Pulmonary Hypertension

This is the first comprehensive cohort study on children with COVID-19 and post-hospitalization asthma-like to the best of our knowledge. 41.5% of COVID-19 patients had asthma-like after discharge in the present study. Our study population had a higher prevalence of persistent cough and asthma-like symptoms than the US and Chicago populations, which were estimated to have an asthma prevalence of 8–9% and 9.5%, respectively, at all [4, 16]. Moreover, recently published papers in the US reported a prevalence of 7.4–17% for asthma in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 [2, 17,18,19]. The latter reports are contrary to the low asthma prevalence of ≤ 1% observed in China [9, 10]. These heterogeneous findings could be attributed to genetic, geographically different asthma, screening time (during hospitalization or post-discharge asthma), and frequency or techniques for ascertainment. Given the higher percentage of asthma reported in our study than in other studies, it seems that since most p...

Share on Pinterest If you experience high blood pressure from youth, it could significantly affect your brain health in middle age and beyond. Dimensions/Getty Images High blood pressure in youth may have an impact on brain health and cognitive function later in life, new research suggests. The study followed 853 Black and white participants for 30 years, and found that people who started with higher blood pressure or with steadily increasing pressure showed adverse changes in their brains. Blood pressure is influenced by lifestyle factors that we can change to prevent this from happening, experts say. Nearly half of U.S. adults are living with high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . A new study shows that if you experience this condition from youth, it could significantly affect your brain health in middle age and beyond. "Identifying early risk factors and early changes in the brain will have a major impact on future clinical and...

Psychological issues are multi-faceted in etiology, stemming from biological, psychological, and sociological drivers. Underlying each of these drivers is the stress-reactive mechanism. Stress reactivity has served an important evolutionary role in human survival and is critically important on an acute basis in dealing with exogenous and endogenous threats. However, the effects of chronic stress are well-documented to cause, or exacerbate, most psychological disorders and many physiological diseases. Chronic exposure to stressors dysregulates endocrine and immune system functions, leading to sustained inflammatory responses, resulting in the pathogenesis of depression and other disorders (see my posts on psychoneuroimmunology and stress reactivity). Addressing chronic stress is one of the most important goals for psychologists. By using results from key blood panels, psychologists, working with medical providers, can develop a much more comprehensive understanding of their patient...

Share on Pinterest A recent study investigates links between oral bacteria and high blood pressure. Eugenio Marongiu/Getty Images Almost half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, or hypertension. People with hypertension have an increased risk of stroke and heart disease. The researchers behind a new study have found a connection between certain types of oral bacteria and the risk of hypertension in people who have experienced menopause. The researchers associate specific bacteria with both baseline blood pressure and the risk of developing hypertension. The study appears in the Journal of the American Heart Association . The authors believe there is ground for further research to determine whether this association between oral bacteria and hypertension is causal. Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the wall of the arteries. It is normal for blood pressure to rise and fall throughout the day, but if it remains elevated, it can cause health issues...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition that makes it more difficult for a person to breathe. Worsening COPD can cause exacerbated symptoms, including chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath, and an ongoing cough. COPD can start with minimal symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, the symptoms can worsen and become more obvious. This article examines the signs and symptoms of worsening COPD. It also looks at management methods, how COPD progresses, and more. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) notes that COPD may not cause noticeable symptoms at first. However, as the disease progresses, a person will likely experience worsening symptoms. Some common symptoms of COPD that may worsen include: a persistent cough with changes in mucus color or thickness wheezing, squeaking, or whistling while breathing tightness in the chest shortness of breath that gets worse with physical activity In addition, a person may become more susce...

Your sinuses are air-filled pockets that are located behind your face. When fluid builds up in your sinuses, germs like viruses and bacteria can multiply and lead to a sinus infection. COVID-19 is a viral illness that's caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Levels of the virus can be high in the nasal and sinus areas. Some COVID-19 symptoms also overlap with symptoms of sinus infections. Symptoms like nasal congestion, sore throat, or fever may cause you to wonder if you have a sinus infection or COVID-19. Read on to find out how to tell the difference. Sinus infections and COVID-19 can have many symptoms in common, including: Some symptoms of a sinus infection that are different from those of COVID-19 include: Sinus pain or pressure and postnasal drip are good indicators of a sinus infection. These symptoms typically occur along with other common sinus infection symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose. Unique symptoms of COVID-19 that are rarely present during a sinus infection includ...

What are potential complications of COVID-19? About 80% of people infected with COVID-19 suffer mild to moderate symptoms and can recover without the need for hospitalization. About 15%, however, become seriously ill and require oxygen. About 5% become critically ill and require immediate medical attention. COVID-19 has the potential to result in health complications and even death in susceptible individuals. Complications include: Older individuals and those with the following conditions are at higher risk of COVID-19 complications: What organs can be damaged by COVID-19? Lungs COVID-19 can cause lung problems such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in severe cases.  Pneumonia: Pneumonia causes the lungs to swell and fill with fluid. This can lead to difficulty breathing, which may become so severe that hospitalization, oxygen therapy, and monitoring for oxygen saturation may be required.While most people recover from pneum...