could not meet her needs, died at 78 after the machine began breaking down and could not be repaired, following a long battle with COVID/long COVID; a tornado had previously knocked out power to her device, underscoring access-to-care challenges for aging life-support equipment.

via AOL.com|

#health #iron-lung #long-covid

health1 day ago•6 min saved

Persistent post-COVID eye issues traced to chronic inflammation and nerve damage

A Swedish study of 100 patients with lingering ocular symptoms after COVID-19 links long-lasting vision problems to ongoing inflammation and nerve damage, often undetectable by standard eye exams; tear analyses show dysregulated immune-related proteins and reduced corneal nerves with abnormal pupillary reflexes, suggesting autonomic nervous system involvement and the need for specialized diagnostics and treatment.

via CIDRAP|

#autonomic-nervous-system #eye-health #health

science23 days ago•3 min saved

Autoantibodies May Drive Neurological Symptoms in a Subset of Long COVID Patients

A NIH-funded study found autoantibodies that target the nervous system are present in some Long COVID patients and may be linked to neurological symptoms; experiments transferring these antibodies to mice reproduced pain sensitivity, balance issues, and fatigue, suggesting autoimmunity could underlie a subset of Long COVID symptoms and might guide targeted therapies, though more research is needed to map specific antibodies and confirm causality.

via National Institutes of Health (.gov)|

#autoantibodies #autoimmune #locus-coeruleus

health-and-wellness27 days ago•19 min saved

ADHD tied to chronic pain and a spectrum of health risks

A Washington Post Well+Being piece reports that ADHD is linked with a range of health issues beyond core symptoms, including anxiety, disordered eating, migraines, and long COVID, with chronic pain highlighted as part of the broader comorbidity picture; findings underscore the need for holistic screening and further research into shared mechanisms.

via The Washington Post|

#adhd #anxiety #chronic-pain

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Long COVID Not Driven by Widespread Brain Inflammation; Emotions Centers Linked to Symptom Severity

Finnish researchers used TSPO-PET and MRI to scan 14 long COVID patients, 11 healthy controls, and 13 MS patients, finding no evidence of widespread brain inflammation in long COVID and suggesting inflammatory activity may be higher earlier after infection and fade over time. Notably, more severe symptoms correlated with increased activity in emotion-regulation regions like the amygdala and hippocampus, pointing to emotional processing rather than ongoing neuroinflammation as a potential driver and hinting that treatments could focus on stress management and emotional regulation rather than solely anti-inflammatory approaches. The study is published in the Journal of Neurology (2026).

via SciTechDaily|

#amygdala #brain-inflammation #health

health1 month ago•6 min saved

New study links long COVID to about 1 in 6 after infection

A Massachusetts General Hospital–led analysis of 457,950 COVID-19 patients across four regions found 74,560 long-COVID cases (16.3%), equating to roughly 15 million Americans. About 89.3% of those patients developed at least one chronic condition, and prevalence rose through mid-2024, indicating current code-based surveillance likely undercounts the burden. The study also noted regional differences in symptom patterns (e.g., thyroid issues in New England vs metabolic abnormalities elsewhere) and called for better surveillance, tailored treatments, and coordinated care to address the diverse manifestations of PASC.

via CIDRAP|

#chronic-conditions #health #long-covid

health1 month ago•4 min saved

AI estimate finds 10 million undiagnosed long COVID cases in US

Mass General Brigham researchers used an AI tool to analyze nearly 460,000 medical records and estimate that at least 10 million Americans have long COVID but have not been diagnosed. Their analysis suggests 16% of people who get COVID develop lasting symptoms, though doctors often do not label these as long COVID, underscoring diagnostic gaps as the country faces a growing, multi-system chronic illness. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, has sparked debate about methodology, but reinforces concerns that long COVID remains a major health burden.

via WBUR|

#ai #diagnosis #health

health-and-medicine1 month ago•6 min saved

Long COVID Symptoms Linked to Mood-Processing Brain Activity, Not Widespread Inflammation

A University of Turku study using PET and MRI found no evidence of widespread brain inflammation in long COVID patients compared with healthy controls. Inflammation may be higher earlier after infection and fade over time. More severe symptoms correlated with increased activity in emotion-related regions (hippocampus and amygdala), suggesting treatments focusing on stress management and emotional regulation rather than solely anti-inflammatory approaches.

via ScienceDaily|

#amygdala #brain-inflammation #health-and-medicine

local1 month ago•28 min saved

Seattle Dad Finds Hope With UW Medicine After Long COVID

Seattle father and former Garfield High School teacher Jesse Hagopian contracted COVID in 2022, and years of lingering symptoms like dizziness and brain fog led him to UW Medicine. Dr. Lindsey Knowles emphasizes treating both the physical and mental health aspects of long COVID, providing Hagopian with strategies such as pacing, self-care, meditation, and thought mapping that helped manage symptoms and prevent depression. Hagopian hopes others with long COVID know there is help and resources available.

via KOMO|

#brain-fog #dizziness #jesse-hagopian

health2 months ago•6 min saved

Long Covid May Damage Hearts: New Lancet Findings Highlight Cardiac Risk

A Lancet study from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute finds that Long Covid can damage the heart, with about 18% of women reporting a cardiovascular event and evidence the condition may disrupt autonomic nervous system function, underscoring growing concerns about lasting cardiac risk among those affected.

via The Irish Times|

#autonomic-nervous-system #cardiovascular-events #health

health2 months ago•1 min saved

Pediatric Long COVID Could Be as Widespread as Asthma in the U.S.

Experts say long COVID may affect nearly 6 million U.S. children, diagnosed by a pattern of symptoms rather than a single test. The article follows 16-year-old Kaylee Joaquim, whose fatigue and pain after a field trip illustrate how long COVID can limit daily activities and stamina for young people.

via The Boston Globe|

#children #chronic-illness #health

health2 months ago•6 min saved

German data show COVID vaccines reduce hospitalizations, long COVID, and costs

A German analysis of ~146,000 health-insured adults (half vaccinated) from Sept 2022–Mar 2024 found vaccination linked to fewer COVID-related hospitalizations (0.30 vs 0.75 per 100 people/year), fewer long-COVID diagnoses, and lower all-cause mortality (4.5 vs 6.0 per 100/year). Vaccinated individuals incurred lower COVID-related hospital costs (€21 vs €64 per person/year), totaling about €1 million in savings, plus €1.3 million less in productivity losses due to fewer sick days. Benefits were greater among older adults and those with underlying conditions. The study underscores the clinical and economic value of seasonal COVID vaccination and uptake.

via CIDRAP|

#covid-19 #germany #health

health2 months ago•6 min saved

Kids with long COVID face learning and social hurdles

A NIH-funded RECOVER study of 1,976 youths aged 6–17 found that long COVID is linked to worse post-pandemic grades, more difficulty concentrating, and reduced social engagement. School-aged children with long COVID showed 18% worse grades vs 7% without, while adolescents showed 29% vs 11%; concentration problems were 38% vs 14% in younger kids and 37% vs 11% in teens. AEP/IEP pursuit and diminished peer fun were more common in those with long COVID as well. The authors call for expanded school-based supports and targeted interventions to mitigate potential long-term developmental impacts.

via CIDRAP|

#academic-performance #attention #children