Friday, December 9, 2022

Long COVID isn't the only post-viral illness

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Long COVID isn't the only post-viral illness
By Jamie Ducharme
Health Correspondent

When talking about COVID-19, I often hear people say, “Wow, this virus can do anything!” From weird acute symptoms (remember COVID toes?) to devastating cases of Long COVID and serious organ damage, the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are scarily diverse.

But it’s a mistake to think that SARS-CoV-2 is unique in this respect. Lots of viruses—even common ones like influenza and Epstein-Barr (which triggers mono)—can cause serious, sometimes life-long complications, including chronic pain, crushing fatigue, and cognitive decline. And due to decades of neglect from the medical and scientific communities, we still don’t have a great understanding of why that is or what can be done to reverse these issues.

Long COVID has, at least, spurred new interest in post-viral illnesses and prompted the federal government to supply more than $1 billion for research. But in the meantime, we’d all be smart to do what we can to avoid getting infected by any virus. By providing partial protection against infections, tools like masks, ventilation, and vaccines also shield against potentially lifelong complications.

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What else to read
This Group Wants to Teach You How to Get Abortions Even Where They’re Banned
By Charlotte Alter
Mayday Health is on the front lines of the next battle over abortion rights: the information war.
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You Asked: What's the Most Effective Machine to Use at the Gym?
By Markham Heid
You don't need much time to get a total-body workout. (Originally published in 2019.)
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5 Easy Nutrition Tweaks You Should Make, According to Dietitians
By Jamie Ducharme
Improving nutrition doesn't always have to mean a diet overhaul. (Originally published in 2018.)
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These Are the Dirtiest Places in Your Hotel Room
By Abigail Abrams
From toilets to television remotes, hotel rooms are teeming with bacteria and microbial organisms, say researchers. (Originally published in 2018.)
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The Secrets to Living a Longer and Better Life
By Jeffrey Kluger and Alexandra Sifferlin
Drinking alcohol and eating breakfast could play a role. (Originally published in 2018.)
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One Last Read
Welcome to virus hell

If viruses keep ping-ponging around your household, you're not alone. "The onslaught of viruses this fall has been so monstrous and relentless that it seems like every parent I know—friends, colleagues, neighbors, everyone—has a story to tell," writes Caitlin Gibson, features writer at the Washington Post.

It's indeed an unprecedented season, clinicians told Gibson: the worst flu season in more than a decade, plus shortages of fever-reducing drugs and antibiotics.

Read More »

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Today's newsletter was written by Jamie Ducharme and edited by Mandy Oaklander.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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