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NPR

A discovery in the muscles of long COVID patients may explain exercise troubles

Long COVID patients can experience severe energy crashes after physical exertion. New research provides clear evidence that there's a biolog

Full Transcript at the link; 3-minute listen.

Quote:

By taking biopsies from long COVID patients before and after exercising, scientists in the Netherlands constructed a startling picture of widespread abnormalities in muscle tissue that may explain this severe reaction to physical activity.

Among the most striking findings were clear signs that the cellular power plants, the mitochondria, are compromised and the tissue starved for energy.

"We saw this immediately and it's very profound," says Braeden Charlton, one of the study's authors at Vrije University in Amsterdam.

The tissue samples from long COVID patients also revealed severe muscle damage, a disturbed immune response, and a buildup of microclots.

"This is a very real disease," says Charlton. "We see this at basically every parameter that we measure."

“if you take medication for that, you’ll be taking medication all your life!!” yeah, and?? bud, i already put on my glasses every morning. it’s like. a condition of mine, not a side hobby i’m pursuing irresponsibly. 

Different icon, same illnesses

At this point, the patches of hair that are still thick are the areas that look like they shouldn’t be on my head

“Bald is beautiful”

Okay, but what about patchy?

Why, when I told my doctor that I had come to terms with my alopecia areata and didn’t want to treat my visible hair loss, did she give me a recommendation for a hair growth serum anyway?

Patchy is beautiful

The patterns it creates, unique to every person

The thicker spots that turn to soft, thin hairs as you run your hand across your scalp

The halo when you’re backlit, speckled like light filtering through tree leaves

Beautiful.

If someone says to you, "I don't see your disability!" The only proper response is, "Well I don't see your ignorance but it's clearly there!"