COVID-19 can affect multiple organs beyond the lungs, impacting the heart, brain, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, and even leading to new or worsened conditions like autoimmune disorders, affecting almost any system due to widespread inflammation and clotting. Common issues include heart inflammation (myocarditis), neurological problems (migraines, brain fog), acute kidney injury, and digestive issues (IBS, GERD), with effects lingering long after the initial infection (Long COVID).
In severe COVID-19, these microthrombi can form on a large scale which can lead to stroke or organ failure. In a 2021 review of 151 autopsies of those dying of COVID-19, microthrombi in the lung were found in 73 % (91 patients), 11 % in the heart, 24 % in the kidney, and 16 % in the liver [80].
Some people, especially those who had severe COVID-19, may experience multi-organ effects or autoimmune conditions lasting weeks, months, or even years after COVID-19 illness. Multi-organ effects can involve many body systems, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, skin, and brain.
Researchers in Japan have pinpointed a biological cause of Long COVID brain fog using advanced PET brain imaging. They discovered widespread increases in AMPA receptor density linked to cognitive impairment and inflammation.
COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, the flu, or pneumonia. COVID-19 may attack more than your lungs and respiratory system. Other parts of your body may also be affected by the disease.
Diseases that people may be diagnosed with due to long COVID include:
Your Brain: The Command Center of Life
Your brain is the central processor of your entire existence. It controls everything, from conscious thoughts and emotions to automatic processes like digestion, breathing, heartbeat, and even hormone regulation.
What are some of the unusual symptoms of COVID-19?
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) is a rare but serious condition associated with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in which different internal and external body parts become inflamed, including: heart. lungs. kidneys.
The emerging COVID strain NB.1.8.1 is considered highly transmissible. This means it spreads easily in close contact settings such as homes, schools, workplaces, and public transportation. Factors driving increased spread include: Shorter incubation period.
Symptoms of organ failure you may notice include:
COVID-19 infection—even mild cases—can cause substantial long-term changes in the immune system that may be implicated in long COVID, concludes a new observational study by Medical University of Vienna (MUV) researchers published in Allergy.
COVID-19 may increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke, especially if you're hospitalized. But researchers continue to explore this topic. Inflammation is the main culprit, as it raises your risk of blood clots and prevents your body from getting rid of clots on its own.
Organs
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF LIVER DYSFUNCTION IN COVID-19 INFECTION. Symptoms of liver dysfunction can include fever, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice.
When people first become sick from the virus, they may develop encephalitis — inflammation of the brain — causing confusion, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems. COVID also can trigger the onset of new psychological disorders such as severe depression or anxiety.
COVID-19 Increases the Prevalence of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: What Nutrition and Dietetics Practitioners Need to Know.
Common Signs of POTS
Racing heart and light-headedness when going from lying down to standing. Reddish-purple color in feet or legs. Heart palpitations, or feeling your heart pounding or racing. Shortness of breath.
Children and adults with MIS experience ongoing fever PLUS at least two of the following signs or symptoms:
COVID-19 symptoms (if you have them) typically start 2-14 days after infection and clear up within a few days or weeks. The severity and length of illness varies from person to person, and there's no certainty about how long COVID-19 stays in your body.
Other symptoms can include:
One rare but real risk of the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines is myocarditis, or inflammation of heart tissue. Symptoms — chest pain, shortness of breath, fever and palpitations — appear in the absence of any viral infection.
The liver has a unique capacity among organs to regenerate itself after damage. A liver can regrow to a normal size even after up to 90% of it has been removed.
The commonly affected organs include your:
The brain is arguably the most important organ in the human body. It controls and coordinates actions and reactions, allows us to think and feel, and enables us to have memories and feelings-all the things that make us human.