Long-Term Effects of COVID-19

There have been COVID-19 funerals at funeral homes in Geddes, NY, but many people who contract COVID-19 eventually recover from the worst and most immediate symptoms of the infection. However, even if you survive being infected with COVID-19, there are long-term health effects that can affect the quality and longevity of your life, whether you’re a child or an adult survivor.

The lingering effects of COVID-19 are diverse and vast. Some include on-going fatigue, a racing heartbeat, brain fog, joint achiness, shortness of breath, a persistent loss of sense of smell, as well as extensive damage to the lungs, brain, heart, and kidneys.

Recovery from COVID-19, even in people with what are considered mild cases, seems to be a very slow process, and some current epidemiology research suggests that a full recovery may not be possible for the majority of people who get infected with COVID-19.

This suggests that COVID-19 infections may trigger the onset of chronic diseases, especially involving the major organs of the body. However, because of the relative newness of the infection, the evidence of this has yet to be seen.

However, what is known to date about COVID-19 survivors is that the infection causes widespread inflammation and the formation of blood clots throughout their bodies. These will likely be contributors to premature deaths in the future since chronic inflammation and blood clots can wreak physiological havoc on the entire body.

Behind these destructive after effects in the human body by COVID-19 is the mechanism of the virus: its primary feature is disruption of body tissues. COVID-19 is a spiked virus. Its protein spikes target human cells that have ACE2 receptors.

Among the tissues in the body that have ACE2 receptors are those in the gut, in the heart, in the lungs, in the kidneys, in the nervous system, and in the blood vessels. This produces an inflammatory reaction in the body, which is proportional to the degree of the attack the body perceives.

This overwhelming inflammatory response is particularly dangerous in the brain, because it can cause permanent – and, even fatal – neurological damage.

The onslaught of a COVID-19 infection can be deadly, as the world and America has learned. However, if the body is able to survive the infection, the virus leaves behind tissue scarring and changed hormonal responses that can lead to organ damage and failure.

For instance, COVID-19 can damage the heart in several ways. One way is a direct assault on the tissues of the heart, which can damage and destroy them, leading to heart failure. Another way is that COVID-19 can alter the function of ACE2 receptors (which protect the heart and break down the hormone angiotension II, which can increase blood pressure). A third way is to stress the body by overreleasing adrenaline and epinephrine, which has a disastrous effect on the heart.

COVID-19’s long-term effects on the central nervous system can lead to neurological complications from which survivors may never recover. These can include degraded motor skills, which can increase the risk of falls and serious injuries or death.

Brain fog is quite common as a long-term side effect of COVID-19. While brain scans look normal, survivors of COVID-19 often report the inability to think clearly or well. This persistent effect can result in survivors of COVID-19 being unable to return to their jobs or their lives in meaningful ways.

So, while the majority of people who are infected with COVID-19 do not die from the virus, their bodies are riddled with damage that may eventually lead to death, perhaps in a few months or a few years.

For information about planning funerals at funeral homes in Geddes, NY, our compassionate and experienced team at Bagozzi Twins Funeral Home, Inc. is here to help you.