Five years after the World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 pandemic, scientists are beginning to unravel the complex ways in which the virus can impact the body long after the initial infection has seemingly resolved. From the onset of the pandemic, we quickly learned just how deadly an infection could be, particularly for individuals with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
While the immediate dangers of Covid-19 were evident, it has taken extensive research to understand how a single bout of the virus can lead to enduring, often invisible changes within various systems of the body. Some of these long-term effects, such as chronic fatigue and brain fog, are classified under the term long Covid, which refers to symptoms that persist for at least three months after the initial infection.
According to recent estimates, approximately 400 million people around the globe have been diagnosed with some form of long Covid. However, the repercussions of a Covid-19 infection extend beyond this condition. Many individuals experience additional health issues, including lung damage, heart damage, and alterations to the gut microbiome. These complications may not always be identified as long Covid but can still have significant, long-term effects on overall health.
Recent studies have shed light on the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to these ongoing health challenges, particularly the role of inflammation triggered by Covid-19. In most cases, the inflammatory response subsides once the virus has cleared from the body. However, for some individuals, if this inflammation “rages” too intensely or persists as a “slow burn,” it can have detrimental effects throughout the body. Dr. Braden Kuo, a neurogastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, emphasizes the importance of understanding how prolonged inflammation can wreak havoc on health.
As we continue to learn more about the long-term effects of Covid-19, it becomes increasingly clear that the impact of this virus goes far beyond the initial infection. Ongoing research is essential to fully understand the breadth of these changes and to develop effective strategies for managing and mitigating the long-term health implications of Covid-19.
