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Covid-19 Impacts The Nervous System

Covid Causes Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction

(responsible for unconscious processes like heart rate, breathing and digestion)

  • 30% of 4000 Long Covid patients met the criteria for a diagnosis of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a type of dysautonomia (autonomic nervous system dysfunction). (Davis et al., 2021 doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101019)

 

  • Dysautonomia (autonomic nervous system dysfunction) may be responsible for fatigue and hypoxia in Long Covid patients. (Barizien et al., 2021 doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-93546-5)

 

  • Covid infection frequently causes abnormalities in autonomic nervous system tests, as well as worsening pre-existing dysfunction. Abnormalities included orthostatic intolerance (problems with blood pressure when upright), fainting, heachaches, burning pains, excessive sweating and lightheadedness. (Shouman et al., 2021 doi: 0.1007/s10286-021-00803-8)

 

  • 67% of Long Covid patients have moderate-to-severe autonomic dysfunction, regardless of severity of initial Covid infection. (Larsen et al., 2022 *preprint doi: 10.1101/2022.04.25.22274300)

 

  • Covid infection could result in gastric dysmotility and paralysis (stomach and intestines become unable to move food through). (Coles et al., 2022 doi: 10.1007/s10620-022-07480-1)

 

  • Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological Institute reports that mild Covid infection is linked to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome. (consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/mild-covid-19-linked-to-postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome/)

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