Panagis Galiatsatos, M.D., M.H.S. February 28, 2022 John\u2019s Hopkins<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like other respiratory illnesses, COVID-19 can cause lasting lung damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs we continue to learn about COVID-19, we\u2019re understanding more regarding how it affects the lungs during acute illness and afterward. And this is especially true with the virus\u2019 ongoing variants, as well,\u201d Galiatsatos says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does COVID do to lungs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COVID-19 can cause lung complications such as pneumonia and, in the most severe cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. Sepsis, another possible complication of COVID-19, can also cause lasting harm to the lungs and other organs. Newer coronavirus variants may also cause more airway disease, such as bronchitis, that may be severe enough to warrant hospitalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs we have learned more about SARS-CoV-2 and resulting COVID-19, we have discovered that in severe COVID-19, a significant pro-inflammatory condition can result in several critical diseases, complications and syndromes,\u201d Galiatsatos says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COVID-19 Pneumonia<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In pneumonia, the lungs become filled with fluid and inflamed, leading to breathing difficulties. For some people, breathing problems can become severe enough to require treatment at the hospital with oxygen or even a ventilator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pneumonia that COVID-19 causes tends to take hold in both lungs. Air sacs in the lungs fill with fluid, limiting their ability to take in oxygen and causing shortness of breath, cough and other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While most people recover from pneumonia without any lasting lung damage, the pneumonia associated with COVID-19 can be severe. Even after the disease has passed, lung injury may result in breathing difficulties that might take months to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COVID Bronchitis<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn COVID-19-related bronchitis, this is an issue of an excessive amount of sputum produced in the airways, resulting in coughing and chest congestion. The sputum also narrows the airways, making breathing more difficult,\u201d Galiatsatos explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs for the bronchitis, patients may experience a cough that stays with them for months after the initial infection,\u201d he notes. \u201cThis frequent cough and ongoing chest congestion may have an impact on one\u2019s quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If COVID-19 pneumonia progresses, more of the air sacs can become filled with fluid leaking from the tiny blood vessels in the lungs. Eventually, shortness of breath sets in, and can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a form of lung failure. Patients with ARDS are often unable to breath on their own and may require ventilator support to help circulate oxygen in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether it occurs at home or at the hospital, ARDS can be fatal. People who survive ARDS and recover from COVID-19 may have lasting pulmonary scarring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sepsis<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another possible complication of a severe case of COVID-19 is sepsis. Sepsis occurs when an infection reaches, and spreads through, the bloodstream, causing tissue damage everywhere it goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLungs, heart and other body systems work together like instruments in an orchestra,\u201d Galiatsatos says. \u201cIn sepsis, the cooperation between the organs falls apart. Entire organ systems can start to shut down, one after another, including the lungs and heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sepsis, even when survived, can leave a patient with lasting damage to the lungs and other organs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Superinfection<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Galiatsatos notes that when a person has COVID-19, the immune system is working hard to fight the invader. This can leave the body more vulnerable to infection with another bacterium or virus on top of the COVID-19 \u2014 a superinfection. More infection can result in additional lung damage. And, Galiatsatos points out, strikingly, about one out of four patients who develop severe COVID-19 also have a superinfection, meaning these patients will take more time to heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three Factors in Coronavirus Lung Damage<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Galiatsatos notes three factors that affect the lung damage risk in COVID-19 infections and how likely the person is to recover and regain lung function:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Disease severity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe first is the severity of the coronavirus infection itself \u2014 whether the person has a mild case, or a severe one,\u201d Galiatsatos says. Milder cases are less likely to cause lasting scars in the lung tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Health conditions. Galiatsatos says, \u201cThe second is whether there are existing health problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart disease that can raise the risk for severe disease.\u201d Older people are also more vulnerable for a severe case of COVID-19. Their lung tissues may be less elastic, and they may have weakened immunity because of advanced age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treatment. \u201cTreatment is the third factor,\u201d he says. \u201cA patient\u2019s recovery and long-term lung health is going to depend on what kind of care they get, and how quickly.\u201d Timely support in the hospital for severely ill patients can minimize lung damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can coronavirus patients lessen the chance of lung damage?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are things patients can do to increase their chances for less severe lung damage, Galiatsatos says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you have a health issue that puts you at higher risk, make sure you\u2019re doing everything you can to minimize the chance of contracting the virus. Also, make sure that your chronic health conditions are managed as well as they can be. For example, people living with diabetes, COPD or heart disease should be especially careful to manage those conditions with monitoring and taking their medications as directed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Galiatsatos adds that proper nutrition and hydration can also help patients avoid complications of COVID-19. \u201cStaying well fed is important for overall health. Proper hydration maintains proper blood volume and healthy mucous membranes in the respiratory system, which can help them better resist infection and tissue damage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, he stresses, being vaccinated and boosted appropriately at the time of the infection helps ensure the best possible outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile the vaccine\u2019s immunity makes our immune systems \u02bbsmarter\u2019 by having a \u02bbplay book\u2019 to fight off the virus strategically with minimal collateral damage, the vaccine\u2019s immunity may also help in the healing process as well. Abnormal healing is seen often in people who have not previously been vaccinated. So while they survived the infection, the scars left from the coronavirus may be permanent in these patients.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is COVID-19 lung damage reversible?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a serious case of COVID-19, a patient\u2019s lungs can recover, but not overnight. \u201cRecovery from lung damage takes time,\u201d Galiatsatos says. \u201cThere\u2019s the initial injury to the lungs, followed by scarring. Over time, the tissue heals, but it can take three months to a year or more for a person\u2019s lung function to return to pre-COVID-19 levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLung healing in of itself can produce symptoms,\u201d Galiatsatos says. \u201cIt is similar to a leg bone breaking, needing a cast for months, and having the cast come off. No one would expect to begin to run right away with the newly-healed leg bone. As the leg strengthens and muscle re-grows, patients will experience discomfort from this healing. This is what our lungs go through, too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He notes that doctors and patients alike should be prepared for continuing treatment and therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce the pandemic is over, there will be a group of patients with new health needs: the survivors. Doctors, respiratory therapists and other health care providers will need to help these patients recover their lung function as much as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Panagis Galiatsatos, M.D., M.H.S. February 28, 2022 John\u2019s Hopkins Like other respiratory illnesses, COVID-19 can cause lasting lung damage. \u201cAs we continue to learn about COVID-19, we\u2019re understanding more regarding […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7478,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[663,292,293,443,521,945],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acute-respiratory-distress","category-lung","category-lung-disease","category-pneumonia","category-septic-shock","category-shortness-of-breath"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7476\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}