Thread by @TactNowInfo

🧵 Immune systems seriously weakened by COVID

"The virus depletes the body’s supply of T-cells, leaving young and old alike vulnerable to secondary infections, says a University of Waterloo immunologist." 1/

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

"Individuals who are infected with COVID have many fewer T-cells,” said Katzenback who studies viruses.

“That’s a problem for us because T-cells are a really important part of our immune system that helps defend us against infection.” 2/

"Studies show COVID kills off a significant number of the body’s T-cells, so even when a someone recovers from COVID, they are at a heightened risk for other viral, bacterial & fungal infections."

Mucormycosis linked to immunity deterioration"

3/
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.10…

“That is causing a lot of people to go to the emergency rooms, rightly so, to seek medical aid and it is overwhelming our health care system,” said Katzenback."

"The only other virus that attacks and kills T-cells is HIV, which causes AIDS, said Katzenback."
4/

" COVID-19 does eliminate a significant number of T-cells, enough to make large numbers of sick people overwhelm emergency wards with RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), pneumonia, strep infections and other ailments." 5/

therecord.com/news/waterloo-…

COVID infected neutrophils had a direct effect on lymphocyte counts, with decreasing numbers of CD19+ B cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD4+ T cells. This study highlights the independent role of neutrophils in contributing to the aberrant immune responses.
6/
mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/2…

"Once inside T helper cells, SARS-CoV-2 assembles viral factories, impairs cell function and may cause cell death"

"COVID infected T helper cells express higher amounts of IL-10, which is associated with viral persistence and disease severity"
7/
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…

It's slowly becoming understood that which has been known to those following closely for some time now. COVID is weakening our immune system. The damage doesn't begin and end there. It also infects many other cell types affecting multiple organ systems. 8/

COVID infection affects endothelial inflammation, prothrombotic transformation, and barrier dysfunction.

Endothelial cells serve a critical role in immune surveillance, functioning both in adaptive & innate immunity. ⬅️
9/

https://twitter.com/TactNowInfo/status/1587724453856813057?t=tT8Hj626ScBsINyND-yP8g&s=19

The impact to the heart is also becoming clearer.
"Aortic dissection and Covid-19; a comprehensive systematic review"

"There are several major pathway similarities between aortic dissection and the inflammation caused by Covid-19 infection."

10/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

"Family doctors and vascular surgeons should be aware about the possibility of AAA degeneration in patients with moderate-severe COVID19 infection. The risk is increased by steroid therapy which is essential in more advanced stages of the infection."
11/
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.117…

Influences of COVID on AAA pathogenesis include augmented ACE-angiotensin II-AT1 receptor activity resulting from decreased reciprocal ACE2-angiotensin 1-7-Mas activation.

12/
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

If caught in time, surgery can save lives but it often happens unexpectedly. When hospitals are already overwhelmed survival odds decrease.

"Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm successfully managed by open surgical repair and review of literature"
13/ indjvascsurg.org/article.asp?is…

Our Brain. "COVID appears to travel widely across the cerebral cortex"
COVID’s brain-related symptoms go beyond mere mental fuzziness. They range, encompassing headaches, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, vivid dreams, strokes and seizures.
14/
scientificamerican.com/article/how-co…

Many of the brain issues persist.
"At approximately 4 months after acute illness, cognitive dysfunction, emotional distress, and functional decline were common among a diverse clinical sample of COVID-19 survivors varying in acute illness severity."

15/
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

COVID can lead to actual visual changes to the brain.
➡️ Brain Damage ⬅️
"a degenerative spread of the disease through olfactory pathways, of neuroinflammatory events, or of the loss of sensory input"

"a more pronounced loss of grey matter "

nature.com/articles/s4158…
16/

"Through the olfactory pathways"
The virus infects the brain through olfactory mucosa located in the back of the nasal passages.

Use Nasal Rinse to help keep the nasal passages cleared of viral particles, limiting the odds of brain infection.
17/
jamanetwork.com/journals/jamao…

Another important step to help limit viral particles in the mouth and throat is gargling with mouth wash. As a preventative measure and also if infected.

If possible, don't swallow nasal drip. That sends the virus into the GI tract. Bad move.
18/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33299988/

What else can we do?
We can make air quality in schools & public spaces an issue that finally get addressed.

Help advocate to your local representatives & to Congress on your own or in an organized coordinated way with TACT.
19/

Links to send messages to the Whitehouse, Congress, and the CDC at tActNow.info

Clean Air for Kids needs your help and support.

Regardless of political affiliation, I think we can all agree on this.

tactnow.info/clean-air-for-…

We watched congress hand over billions to schools. Was that money used to upgrade air filtration and ventilation?

Funds must be appropriated specifically for HVAC upgrades or replacements with units that can filter 99% of viruses and other pathogens. The technology exists.

Why aren't we using the tools we have available? We need to hold leaders accountable.

The evolution of COVID is headed in an even more dangerous direction. We don't have to accept repeated infections with COVID & other viruses.

This is Preventable.
tactnow.info/clean-air-for-…

The single most important thing an individual can do to protect themselves and others is wear a quality N-95 mask properly. ⬅️

Make sure it's tight against your face & around your nose.

1.journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.117…

2.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

#N95maskswork