NIH-funded research sheds light on link between COVID-19 infection and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can directly infect the arteries of the heart and cause the fatty plaque inside arteries to become highly inflamed, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The findings, published in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research, may help explain why certain people who get COVID-19 have a greater chance of developing cardiovascular disease, or if they already have it, develop more heart-related complications.
In the study, researchers focused on older people with fatty buildup, known as atherosclerotic plaque, who died from COVID-19. However, because the researchers found the virus infects and replicates in the arteries no matter the levels of plaque, the findings could have broader implications for anybody who gets COVID-19.
Man, everyone seems like they’re “over” covid, but I’m pretty goddamn sure that COVID’s not going to be “over” us for a long time, perhaps ever. We’re still only scratching the surface in terms of fully understanding all of the pathogen’s mechanisms and the impacts it has on, like, all of human biology.