Category Archives: disease

disease, drugs, Health, Long Covid Symptoms, Public health

Are individuals with low levels of vitamin D at an increased risk of developing long COVID?

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Recent research presented at the 25th European Congress of Endocrinology has suggested that low vitamin D levels may increase the risk of developing long COVID. This is a condition where the symptoms of COVID-19 persist for more than 12 weeks after the initial infection. The study looked at 100 patients with and without long COVID and found that those with long COVID had lower levels of vitamin D. This correlation was particularly evident in patients who experienced symptoms like confusion, forgetfulness, and poor concentration. While more research is needed to confirm the link, scientists are exploring whether vitamin D supplements could help reduce the risk of long-term COVID and improve its symptoms.

Long-term COVID risk may increase with low levels of vitamin D. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230513/Long-COVID-risk-may-increase-with-low-levels-of-vitamin-D.aspx

The Vitamin D Society. http://vitamindsociety.org/

Post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) – Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/symptoms/post-covid-19-condition.html

LONG COVID LINKED TO VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY. http://www.cachehosting.com/news/other/long-covid-linked-to-vitamin-d-deficiency/ar-AA1baMoE

disease, Health, Long Covid Symptoms, Long Covid Treatment

What is the truth about Long Covid?

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In 2020, the first wave of deaths from COVID-19 was over, but reports warned of a second wave of deaths from severe symptoms that persisted or worsened. This condition was known as long COVID, and it was projected that a significant proportion of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 would succumb to this life-threatening condition. There were articles in newspapers and magazines that told about all the different kinds of pain people suffered when their doctors couldn’t help. Paul Garner, a British epidemiologist, wrote an early and essential account in which he talked about feeling very tired, having a “muggy head,” having trouble breathing, having sore muscles, and having a “weird feeling in the skin.” Long-term COVID is an uncommon condition not only because of its kaleidoscope of symptoms but also because physicians did not initially recognize it.

So, COVID patients who couldn’t get better during the first few months of the pandemic could describe it. The early “long haulers” complaints were exacerbated by activists, whose advocacy convinced the government to allocate more than $1 billion for research. Three years later, the study has caught up with anecdotal reports and early evidence, and a clearer picture of protracted COVID has emerged. It is neither as widespread nor as severe as was initially anticipated, and the U.S. government has moved to lift the emergency declaration.

Researchers in Australia conducted phone interviews with every person in New South Wales diagnosed with COVID-19 between January and May 2020. The researchers discovered that recovery followed a parabola, with 80% of patients fully recovering after 30 days and 91% after 60 days. However, the population of symptomatic patients continued to diminish, with only 4% of the original patient population still experiencing symptoms four months after diagnosis. In addition, other research indicated that COVID could affect many people. To circumvent these issues, scientists have begun conducting retrospective cohort studies. These studies involve combing through anonymized electronic medical records to identify patients who tested positive for COVID and returned with subsequent symptoms.

The disparity in post-COVID symptoms between the two groups demonstrates the medical havoc caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A study of 150,000 patients in an Israeli health network revealed that those infected were more likely to experience prolonged specific symptoms. These symptoms included loss of taste and smell, concentration and memory issues, difficulty breathing, weakness, hair loss, palpitations, and chest pain. However, by the end of the first year, the differences between the infected and the controls had dissipated mainly. Those that remained affected were a relatively small number of patients. The researchers had anticipated discovering many chronic COVID aftereffects, but they only found a small number—researchers at Oxford University in the U.K.

The Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and the New York University Langone Medical Center found no evidence of a higher risk of any initial neurological or psychiatric diagnosis following COVID-19 than any other respiratory infection. However, 6.4% of COVID patients had a “cognitive deficit,” compared to 5.5% of patients with other respiratory infections. There is no evidence that the pandemic has triggered widespread disability, and disability claims have not increased during the pandemic. The New York State Insurance Fund has released a report analyzing long COVID claims made between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2022. The report reveals that while there were several hundred successful claims after the initial wave, the number dropped to fewer than 10 per month. This number spiked to double digits only after the Alpha and Omicron waves. The most recent data from March 2022 indicates that only about five long-term COVID claims were approved per month out of approximately 3,000 disability claims in the state. This suggests that a substantial number of patients experience significant and potentially onerous symptoms for several months following a SARS-CoV-2 infection but only a minimal percentage experience symptoms for extended durations.

Cohort studies on chronic-term COVID have revealed that it is challenging to establish a causal relationship between a particular infection. Many patients suffer from a condition that differs marginally from short-term COVID. According to data from the Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics, 11% of American adults who have had COVID are presently experiencing residual symptoms. Still, it is impossible to determine whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes these symptoms. There is no doubt that many people with long-term COVID struggle with their symptoms, and the medical community frequently fails to treat them properly. In February, Katherine Wu of The Atlantic wrote about a Brazilian chronic COVID patient whose ordeal resembled those of the first long-haulers. The media has continued to raise the alarm about long-term COVID, even though it is not yet known how many people have it, why, and what their chances of recovery are, let alone what the long-term consequences will be for society.

Even patients with the most debilitating form of long-term COVID can experience improvement within weeks and months, not years. Having COVID for a long time is challenging to define because patients can manifest dozens of symptoms in various combinations, none of which are specific to the disease. Post-Covid is a heterogeneous group of people who complain of prolonged COVID, with some suffering from the lingering effects of many diseases, others experiencing the onset of newly emerging symptoms or the continuation of old ones, and others affected by mood disorders and psychiatric symptoms. However, most patients do get better. According to Census Bureau survey data, the percentage of COVID-19 patients who claim they have experienced COVID decreased by 42% between June 2022 and January 2023. In addition, Dr. Knight’s clinic has seen a decrease in the number of COVID-treated patients. For those whose tiredness, insomnia, and chronic pain have been more severe and debilitating, the heightened concern about long-term COVID in recent years could turn out to be a blessing, as it may hasten the day when those with long-term COVID will be able to put their medical conditions behind them for good.

Resource:

The Truth About Long COVID Is Finally Emerging. It’s Not What We Thought.. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/the-truth-about-long-covid-is-finally-emerging-it-s-not-what-we-thought/ar-AA18P5r5

disease, drugs, Health, Public health

What You Should Know Regarding Monkeypox?

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Thousands of people have contracted monkeypox throughout the United States. The spread has been designated as an epidemic, which naturally arouses public concern. Discover who is at danger and how we can protect ourselves, our community, and our loved ones.

How does monkeypox spread?

It is essential to realize that viruses are not selective. They want just a host. The same holds true for monkeypox as for any other virus. To help reduce the spread of monkeypox, we must first eliminate its stigma. Anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or sexual orientation, is vulnerable.

It is evident that monkeypox is transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact. Identifying and reducing high-risk behaviors and settings is the most effective method of disease prevention.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following behaviors enhance the likelihood of acquiring monkeypox:

  • Close contact with a person or individuals who have been diagnosed with monkeypox or with a person or persons who have a rash that resembles monkeypox.
  • Close or close personal contact with people infected with monkeypox in a social network. Social networks might include individuals met at pubs, parties, on websites or via apps.
  • Sexual contact or intimate behavior with several partners in places where monkeypox is known to occur.
  • Within 21 days after sickness start, travel outside the United States to a nation with confirmed cases of monkeypox or where monkeypox is endemic.
  • Occupational exposure to monkeypox or other orthopoxviruses, such as testing laboratory personnel or some public health personnel. In these situations, the right use of personal protective equipment will aid in reducing danger.

How can I reduce my infection risk?

As with any infectious illness, the pillars of infection prevention and control may be applied: When you are unwell, you should wash your hands, avoid touching your eyes, lips, and face, and avoid contact with others. Avoid prolonged physical contact, contact with respiratory secretions, and contact with products or textiles used by someone with monkeypox to reduce your chance of developing the disease.

Is a monkeypox vaccination available?

Kansas City has provided the University of Kansas Health System with a restricted amount of vaccination doses. The health care system administers vaccinations to people who fulfill the qualifying requirements. Currently, the CDC advises immunization against:

People who are aware that a sexual partner has been diagnosed with monkeypox during the preceding 14 days.

Individuals who have had several sexual partners in the preceding 14 days in an area where monkeypox is known to exist.

Individuals who have reported any of the following during the preceding 14 days:

  • Sex with numerous partners or multiple partners.
  • Sex at a commercial sex venue or in conjunction with an event, location, or specified geographic region where transmission of monkeypox has been recorded.
  • We are devoted to providing everyone with high-quality care. If you are a current patient of the health system and feel you fulfill any of the eligibility requirements, contact your primary care physician or provider (by phone, text message, or MyChart message) for further information.
  • We must collaborate to eliminate the stigma associated with this condition and prioritize wellness. We highly urge persons at high risk or who are worried to communicate honestly with their healthcare professionals.
disease, Health, Public health

Did you know that unvaccinated are 14 times more likely to get monkeypox, data from eligible shot recipients shows?

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Those who have not had the vaccine for monkeypox are 14 times more likely to get the illness than those who have, according to fresh, but limited, statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday morning.

The sampled population consists of males who engage in sexual behavior with other men or persons with several sexual partners. The figures provide our first glimpse at how effectively the JYNNEOS vaccine, the most effective method of protection against monkeypox, functions in the real world.

At a briefing on monkeypox held at the White House on Wednesday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said, “These new data give us cautious comfort that the immunization is functioning as planned.”

Dr. Demetre Daskalaskis, the White House’s deputy response coordinator for monkeypox, requested that individuals disseminate the “early good news.”

He said that “information is power” and that it empowers people to make health-related decisions with more knowledge and confidence.

What caused the dramatic reduction in monkeypox cases in the United States?

Since the beginning of the current outbreak, there has been little information on the effectiveness of the JYNNEOS vaccine, which was initially designed to combat smallpox.

Since the outbreak began in May, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health have conducted many studies into the safety and effectiveness of the JYNNEOS vaccine, mostly at the request of LGBTQ community activists.

Walensky also observed that the new data is only a glimpse, while being optimistic. Concerning the extent of JYNNEOS’s protection, several questions remain unresolved.

For instance, the new vaccination efficacy rate was not predicated on two doses given 28 days apart. Instead, it relied on information gathered two weeks after the first shot.

Even though the majority of federal public health experts advocate two doses, the CDC has not yet provided information on the effectiveness of the vaccine after all doses have been administered.

“These early results, together with similar findings from studies undertaken in other countries, suggest that even a single dose of the monkeypox vaccine gives at least some initial protection against disease. In spite of this, laboratory studies have shown that immune protection reaches its peak two weeks following the second vaccination dose, or “Wednesday,” as Walensky said.

She said, “Because of this, we continue to recommend that individuals get two doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, 28 days apart, in order to provide robust, long-lasting protection against monkeypox.”

According to Walensky, further study is being conducted on the efficacy of two dosages.

The CDC has not yet separated the efficacy data for various injection techniques to see whether there are any differences between the current approach, in which a lower dosage is injected just beneath the skin, and the earlier way, in which a deeper injection is administered.

Also unclear is the extent to which changes in behavior might influence the effectiveness of the vaccination results.

If vaccinated individuals have fewer sexual partners and possibilities for skin-to-skin contact, they may be less likely to get monkeypox.

Eliminating monkeypox is feasible, according to experts, but containing the disease remains challenging.

According to Walensky, a key lesson from COVID-19 is that the CDC intends to make all of its existing data accessible in real time as soon as it becomes available, even while additional data are on the way.

“Through a portfolio of vaccine effectiveness programs, [the] CDC will continue to analyze how well these immunizations are functioning in the continuing outbreak. These endeavors will assist us in determining the extent and duration of the protection provided. “We’ll continue to provide you with further details as they become available,” Walensky added.

Even though the JYNNEOS vaccine is not yet approved for use by the general public, the CDC is expanding the number of at-risk Americans who are eligible to get vaccination against monkeypox.

The inclusion now includes gay or bisexual men who have had one recent romantic relationship or who have just received a new diagnosis of one or more STDs. It also includes sex workers.

Although many states and jurisdictions have already expanded eligibility, the CDC’s latest step puts it more in line with regional guidelines.

disease, Health, Public health

Monkeypox caused the death of a citizen of Los Angeles County

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Monkeypox caused the death of a citizen of Los Angeles County who had a weakened immune system, according to the announcement made by local health authorities on Monday. It is considered to be the first mortality in the United States caused by the illness.

A patient with the rash associated with monkeypox. Photo: Getty Images


The Department of Public Health for Los Angeles County made the announcement on the cause of death, and a representative for the department said that an autopsy verified the information. The patient had a significantly impaired immune system and had been admitted to the hospital. There was no more information about the individual that was made public.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors instances of the disease and reports that it has not been linked to any fatalities in the United States. Officials from LA County have said that they collaborated with the CDC on this matter.
 
When asked if this was the first death in the U.S., a CDC representative acknowledged that they were working together but didn’t answer right away.
 
On August 30, authorities from the Texas Department of Public Health stated that an individual who had been diagnosed with monkeypox had passed away. The individual was also critically immunocompromised, and an examination is now being conducted into their case to establish the possible impact that monkeypox had in their passing.
 
The virus that causes monkeypox is contagious and can only be passed from person to person via prolonged skin-to-skin contact. It may bring on symptoms such as a rash, fever, pains all over the body, and chills. The illness has been directly connected to the deaths of just a small number of individuals all across the globe, and hospitalizations and fatalities are quite uncommon.
 
People who are in close contact with someone who has the disease; people who are aware that a sexual partner was diagnosed within the past two weeks; and gay or bisexual men who have had multiple sexual partners within the past two weeks in an area where it is known that the virus is spreading are all encouraged to get the monkeypox vaccine. It is also suggested that health care workers who are at a high risk of exposure get vaccinations.

disease, Health, Public health

What do you think of a meningococcal disease epidemic in the US that has claimed the lives of 25% of those affected this year?

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According to the director of the Florida Department of Health, 48 instances of meningococcal disease were reported in Florida in 2022, and 12 of those cases resulted in fatalities. Neisseria meningitidis, a bacteria that can infect the brain and spinal cord lining, is the culprit behind the sickness.

As opposed to the flu or common cold, it is less communicable. The monkeypox outbreak, which primarily harms gay males but is not a “gay disease,” is coinciding. The general populace in America needs to prepare for an impending new wave of illnesses.

disease, drugs, Health, Public health

Did you know that women are more likely to suffer from long-term COVID, highlighting the crucial need for sex-specific research?

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A recent study published today in the journal Current Medical Research and Opinion finds that girls are “significantly” more likely than men to suffer from protracted COVID and will exhibit dramatically distinct symptoms.


Long COVID is a condition in which problems continue for more than four weeks after the initial COVID-19 infection, and in some cases for many months.


Researchers from the Johnson & Johnson Office of the Chief Medical Officer Health of Women Team analyzed data from approximately 1.3 million patients and found that females with long COVID exhibit a variety of symptoms, including ear, nose, and throat issues; mood, neurological, skin, gastrointestinal, and rheumatological disorders; and fatigue.


However, male patients were more prone to developing endocrine problems, including diabetes and renal disease.


The authors explain that understanding the fundamental sex differences underlying the clinical manifestations, disease progression, and health outcomes of COVID-19 is essential for the identification and rational design of effective therapies and public health interventions that are inclusive of and sensitive to the potential differential treatment needs of both sexes.


Differences in immune system function between men and females may be a significant factor in determining sex differences in extended COVID syndrome. Females generate more rapid and potent innate and adaptive immune responses, which may shield them from the severity of acute illness. This difference, however, may make females more vulnerable to autoimmunity-related disorders that last longer.


As part of the review, researchers limited their search for scholarly articles to those published between December 2019 and August 2020 for COVID-19 and between January 2020 and June 2021 for long-term COVID syndrome. The overall sample size for all publications evaluated was 1,393,355 distinct people.


Even though there were a lot of participants, only 35 of the 640,634 articles gave enough information about the symptoms and effects of COVID-19 illness by gender to understand how girls and boys experience the illness differently.


Findings indicate that female patients were significantly more likely to have mental problems such as sadness, ear, nose, and throat symptoms, musculoskeletal discomfort, and respiratory symptoms at the outset of COVID-19. On the other hand, men were more likely to have kidney diseases called renal diseases.


The authors remark that this literature review is one of the few that breaks down by sex the particular health issues associated with COVID-related disease. Numerous studies have investigated gender disparities in hospitalization, ICU admission, respiratory support, and death. When it comes to sex, however, studies on the exact diseases induced by the virus and its long-term harm to the body have been inadequate.


The authors note that during earlier coronavirus epidemics, sex variations in outcomes have been recorded. Therefore, disparities in SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes between men and women may have been predicted. Unfortunately, the vast majority of studies did not examine or report granular data by sex, limiting sex-specific clinical insights that may influence therapy. ” Even if it wasn’t the main goal of the researcher, sex-disaggregated data should be made public so that other researchers can use it to look into differences between the sexes that are important.


The research also identifies complicated aspects deserving of further investigation. Notably, women are more likely to be exposed to the virus in particular occupations, such as nursing and teaching. There may also be differences in who can get care based on gender, which could change how the disease naturally progresses and cause more problems and side effects.


The latter acts as a rallying cry: availability of sex-disaggregated data and deliberate analysis are necessary if we are to guarantee that unequal disease course outcomes are addressed. No study is complete until the data is made accessible to anyone who wants to answer the question, “Do sex and gender matter?”

disease, drugs, Health, Public health

What role did Kansas, Missouri, and prairie dogs play in the first outbreak of monkeypox in the United States?

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The symptoms of monkeypox are comparable to but less severe than those of smallpox.

he first outbreak of monkeypox in the United States in 2003 hit the Midwest and was caused by prairie dogs sold as pets that caught the virus from infected animals from Africa. The outbreak included three cases in Kansas and Missouri. CHARLIE RIEDEL Associated Press file
Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article262585992.html#storylink=cpy

Contrary to the name, rodents, not monkeys, are the primary transmission vector. The initial outbreak in the United States hit six states in the Midwest, including Kansas and Missouri. The last occurrences have been connected to foreign travel and African animal imports. In 1958, monkeypox was first detected in a Danish laboratory.

In 1970, a youngster in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was diagnosed with the first human case. In 2003, there were 70 documented cases of monkeypox in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Contact with sores and rashes caused by the infection spreads monkeypox. It is also transmissible by large respiratory droplets, though not nearly as quickly as COVID-19. In addition, in the 2003 outbreak, no one contracted the virus through person-to-person contact, unlike the current situation.

The CDC provided updated recommendations based on what physicians have observed in patients thus far. Monkeypox typically causes fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and headaches. In addition, some individuals exhibited dispersed or localized lesions outside the face, hands, and feet.

More information may be found by visiting the following website: https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article262585992.html#storylink=cpy

Diet, disease, Fitness, Health, Healthy eating, Public health

Would you like to hear that a new study links coffee consumption to a lower risk of death?

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During the trial period, individuals who had moderate quantities of coffee, even with a little sugar, were 30 percent less likely to die than those who did not consume coffee.

Aileen Son for The New York Times

Researchers analyzed coffee consumption data obtained from the U.K. Biobank, a vast medical database including health information on the whole nation’s population. Three to five cups of unsweetened coffee per day was associated with the lowest mortality risk. Inconclusive were the data for persons who consumed coffee with artificial sweeteners. Other lifestyle factors, such as a healthy diet and frequent exercise, may also contribute to a reduced risk of death.

Coffee users may pick cold brew or drip coffee over less healthy caffeine sources, such as energy drinks or soda. Coffee beans have high quantities of antioxidants, which may help neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. Over time, an accumulation of free radicals may induce inflammation in the body, which can contribute to the formation of plaque associated with heart disease. Those who drank more than 4.5 cups of coffee each day had diminishing benefits.

disease, Health, Public health

What is the unusual virus known as monkeypox that has now been verified in the United States and Europe?

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Primarily prevalent in Central and West Africa, monkeypox may be transmitted to both animals and humans.

Symptoms of the monkeypox virus are shown on a patient’s hand, from a 2003 case in the United States. In most instances, the disease causes fever and painful, pus-filled blisters. New cases in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal are spreading possibly through sexual contact, which had not previously been linked to monkeypox transmission.
CDC/Getty Images

Some illnesses confirmed in the United Kingdom have “no travel ties” to locations where monkeypox is present. An expert finds it remarkable that instances are surfacing simultaneously in many nations. The monkeypox virus is distinct from the coronavirus that shook the globe. Existing smallpox vaccines might protect the population in the event of an outbreak.

Katzourakis states: “We do not have the capability for anything to spread throughout the world at anywhere like the pace seen with covid.” The first documented monkeypox case in the United Kingdom moved to Nigeria, according to the World Health Organization. The CDC reports that six Americans are being screened for monkeypox after sitting near a British patient on an airplane. There are no evident connections between the most recent two cases and previous ones, suggesting the potential of community transmission. According to an expert, most Americans will never encounter a case of monkeypox in their lives.

Obtaining the genetic sequence of the virus responsible for recent instances will enable scientists to determine whether they are dealing with a novel strain. The 1980 elimination of smallpox has allowed residual poxviruses to circumvent dwindling defenses.