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In the journal Cell, there's a pre-print released on their website entitled "Multiple Early Factors Anticipate Post-Acute COVID-19 Sequelae." In this relatively small study, the researchers identified four risk factors for developing so-called "long Covid."
The first is the presence of Type-2 Diabetes.
The second is the systemic viral load (specifically, they use the term SARS-CoV2 RNAemia) at time of diagnosis of Covid.
The third is the presence (primary or reactivation) of Epstein-Barr Virus, the causative virus behind mononucleosis.
The fourth is the presence of specific autoantibodies in the blood, indicating an autoimmune condition.
I'm not sure how to address the EBV titers usefully, nor do I have anything to say about autoimmune disease in this context.
However, the first two are directly connected to major themes of this column since the first days of Covid.
The obesity-Covid connection has been one we've talked about ad nauseam, and the link between Type 2 Diabetes and obesity is undeniable. I've encouraged my readers to lose excess weight since March of 2020.
The second point, high SARS-CoV2 RNAemia at diagnosis. is a reasonable proxy for SARS-CoV2 viral load, and this may well be connected, at least in part, with initial viral inoculum, or how many virus particles you encounter on your initial exposure. This is one of the reasons, and probably the biggest, for universal masking with basic masks.
Look up the title above for more details.
Stay healthy!
I'm on a weekend night call schedule this weekend, which always leaves me feeling under-rested and generally icky.
But I wanted to remind you that outdoor exercise without screens is really good for your mental health.
Go outdoors, preferably into the woods.
Get in tune with those surroundings, the sights, the sounds, the smells, even the movement of air and the varying temperatures as you walk.
We were made to be outdoors.
We were definitely not made to work in cubicles.
One Degree!
What you want from your body will dictate what you need to set as goals, and the goals will determine what you'll end up having to change to attain them.
I've spoken many times about systems being better than goals, and my position has not changed.
But goals are easier to discuss and to understand, so for this week, we'll be very specific about goals.
Do you want more muscle mass?
Do you want to be stronger?
Do you want to run faster?
Do you want to gain weight?
Do you want to lose weight?
Do you want to improve general fitness?
Do you want longevity?
Do you want strong bones?
Do you want to earn a Black Belt?
Understanding the benefits and costs of each particular goal may help you decide what you want.
For example, if you want to compete in body-building competitions, you'll not be doing the same thing as if you were focused on longevity. Same with strength competitions.
But general fitness and longevity go fairly well together.
Running is great but will increase the likelihood of needing knee or hip ...
I'll make this one short and to the point.
Spring time change is hard on all of us. Having to get up an hour early doesn't make going to bed an hour earlier much easier.
Yes, it's nice to have more productive time in the evening.
But it's at the cost of forcing us out of be an hour earlier, as we all know.
Our challenge is to adjust our circadian rhythm to match the world's expectations around us.
My main strategy is supplementing with a dose of melatonin about a half hour before I need to be asleep. It helps most people fall asleep more readily.
If you need a nap during your day, take it between mid-morning and early afternoon. Limit it to 20 minutes.
Taking a longer or later nap may make it even harder to get off to sleep in time.
All of the other normal advice applies even moreso:
- Take a 20-minute walk after supper.
- No screen time for the last hour before bed.
- Listen to calm music after supper.
- Don't eat for 2 hours before bed.
- Don't have conflict-laden conversations ...
