The symptoms of “long COVID” or post-COVID syndrome vary, but most patients describe it as “brain fog”.
British scientists have concluded that some symptoms of the so-called “long Covid” or post-Covid syndrome are caused by blood clots (microthrombi) that form in the brain or lungs of the patient.
The study involved 1,837 people hospitalized with severe forms of Covid-19. According to the scientists, two blood proteins indicate that one of the reasons for prolonged poor health after the Covid test is negative is precisely microthrombi.
Higher levels of the protein fibrinogen, which begins to break down during blood clotting, and the protein fragment D-dimer, which forms during the dissolution of blood clots, were found in the blood of patients with “prolonged COVID”.
Dr. Max Take of Oxford University explained: “Both fibrinogen and D-dimer are involved in blood clotting, so the results support the hypothesis that thrombi are the cause of post-COVID cognitive problems. Fibrinogen can directly affect the brain and its blood vessels, while D-dimer often indicates the formation of thrombi in the lungs. Thus, problems with brain activity may be related to a lack of oxygen to the brain. The results showed that people with high levels of D-dimer also complained of severe fatigue, shortness of breath, and difficulty concentrating. The U.S. study showed similar results.”
The causes of post-COVID syndrome are still not fully understood, but most often it is blamed on autoimmune disorders, viral persistence, internal organ damage, and microthrombi. The goal of the research conducted by British doctors was to understand the need. We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what’s next. The number of episodes should remain the same. The end of the story. Advertising podcasts. In addition, the group has set a goal of creating a database that could be used by other scientists and researchers.
Doctors now believe that about 16% of these patients have had problems with thinking, concentration, and memory for at least six months. However, in some cases, “long covid” can develop even after milder forms of the disease.
At the same time, scientists from the universities of Oxford and Leicester emphasize that: According to the study’s senior author, Professor Paul Harrison of the University of Oxford, a key step in understanding the nature of “brain fog” after COVID-19 is to clarify the underlying causes of its onset. But it should be remembered that there can be many different reasons for a “long COVID”. According to Chris Brightling, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Leicester, complications after Covid-19 are determined by “the person’s health immediately before the illness and what happens after they recover”.
Simon Redford is not sure if he will make a full recovery, but he is trying not to get discouraged. Lancashire university professor Dr. Simon Retford contracted Covid-19 in October 2020 and remained in a coma for two weeks. Doctors told his family to prepare for the worst. He is now about 60-70% recovered, but still has problems with concentration, short-term memory loss, and inability to focus. “In May of last year, I became the course director, and most of the time I was like a very slow computer trying to boot up,” he says. Until his illness, he worked in the police force, but he had to leave because the workload was too much. He adds that when he works “too hard,” he gets really tired. But he remains optimistic: “At the end of the day, I’m still here, while thousands of others are not.
