“Between 2% and 14% of COVID survivors develop a syndrome called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) (1).

However, it is commonly attributed to stress and anxiety.

This is the surprising story of how POTS (and possibly Long COVID) might be linked to an even rarer syndrome...🧵”

Demystifying Long COVID International Conference 2024.

Mini-thread as most content is repeated from earlier this year. 🧵”

“Heart attacks🫀in people under 40 have risen 66% since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. COVID is a vascular disease

COVID can affect the cardiovascular system by increasing blood stickiness, which raises the likelihood of blood clot formation.”

“If 20% of those infected get Long COVID, and 37% of those quit work due to the symptoms, that’s over 7% of the people catching COVID that leave the workforce and school. (See Stanford study linked below)

That is a staggering number.

Let’s sanity check that. Figure some 60% of the population has been infected in the last year. So out of the workforce of 150m that would mean some 90m were infected and over 6m would have left the workforce from debilitating Long COVID just in the last year.

While that is a depressingly large number, it does match up with earlier surveys that estimated between 18-22m had left the workforce due to Long COVIS and never returned since the start of the pandemic almost five years ago.

So yes, those are huge numbers which comprise a huge drag on the US economy. It would be WAY cheaper to develop and deploy new vaccines and air quality improvements, even on a national scale. (And it would save a lot of lives and livelihoods as well.)

But worst thing about our current lackadaisical approach to public health, is that the damage is ongoing and will continue until we force our leaders to do something about it.”

“L0NG C0VID is not a simple yes or no; it exists on a spectrum that ranges from asymptomatic today to severe, with many nuances in between(Personal simplified perspective):

1. Asymptomatic: You may feel fine now, but future health issues could emerge in months or years to come.

2. Mild: You can carry out your daily tasks but face challenges that you might try to conceal from others.

3. Moderate: Your ability to perform everyday activities, such as work, sports, and hobbies, is noticeably affected, requiring adjustments to your routine.

4. Severe: You are bedridden and unable to function normally.

🔥Each new reinfection can increase the risk of developing Long COVID, potentially worsening the condition for those already suffering. And remember, LC has NO TREATMENT, NO CURE today, only some possible symptomatic relief at best.”

“This implies that some people may be genetically predisposed to developing post-viral syndromes after COVID-19.

Overall, these findings provide important insights into the genetic basis of Long COVID.

“MITOCHONDRIA and SARS-COV-2 😨😨😨 (1st part)

When SARS-CoV-2 impacts mitochondria, the ENERGY-PRODUCING CENTERS of our CELLS, the effects on our body is significant and severe. Two studies released this week enhance our understanding of these occurrences.”