Research suggests that those who have been infected with the coronavirus are at increased risk of developing several autoimmune diseases.
Since early in the pandemic, scientists have known that Covid-19 can cause inflammation throughout the body and have long-term effects on the immune system. This imbalance has been linked to a rise in autoimmune diseases, where the body attacks its own healthy tissues, such as diabetes.
American cardiologist Dr. Eric Topol analyzed the results of three existing studies to identify autoimmune disorders that could be caused by “Covid-19.”
In the investigation published on his website, he revealed 11 cases linked to the viral infection.
1. arthritis
It is a long-term condition that causes painful swelling of the joints, usually in the wrists, hands and feet.
There are two main types of this inflammation: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage covering the bones in the joints wears away. As for rheumatoid arthritis, it is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, starting with the lining of the joints.
The pain is caused by inflammation, swelling, and eventually bone erosion and joint deformity.
The researchers found that those who contracted Covid-19 were 45% more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who did not contract it.
2. Ankylosing spondylitis
It is a long-term condition that inflames the spine and other areas of the body and causes back pain, stiffness and fatigue. It may also cause pain in the knees, ankles, and hips.
Scientists found that Corona infection increases the risk of developing this autoimmune disorder by 21%.
3. Lupus
Lupus is a long-term condition that causes joint pain, rashes, and fatigue. It causes inflammation and tissue damage in affected organs, such as joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, heart and blood vessels.
Research found that the probability of developing lupus is 30% higher among those who have had Covid-19 compared to those who have not had it.
4. Dermatomyositis
It is a disease that causes muscle inflammation, weakness, and skin rashes. According to the Mayo Clinic, muscle weakness involves the muscles closest to the torso, such as those in the hips, thighs, shoulders, upper arms and neck, and tends to worsen gradually.
The researchers found that Covid-19 infection appears to increase the likelihood of developing the condition by 20%.
5. Systemic sclerosis
Systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, is a relatively uncommon condition that causes hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues, such as cartilage, bone and blood. It can affect the esophagus, lower digestive tract, lungs, heart and kidneys.
Scientists found that infection with “Covid-19” increases the risk of infection by 20%.
6. Sjogren's syndrome
This autoimmune condition attacks the glands that produce moisture in the eyes, mouth, and other parts of the body, causing dry eyes, mouth, and skin, fatigue, vaginal dryness, and muscle or joint pain.
Covid-19 patients are 26% more likely to develop this condition.
7. Mixed connective tissue disease
Mixed connective tissue disease occurs when two or more connective tissue diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, overlap.
The research stated that those who have had Covid-19 are 20% more likely to develop the condition than people who have not had it.
8. Behcet's disease
It is a rare and poorly understood condition that causes chronic swelling of the blood vessels, which increases the risk of blindness and stroke. It turns out that people infected with “Covid-19” are 19% more likely to become infected with it compared to others.
9. Polymyalgia rheumatica
This condition causes muscle pain and stiffness in the shoulders, arms, hip area, and neck. The main symptom of the condition is muscle stiffness in the morning that lasts longer than 45 minutes.
The researchers found that those who were infected with “Covid-19” were 20% more likely to develop polymyalgia rheumatica.
10. Vasculitis
This inflammation can cause organ and tissue damage, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some symptoms of this infection include fatigue, dizziness, hearing loss, temporary or permanent blindness, and shortness of breath.
According to experts, Covid-19 infection increases the risk of developing vasculitis by 26%.
11. Psoriasis
It is a skin condition that causes flaky patches with silvery scales to appear on the skin. It usually appears on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back, but it can appear anywhere on the body, according to the National Health Service. Researchers found that coronavirus infection increases the risk of psoriasis by 38%.
Can cheese be beneficial in preventing the risk of heart disease?!
We've often been told to limit our intake of cheese as it contains high amounts of saturated fat, which is linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
However, some experts believe that the distinctive "texture" of cheese - its molecular structure and unique components - means it may actually be beneficial to health.
In fact, research suggests that cheese has a positive effect on heart, gut, and cognitive mental health, and may protect against type 2 diabetes.
One of the most recent studies, published in the journal Nutrients, found that eating cheese regularly is associated with improved brain health in older people.
Researchers in Japan analyzed the diets of more than 1,500 people over 65 - those who reported eating cheese regularly (any kind, between once a week to every day), scored better on cognitive tests, and had a lower risk of developing dementia. , compared to those who did not consume cheese at all.
Separately, research presented at the American Dietetic Association conference last July suggested that a type of “good” bacteria, called Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which is naturally found in Parmesan cheese and yogurt, improves memory and brain function in older adults with cognitive impairment. Prelude to dementia. It is believed that probiotics (live beneficial bacteria) - which were provided in drink form to research participants - rebalanced the gut microbiome, bacteria, fungi and viruses that live in the digestive tract, and thus affected brain function.
As James Goodwin, professor of the physiology of aging at Loughborough University, explains, these gut microbes stimulate immune cells that send messages via nerves to the brain.
The gut microbiome also acts directly on the brain via the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the gut. Some chemicals that are made in the brain - including serotonin and dopamine - are also produced in the gut.
Cheese, and other dairy products such as milk and yogurt, help maintain a diverse microbiome because they contain a variety of “good” bacteria, with unpasteurized cheese containing a greater diversity of bacteria.
Professor Goodwin adds: “Cheese also contains high levels of anti-inflammatory molecules, called oleamide and dehydroesterol, which are exceptionally beneficial for the brain.”
And when it comes to heart health, despite long-standing concerns that saturated fat in cheese increases the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, recent research suggests the opposite. In 2018, Dr. Emma Feeney, an assistant professor at the Institute of Food and Health at University College Dublin, supervised a six-week trial in which 164 people over the age of 50 with slightly high blood cholesterol levels were divided into three groups and were given 42g. Of dairy fat daily.
One group received these fats in the form of 120g of mature cheddar cheese. The other was a combination of butter and low-fat cheddar cheese, while the third group was given separate ingredients that mimicked cheese (butter, calcium supplements, and calcium caseinate powder, similar to the protein found in cheese).
The study found that the full-fat cheese group experienced a greater reduction in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol compared to the other two groups.
Dr. Feeney believes that the composition of the cheese and how fats are retained within its structure is key. “It's thought that the fatty acids in cheese bind to the calcium in it, making it harder for our enzymes to break it down when it's in the structure of the cheese than in butter,” she says. “This means that less saturated fat gets into the bloodstream when it's in the cheese.”
High-calcium cheese led to a greater reduction in harmful cholesterol. Cheeses high in calcium include mature, hard white cheeses such as cheddar and Parmesan.
One explanation, according to Dr. Oliver Gutmann, a consultant cardiologist at St Bartholomew's Hospital and Wellington Hospital in London, is that components in cheese known as sphingolipids may reduce the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine.
But while some experts focus on the structure of cheese, others point out that the saturated fats that come from dairy products may themselves be beneficial and can even protect against type 2 diabetes.