Science News: COVID-19 can cause lasting lung damage

Science News: We’ve seen many of our patients who recovered from COVID-19 say this even months later. Even though they were able to survive the most severe part of their illness, they’re still not back at their pre-COVID baseline. They struggle with activities ranging from strenous exercise to doing chores.

As many as one in five Americans who were diagnosed with COVID-2019 had lingering effects after their diagnosis, including a variety of symptoms, which may be caused by damage to or malfunctioning in multiple organs. Understanding the causes of these lingering effects is a special research priority for the Biden-Harris administration.

Lung diseases are not always lung-related, but in many cases, the lung is affected. Understanding the basics of lung function and how it can be affected by disease can help clear up what’s ahead for some people who get sick from COVID-19.

The main function of our lung is to take in oxygen from the atmosphere and release CO2 back into the atmosphere. As we breathe in, the oxygen diffused into the bloodstream by the alveoli and carried through the capillaries reaches the tissues, where it is used for cellular respiration. As we exhale, the CO2 released by the cells diffused out of the tissue and returned to the atmosphere via the respiratory tract.

Ventilating means taking in fresh oxygen through the lungs into the bloodstream, and circulating the carbon dioxide from the bloodstream back into the lungs. Perfusing means moving blood throughout the body.

When a single breath goes through the lungs, there are roughly 300 million tiny alveolar sacs where gases can be exchanged. Over 100 square metres of lung tissue is involved in each breath.

Matching ventilation and blood flow is important for basic lung function, so any damage anywhere along the airways can cause trouble when inhaling and exhaling.

Obstruction of air flow occurs when something gets between the lungs and the outside world.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and asthma are two common causes of lung impairment. These conditions cause narrowing of the airways by either damaging them due to smoke inhalation, as is common in cases of COPD, or causing allergic reactions, which narrows the airways in cases of asthma. Patients suffering from either condition often struggle with breathing difficulties.

Researchers have found that some people who recover from COVID-19 experience continued breathing difficulties. These symptoms are often treatable with inhaled medications that help relax the muscles that keep airways closed.

Another type of lung disorder is known as restriction, or difficulty breathing. When restricted, the volume of the lung reduces, making it difficult for them to breathe. Lung scarring may result from an injury or illness.

Scar tissue forms when there is an injury to the body. It’s usually caused by inflammation or infection.

ARDS can be triggered by injury to the lungs, like pneumonia. Around 25 percent of people who survive an episode of ARDS end up developing restrictive pulmonary fibrosis (RPF).

Researchers have also found out that people who have recovered from COVD-19, especially those with severe illness, can later suffer from respiratory failure. People who require mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 may also recover similarly to how they would if they were recovering from other illnesses requiring mechanical ventilation. Long term outcomes of pulmonary function in these individuals are yet to be determined. Currently being tested drugs used to treat scarring of lungs following COVID-19 are undergoing clinical trials.

Even though they may not be affected by airflow obstruction, the lungs cannot perform their functions without adequate blood supply.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) is linked to an increase in the risk of developing thrombosis — which includes both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). If DVT travels to the lungs, it can cause a life-threating PE.

Long term, clotting disorders can lead to chronic problems with the lungs’ ability to circulate oxygen throughout the body. Only 1% to 5% of people who experience a pulmonary embolism from causes other than COVID-9 go on to develop this disease. However, there is some indication that severe COVID-9 infections may be damaging the lungs’ circulation directly and impeding their ability to pump oxygen through the system during recovery.

Lungs can function less effectively in three different ways, and COVID can cause all of them. Doctors and researchers are still trying to figure out the best way to treat the long-lasting lung damage caused by COVID.

Clinically, follow up with patients who have fully recovered from COVID- 19, especially those with persistent symptoms, may help them get diagnosed faster with long COVID. Patients with

For scientists, COVID has been an excellent opportunity to learn more about the underlying mechanisms of how certain types of respiratory diseases occur. By uncovering these mechanisms, they could help them develop better treatments for people who suffer from these illnesses.