We are almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we’ve seen improvements in some aspects, the virus is still very real and still very dangerous. Luckily, we’re learning more everyday about it. A recently published article in the journal, eLife, reveals more information about how the COVID virus negatively impacts heart cells. As you have probably heard by now, one of the more difficult aspects of the virus to treat is when inflammation around the heart causes issues with the blood vessels that are responsible for transporting blood into and out of the heart, and then around the body.
There are 29 proteins within the virus that are responsible for damaging the heart and the vessels around it. Now, thanks to research done by a team from Tel Aviv University, we can identify five of those proteins. The hope is that by identifying these proteins, future research can now develop better medications to help improve the health of those that experience heart complications from COVID.
There is a very high rate of cardiovascular disease amongst COVID patients. Doctors are observing a high rate of stroke and heart attack amongst those that have the virus. There’s also a large number of COVID patients that suffer from myocarditis as a result of complications. Although we tend to think of the coronavirus as a respiratory illness, it often has an impact well beyond the lungs. Treating the illness more comprehensively will only help improve the outcomes that anyone that has the illness will face.
COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 virus behind it have taken millions of lives. I express my sincere remorse if your family has been hurt. My family has, too. There are no words to express how difficult this has been.
Research is starting to understand the virus more thoroughly now, and hopefully this means that prevention and recovery can be more easily realized. The quick development of a vaccine has truly been a medical miracle, but people still continue to get COVID and die from it. There’s still work to be done. Luckily, scientists continue to make strides against the disease. Hopefully, this proves to be a big step forward in COVID research. There are still a lot of lives at stake, especially when it comes to the elderly, the sick, and other vulnerable populations.
Senior care in the time of this pandemic has changed. The virus has exposed a lot of weaknesses in the overall infrastructure of our care network as a country and has forced care businesses all over to adapt in order to better serve the people that they help–and the people that work for them. Although the past couple years have been full of tragedy, by making changes to improve the safety of those that we serve, hopefully we can all take the lessons of COVID-19 and improve senior care as a whole moving forward.
If you want to learn more about the steps that we are personally taking here at Paradise In-Home Care to help the people around us live healthier lives, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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