Repeated COVID-19 Infections: A Jenga Tower of Hidden Damage
Repeated COVID-19 Infections: A Jenga Tower of Hidden Damage
Imagine playing a game of Jenga. You carefully pull out blocks, each removal making the tower a bit shakier. Some blocks cause visible shifts, while others seem insignificant—until one day, the wrong block is pulled, and the entire tower collapses. This, my friends, is a fitting metaphor for how repeated COVID-19 infections affect our bodies. Each infection chips away at our health, often in ways we can't see, until one day, the cumulative damage leads to a catastrophic collapse.
Block One: The Invisible Assault on the Endothelium
Every time SARS-CoV-2 invades our system, it launches a stealthy attack on the endothelial lining of our blood vessels. The endothelium is like the smooth inner lining of a well-oiled machine, ensuring blood flows seamlessly. But COVID-19 disrupts this harmony, leading to a cascade of problems—clotting, inflammation, and compromised blood flow. This endothelial dysfunction is a cornerstone of severe COVID-19 complications, causing conditions like thrombosis, heart attacks, and strokes, COVID-19 is, in the end, an endothelial disease.
European Heart Journal: COVID-19 is, in the end, an endothelial disease
In the game of Jenga, some blocks are crucial to the tower's stability. Similarly, our endothelium is vital for maintaining our cardiovascular health. When COVID-19 damages these cells, it’s akin to removing a key block from the tower, leaving it more precarious and vulnerable to future disturbances.
Block Two: The Brain Under Siege
The brain, that marvelous control center of our being, is not spared by repeated infections. SARS-CoV-2 has a nasty habit of sneaking into the brain via the olfactory nerve, causing neuronal damage and cognitive impairments that many know as "brain fog." Each infection increases the risk of long-term neurological problems, including memory loss, strokes, and even accelerating conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Just as in Jenga, where the removal of a single block can destabilize the entire structure, COVID-19’s impact on the brain can lead to significant and lasting disruptions. Memory problems, movement disorders, and mental health issues become more likely with each infection, making our mental health tower increasingly wobbly.
Block Three: Persistent Virus and Systemic Damage
Beyond immediate symptoms, COVID-19 can linger in the body, leading to chronic conditions. Research suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can persist in various tissues, continually damaging organs and systems. This persistent virus can wreak havoc, leading to ongoing inflammation and immune system dysregulation.
Repeated infections can exacerbate this persistent viral presence, causing further nerve damage and contributing to neurological disorders. The constant battle between the virus and the immune system can lead to dysautonomia, a condition where the autonomic nervous system malfunctions, causing issues with heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.
Block Four: Cardiac Events and More
The heart is particularly vulnerable to repeated infections. Each bout of COVID-19 can increase the risk of cardiac events, such as myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and heart attacks. These conditions can develop silently, much like the unseen shifts in a Jenga tower, until a critical event reveals the underlying damage.
Block Five: The Liver
COVID-19’s reach extends to the liver as well. The virus can cause liver inflammation and damage, disrupting its crucial functions in detoxification and metabolism.
Block Six - to Hundreds of Blocks: Other Issues
The hundreds of blocks contain many issues that patients report, from mast cell activation syndrome, nerve issues, POTS, chronic pain, gastrointestinal issues, lung damage, and many other issues
Pulling The Blocks - The Unseen Danger of Repeated Infections
Many people are facing COVID-19 infections every six to twelve months. This frequency is unsustainable and dangerous, akin to pulling Jenga blocks at an ever-accelerating pace. While some infections might seem mild, the invisible damage accumulates, increasing the risk of severe outcomes over time [oai_citation:10,Are repeat COVID infections dangerous?
This pattern mirrors how heart disease silently progresses. For years, the heart and blood vessels may endure minor, unseen damage until one day, a heart attack strikes. Repeated COVID-19 infections work similarly, gradually undermining our health until a critical point is reached.
Protecting Our Health
The analogy of Jenga underscores the importance of protecting ourselves from repeated infections. Vaccinations, masks, avoiding crowds, air purification through filtration, UV lights, ventilation and other preventive measures are not just about avoiding immediate illness—they're about maintaining the integrity of our health tower for the long run. Do what you can and have a layered approach. It can work. My wife, son and myself have not been ill since 2019 by following these methods.
In conclusion, each COVID-19 infection is a pulled Jenga block, destabilizing the intricate structure of our health. While some damage is visible, much of it is hidden, accumulating silently. It's a stark reminder that our bodies, much like a Jenga tower, can only take so many hits before collapsing. Let’s be mindful of each block we pull and strive to keep our health tower standing tall.
Sources:
1. COVID-19 and cognitive impairment: neuroinvasive and blood‒brain barrier dysfunction | Journal of Neuroinflammation
2. Are repeat COVID infections dangerous? What the science says | Nature
3. COVID-19 infections increase risk of long-term brain problems | Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
4. COVID-19 is, in the end, an endothelial disease | European Heart Journal