Tag: COVID-19

bookmark_borderThe Lingering Toll: How Long-COVID Continues to Reshape American Lives

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by Daniel Brouse
May 27, 2025

Five Years Later, COVID’s Chronic Shadow Persists

Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, millions of Americans continue to battle lingering and often debilitating symptoms that have upended their lives. Among the most distressing and widespread of these are cognitive impairments — memory loss, mental fatigue, and difficulty concentrating — symptoms that strike people of all ages and backgrounds.

These neurological effects are not just inconvenient; they’re life-altering. In many cases, they mimic early signs of dementia or other neurodegenerative conditions. For some, they have ended careers and reshaped identities.

When the Brain Fog Never Lifts

Ken Todd, a 56-year-old former Showtime executive living in New York City, is one of these patients. Once a high-performing professional, Todd was forced to stop working in 2023 after struggling with persistent symptoms. “When I tried to go back and apply for jobs, I just didn’t have the stamina — mentally or physically,” he says. “It just exacerbated my symptoms.” Eventually, he was diagnosed with a form of mild cognitive impairment, a condition previously rare in middle-aged adults with no history of neurological disease.

Todd’s story is increasingly common. COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has proven to be more than an acute respiratory illness. Its lasting damage now stands as a major public health crisis — one that may endure for decades.

A Disease That Doesn’t Let Go

Recent studies show that the virus often triggers a cascade of chronic complications that significantly reduce both quality of life and life expectancy. One shocking estimate suggests that up to 10% of the excess deaths since the pandemic’s onset can be directly attributed to the virus itself. But the remaining 90% are linked to what experts are calling COVID’s “silent killers”: the conditions it leaves behind.

Patients are reporting not only cognitive issues but also cardiovascular problems, chronic fatigue, respiratory decline, and new-onset diabetes and autoimmune disorders. “There is something inside the body going wrong with the disease,” says Dr. Rob Wüst, a researcher studying the long-term effects of COVID on muscle tissue and metabolism. The damage, he says, often continues even after the virus has cleared from the body.

Long-COVID: From Rare Concern to Routine Diagnosis

What was once considered a rare or controversial diagnosis is now a regular part of medical practice. Long-COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), refers to the collection of symptoms that persist for weeks or months — sometimes years — after the initial illness. And according to emerging data, the chances of experiencing some form of long-term effect after infection may be as high as 99%.

While the severity and duration of symptoms vary, the risk of long-term complications rises with reinfection. This makes prevention and public health measures still vitally important, even as public attention has shifted elsewhere.

A Public Health Reckoning Still to Come

COVID-19 has rewritten the rules of public health and chronic disease. As the world attempts to move on, the growing population of long-COVID patients represents a slow-burning crisis. These individuals require sustained medical support, workplace accommodations, and mental health care — needs that far outlast the acute phase of the pandemic.

And for those like Ken Todd, the consequences are deeply personal. “You lose your sense of self,” he says. “It’s like your mind used to be a sharp tool — and now it’s rusting.”

The pandemic may no longer dominate headlines, but for millions of Americans, its effects are anything but over. The long shadow of COVID-19 continues to fall over daily life — reshaping our understanding of what it means to survive a virus that never truly leaves.

COVID Science Updates

bookmark_borderCOVID UPDATE: Trump the Destroyer

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by Daniel Brouse
March 28, 2025

Trump the Destroyer

During his first term, Trump oversaw the rise and spread of COVID-19, which resulted in millions of deaths. He downplayed the virus, even calling it a hoax. He suggested ingesting disinfectants and exposing the internal organs to UV light as remedies, despite widespread medical warnings against such dangerous misinformation.  Now, he has cut all funding for critical programs aimed at preventing future pandemics, leaving the nation vulnerable to future outbreaks of even more deadly viruses.

The Trump administration, in coordination with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has implemented sweeping cuts to COVID-19 research funding, including the critical AVIDD (Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development) and ASAP (Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines) programs. These cuts threaten the progress made in understanding and combating zoonotic diseases, which are responsible for the emergence of deadly viruses such as COVID-19.

Scientific experts have warned that reducing funding for these antiviral programs will leave the U.S. and the world more vulnerable to future pandemics. AVIDD and ASAP were instrumental in the rapid development of treatments and vaccines during the COVID-19 crisis. Without sustained investment in these areas, research into potential emerging pathogens will be significantly hindered, delaying response times and increasing the likelihood of widespread outbreaks.

The administration’s decision to cut funding is part of a broader rollback of public health initiatives. The NIH, which oversees AVIDD and ASAP, is facing an overall budget reduction, including a proposed 20% funding cut that would impact infectious disease research, vaccine development, and pandemic preparedness. Scientists and health officials have raised alarms that these cuts could set back medical advancements by decades, making it harder to develop treatments for existing and future health threats.

Public health organizations and advocacy groups are mounting opposition to these policy decisions, emphasizing that weakening pandemic defenses in a world still recovering from COVID-19 is reckless and dangerous. The cuts not only threaten scientific progress but also put millions of lives at risk by reducing the nation’s ability to respond swiftly to new viral threats.

As researchers scramble to find alternative funding sources, the long-term consequences of these cuts remain uncertain. However, history has shown that underfunding infectious disease research can lead to devastating consequences. The world witnessed this with COVID-19, and without continued support for programs like AVIDD and ASAP, the risks of another pandemic grow exponentially.

The question remains: Will the U.S. learn from past mistakes, or will short-sighted policy decisions undermine the progress made in pandemic preparedness?

COVID-19

bookmark_borderAnthony Fauci: A Case Study in Public-Private Healthcare

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by Daniel Brouse
December 19, 2024

The United States arguably has one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world, a feat achieved despite having one of the least healthy populations globally. The true challenge in improving health, economic stability, and overall well-being in the U.S. lies in individual lifestyle choices and personal responsibility. Many Americans remain undereducated about critical topics such as health, wellness, and financial management. Compounding these challenges are unhealthy habits, such as reliance on fossil fuels, consumption of processed foods, and insufficient physical activity.

Despite these obstacles, the U.S. healthcare system—a unique public-private partnership—continues to stand out. While some advocate for universal healthcare modeled after other nations, many of those systems are struggling under economic pressures. For instance, France has faced years of civil unrest driven partly by the unsustainable costs of its national healthcare system, leading to government instability. Similarly, Canada’s healthcare model is under strain, illustrated by the resignation of its finance minister and calls for the Prime Minister to step down. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is also plagued by long treatment delays, nationwide nursing strikes, and reports of patient deaths while awaiting care. Germany, Italy, and Greece, among others, are facing similar demise.  Even China, often viewed as an example of universal healthcare success, is grappling with economic strain from an aging population and has faced public protests over healthcare policies.

An example of the U.S. system’s strength is its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, two companies with strong U.S. ties, developed groundbreaking mRNA vaccines with significant financial and logistical support from the U.S. government. Initiatives like Operation Warp Speed accelerated the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, showcasing the efficacy of the public-private partnership. While China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines were developed earlier, they relied on traditional inactivated virus technology, whereas the U.S.-supported vaccines utilized the innovative mRNA approach, which proved more effective in preventing severe disease and death. Everybody in the U.S. was offered multiple doses of the vaccine free of charge.

Much of this success can be attributed to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) from 1984 to 2022. Throughout his career, Dr. Fauci spearheaded research efforts on infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as emerging threats like Zika, Ebola, and COVID-19. His leadership and expertise during the COVID-19 pandemic were instrumental in coordinating the largest public-private healthcare initiative in history, leading to the rapid development of revolutionary vaccines that saved millions of lives worldwide.

However, Dr. Fauci’s career has not been without controversy. Critics argued that his early approach to the HIV/AIDS epidemic focused too heavily on vaccine development at the expense of expanding treatment strategies. Antiretroviral therapy (ART), which suppresses the HIV virus to undetectable levels in the blood, has proven highly effective in preventing transmission—a principle summarized by the phrase “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U). ART has transformed HIV from a deadly disease into a manageable condition, but the U.S. lagged behind in championing its widespread adoption during the early years of the epidemic.

Fauci’s reputation shifted dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid widespread misinformation and political interference, particularly from then-President Trump, Dr. Fauci became a steadfast advocate for science and public health. His insistence on factual communication and his role in developing the first effective mRNA vaccines solidified his legacy. Under his leadership, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna developed the world’s first mRNA vaccines, which not only curbed the pandemic but also laid the groundwork for future medical innovations.

The U.S. healthcare system’s ability to respond to such crises highlights the strength of its public-private model. While individual lifestyle changes remain a critical component of improving health outcomes, the innovative and collaborative nature of the U.S. healthcare system continues to position it as a global leader in medical advancement.

Balancing the Books: How Public-Private Healthcare Models Can Sustain Economic Growth

Health and Wellness

bookmark_borderCOVID-19 Update

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by Daniel Brouse
November 4, 2024

COVID-19 has a lasting impact on the immune system, with studies showing that the virus can disrupt immune responses even after the initial infection. Unlike what occurs with many viral infections, natural immunity from COVID-19 doesn’t fully prevent reinfection or immune system suppression. Instead, research suggests that COVID-19 can cause immune dysregulation, leaving individuals more vulnerable to other infections and health complications. Emerging evidence also indicates that COVID-19 causes epigenetic changes in immune cells, potentially leading to long-term health impacts similar to those seen in conditions like HIV and Lyme disease. These changes could reduce both life expectancy and quality of life by increasing susceptibility to chronic health issues.

For example, studies have shown persistent immune activation and inflammation in post-COVID patients, which can contribute to conditions like cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disorders.

COVID-19

bookmark_borderLong-COVID: Elevated Cytokines and Low Iron

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COVID=19

By Daniel Brouse

The study, titled “Iron Dysregulation and Inflammatory Stress Erythropoiesis Associated with Long-Term Outcome of COVID-19,” reveals that Long-COVID is linked to elevated levels of C-reactive protein and prolonged elevation of cytokines compared to healthy controls. The research indicates that the duration of inflammation and the regulation of low iron levels after acute infection are crucial factors associated with long COVID. Individuals with a slower resolution of inflammation and more severe initial infections face an increased risk of developing long COVID.

Iron dysregulation is a common occurrence after infections, as the body swiftly moves iron out of the bloodstream to prevent it from becoming a potential breeding ground for harmful bacteria. The study suggests that defects in iron homeostasis, dysregulated erythropoiesis, and immune dysfunction resulting from COVID-19 may contribute to inefficient oxygen transport, inflammatory imbalances, persistent symptoms, and could potentially be addressed through therapeutic interventions.

The iron dysfunction observed in COVID-19 is indicative of an underlying issue within the immune system. While supplementing iron may address the symptom of low iron levels, it does not directly tackle the root cause. The exact nature of the root cause remains unclear, and questions persist regarding the presence of active virus, remnants of an inactive virus, or potential epigenetic changes influencing the immune response.

A more concerning aspect of COVID-19 is the elevated cytokine levels. The information on autoimmune diseases emphasizes that an excessive release of cytokines, which are signaling molecules involved in immune responses, can lead to an exaggerated inflammatory response. This heightened inflammation has the potential to damage tissues and contribute to autoimmune diseases, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells.

A “worst-case scenario” involves COVID-19 triggering a persistent autoimmune condition comparable to AIDS or Lyme Disease. Such a condition could involve the immune system continuously attacking healthy cells, causing irreversible organ damage, impacting overall quality of life, and potentially leading to premature death. Efforts to understand and address these complexities are crucial for developing effective treatments and mitigating long-term consequences of COVID-19.

The study: Iron dysregulation and inflammatory stress erythropoiesis associates with long-term outcome of COVID-19

Science Based Information on COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 / Novel Coronavirus

bookmark_borderIntroduction to COVID-19: Understanding the Long-Term Impact

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Author: Daniel Brouse

COVID Science Updates

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has left an indelible mark on global health, demonstrating not only its immediate threat but also the potential for enduring consequences. This article explores the profound and lasting impact of COVID-19, delving into the virus’s role in chronic conditions and its ability to leave a lasting imprint on various aspects of health.

Long-Term Complications and Excess Deaths

A COVID-19 infection often leads to persistent complications that significantly diminish both the quality of life and life expectancy. Shockingly, 10% of excess deaths can be directly attributed to COVID itself, while the remaining 90% are attributed to what can be considered COVID’s silent killers. Individuals who have experienced COVID may face a diminished quality of life and an increased risk of premature death. Dr. Rob Wust underscores this by stating, “There is something inside the body going wrong with the disease.”

Long-COVID: A Looming Reality

For those who have contracted COVID, the probability of developing chronic conditions, known as Long-COVID, is a staggering 99%. This alarming statistic underscores the pervasive and lasting impact of the virus on an individual’s health.

Key Insights into COVID-19’s Long-Term Effects

  1. Direct Impact on Organs:
    • COVID-19 has been responsible for millions of deaths and has caused long-term damage to vital organs, leaving many survivors permanently disabled.
  2. Persistent Viral Presence:
    • SARS-CoV-2 can persist in the body for months or even years, causing chronic infections and leaving behind viral proteins associated with Long-COVID. This persistence is comparable to other viruses like Chicken Pox leading to Shingles or Epstein-Barr virus contributing to Mononucleosis and Multiple Sclerosis.
  3. Compromised Immune System and Autoimmune Risks:
    • Post-COVID individuals often experience a compromised immune system and an increased risk of autoimmune diseases. Local immune responses may be disturbed by both mental and physical exertion in long-COVID patients.
  4. Genetic and Epigenetic Changes:
    • SARS-CoV-2 induces genetic and epigenetic alterations to DNA, resulting in a compromised immune system, elevated risks of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and damage to neurological, circulatory, and cardiovascular systems. Predisposed conditions are likely to escalate to more advanced stages.
  5. Complexity of Long-COVID:
    • Long-COVID is likely a multifaceted condition involving persistent virus presence, residual viral proteins, and lasting epigenetic and genetic changes, potentially lasting indefinitely.
  6. Increased Risks with Reinfection:
    • Reinfection with COVID amplifies the risks of death, hospitalization, and multi-organ damage, exacerbating underlying conditions across various bodily systems.

Understanding the epigenetic changes induced by COVID, including the downregulation of NAD+ and the impact on tryptophan, sheds light on the physical and mental health challenges faced by individuals. The deficiency in niacin, zinc, and vitamin D is a common consequence. It is crucial to recognize that COVID’s epigenetic changes may vary widely based on an individual’s genetic makeup, requiring tailored treatments for optimal outcomes.

COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 / Novel Coronavirus

bookmark_borderCOVID: Excess Deaths and Quality of Life

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by Daniel Brouse
December 14, 2023

COVID=19

Long-COVID, or post-infection COVID, appears to affect the majority of the population. For individuals that “recover” from COVID-19, they can expect a decreased quality of life and a premature death.

Decrease in Quality of Life
Known chronic conditions resulting from a COVID infection include: Permanent Organ Damage, Persistent SARS-CoV-2 RNA in multiple organs and throughout the brain, Destruction of Good Gut Bacteria Resulting in a Compromised Immune System, Epigenetic Modifications (Changes to DNA), Change in Cell Fate, Tryptophan Deficiency, Dysfunctional Kynurenine Pathway, Neurological Damage, New-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, Exertional Intolerance, Oxygen Extraction, Reduced Exercise Capacity, Down Regulating NAD+, Up Regulating IDO, Rogue Antibodies, Insulin Reduction, Diabetes, High Cholesterol, Heart Disease and Stroke, Increased Risk of Cancer, Blood Clots, Hypertension, Vascular Disorders, Myocarditis and Heart Disease, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), and Dysregulation of the innate immune system, i.e. “cytokine storm”.

Decrease in Life Expectancy
In epidemiology, the excess deaths or excess mortality is a measure of the increase in the number deaths.

On October 26, 2023, Insurance News Network reported, “Excess mortality is the difference between the total number of deaths for a specific time period and the number that would have been expected. The numbers were naturally forecast to climb during the pandemic, but some industry and health authorities are concerned the rates haven’t greatly diminished as COVID infection rates have declined.”

In November of 2023, the SOA Research Group released Group Life COVID-19 Mortality Survey Report finding the 39-month period of April 2020 through June 2023 showed the following Group Life mortality results:
• Estimated reported Group Life claim incidence rates were up 13.2% on a seasonally-adjusted basis compared to 2017–2019 reported claims.
• Estimated incurred Group Life incidence rates were 12.2% higher than baseline on a seasonally-adjusted basis. As noted above, the incurred incidence rates in May and June 2023 are based on fairly incomplete data, so they are subject to change and should not be fully relied upon at this point.

90% of these excess deaths were caused by post-COVID conditions. 10% of the excess deaths are attributed to the COVID virus.

A Boston University study identified a total of 1,179,024 excess deaths from March 2020 through February 2022, including an estimated 634,830 excess deaths from March 2020 to February 2021, and 544,194 estimated excess deaths from March 2021 to February 2022.

Causes
A decrease in life expectancy, quality of life, or death after a COVID infection is usually caused by complications from the infection, persistent virus (chronic infection), and/or epigenetic changes.

COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 / Novel Coronavirus

bookmark_borderLong-COVID 2023 / 2024 Update

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COVID=19

by Daniel Brouse
November 2023 – March 2024

In February of 2020, I contracted SARS-CoV-2. Then, I continued to experience long-term complications and chronic conditions. The article Long COVID Update: 3 Years of Living With It describes the symptoms and the knowledge gained from the experience.

Now I am approaching 4 years and continue to get asked for help by others. Here is what I have learned:

Long-COVID has pretty much been classified into three categories — complications from the infection, persistent virus (chronic infection), and epigenetic changes. Complications from infection are lifelong chronic conditions most often seen in the lungs and respiratory system. Persistent virus can sometimes be cured with post-infection vaccination. Epigenetic changes can sometimes be reversed but many times they cannot. It is likely some epigenetic changes can become genetic changes that may be passed on to future generations (similar to cigarette smoking.)

The most significant research has found that defects in iron homeostasis (low iron), dysregulated erythropoiesis, and immune dysfunction (prolonged elevation of cytokines) resulting from COVID-19 may contribute to inefficient oxygen transport, inflammatory imbalances, and persistent symptoms. The information on autoimmune diseases emphasizes that an excessive release of cytokines, which are signaling molecules involved in immune responses, can lead to an exaggerated inflammatory response. This heightened inflammation has the potential to damage tissues and contribute to autoimmune diseases, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells.

Overview
1) The virus itself can cause death and long term organ damage. Millions and millions of people have died from COVID. Many millions more have become permanently disabled.
2) SARS-CoV-2 can be a persistent virus (chronic infection) that continues to live and destroy your organs for months or years after the initial infection. COVID may also leave residual SARS-CoV-2 protein that is associated with long COVID. A persistent virus behaves in various ways. With Chicken Pox, it leads to Shingles. With Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), it leads to Mononucleosis and Multiple Sclerosis. Epstein-Barr is a member of the herpesvirus family. Many people are already familiar with the persistent nature of herpes viruses, such as, cold sores and genital herpes. HIV is another example of a persistent virus. COVID acts like an accelerant to aging and has been found to impact the function of multiple organs including the kidneys, heart, and brain.
3) Post-COVID individuals have a compromised immune system (immunocompromised), as well as, increased risk of autoimmune diseases. There are also locally disturbed immune responses caused by mental and/or physical exertion in patients with long-COVID.
4) SARS-CoV-2 causes genetic and epigenetic changes to your DNA. These changes include long term compromising of the immune system, increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, as well as, damaging the neurological, circulatory, and cardiovascular systems. Any ailments for which you are predisposed will likely be elevated to the next stage (eg prediabetic –> diabetic).
5) Long-COVID is likely a combination of persistent virus, residual SARS-CoV-2 protein, epigenetic and genetic changes that may last indefinitely.
6) COVID reinfection further increases risks of death, hospitalization and damage to multiple organ systems and exacerbates underlying conditions including pulmonary, cardiovascular, hematological, diabetes, gastrointestinal, kidney, mental health, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders.

Niacin (nicotinic acid), zinc, and vitamin D are highly recommended to help reduce the severity of long term complications. I take take 25-50mg of niacin with each meal. Niacin does not stay in the bloodstream for more than a couple hours. Taking large doses once a day is not nearly as effective as taking small doses throughout the day. I crush zinc and allow it to linger in the mouth as it is better absorbed that way. Zinc lozenges are an alternative. Vitamin D is best obtained through a combination of a once-a-day supplement and limited exposure to sunlight. I radically changed my diet to enhance NAD+ production.

The increase in excess deaths and long-term amplification of genetic conditions indicates most COVID complications cannot be cured. Unfortunately, this means a shorter life-expectancy as well as a diminished quality of life. On October 26, 2023, Insurance News Network reported, “Excess mortality is the difference between the total number of deaths for a specific time period and the number that would have been expected. The numbers were naturally forecast to climb during the pandemic, but some industry and health authorities are concerned the rates haven’t greatly diminished as COVID infection rates have declined.”

Personally, it forever messed with my blood pressure, lipid profile, hepatic function panel, A1C, and others.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The reason I am aware of my condition is because I am actively researching long-COVID and am aggressively pursuing medical testing. If you had COVID, there is a 99% chance that you, too, have chronic conditions. SARS-CoV-2 causes genetic and epigenetic changes to your DNA. These changes include long-term compromising of the immune system, increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, as well as, damaging the neurological, circulatory, and cardiovascular systems. Any ailments for which you are predisposed will likely be elevated to the next stage. See your doctor. Get all the tests you can especially blood work. If you have a family history of inherited genetic disorders, seek counsel from your physician. Many of the epigenetic changes are undetected for a year or two after infection; however, the sooner treatment is started, the better. Medications, diet, and other lifestyle changes can help treat the conditions, improve your quality of life, and increase your life expectancy.

High levels of cardiovascular issues have occurred in youth. We do not know why COVID causes this problem; however, it appears NAD+ is another common factor in the youth (in effect causing them to age faster/shortening life expectancy.) We don’t know if the two are related. Niacin is recommended to help stabilize NAD+.

Niacin is crucial to NAD+. COVID hijacks the precursors that create NAD+. Niacin is a substitute. Niacin does not cure the cause but it does treat the symptoms. At my worst symptoms, I was taking 500mg/day. After the vaccines were invented and I was vaccinated, most of my “long-COVID” symptoms (brain-fog, fatigue, inflammation, etc) subsided. Vaccination appears to have cured the persistent virus part of the disease. Several studies have shown post-infection vaccination treats persistent infection and “covid-19 vaccines might have protective and therapeutic effects on long-covid.” The epigenetic changes still persist, though. Now, I take 50mg/day to help my naturally aging NAD+. The most important part of the Niacin protocol is that you are really taking Niacin — nicotinic acid — NOT no-flush Niacin. If you are deficient in Niacin, you will flush. This will help you know you are taking the right supplement. Flushing is normal and will not harm you; nevertheless, you may want to start with a small dose to mentally prepare. The paper COVID, Vitamin B3 (Nicotinic Acid), and the Immune System helps explain Niacin in more detail.

Did you know that milk does not naturally contain vitamin D? How about that Niacin is added to breakfast cereals? This is because most Americans main source of vitamin D3 and Niacin (vitamin B3) is through their “fortified” breakfast foods. Chances are large you are starting deficient in D and Niacin. Both of these slow the aging process and help prevent diseases. Talk to your doctor about taking supplements.

Summary
Vaccinations may help treat the persistent virus and the residual SARS protein parts of long-COVID. In my case, that is what happened. Vaccination helped treat my “long-COVID symptoms” (fatigue, brain fog, lack of taste); however, I still have the genetic changes that increased my blood pressure and caused my blood labs to spike. Most people do not know that they have these genetic changes. Almost everybody that has had COVID has some form of long-COVID they just don’t know it. The problem appears to be worse in females (believed to be due to hormones.) Almost everybody has a compromised immune system that has had COVID.

10% of excess deaths are attributed to COVID. The other 90% are from COVID’s silent killers. Everyone that has had COVID is likely to have a diminished quality of life and a premature death. As Dr. Rob Wüst says, “There is something inside the body going wrong with the disease.”

Among the many epigenetic changes made by COVID is the down regulating of NAD+ and the hijacking of tryptophan resulting in physical and mental illnesses. Most individuals become deficient in
niacin (nicotinic acid), zinc, and vitamin D. It is likely that COVID causes epigenetic changes to predisposed conditions, so treatments will vary widely depending on your genes.

What is the call to action here? Just don’t get it? Or something else?
Yes. Both. Certainly avoid getting it at all costs. Do not get it multiple times. The virus works opposite of the typical virus where the immune system gains immunity strength fighting the infection. COVID compromises your immune system. Most people develop a form of autoimmune disease. Second, and just as important, is to start treatment ASAP. The virus WILL cause epigenetic changes to your genes triggering predisposed genes. For examples, I have seen people develop an iron deficiency likely because they were predisposed to iron-deficiency anemia. I have seen people develop pernicious anemia likely because they were predisposed to a B12 deficiency. I have seen people develop breast cancer that did have the breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) genes. People with a family history of cardiovascular conditions have had to double their medications. Several have suffered strokes or heart attacks. Quite a few people I know have turned pre-diabetic while other pre-diabetics have become diabetic. THE EARLIER YOUR INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONS ARE TREATED THE BETTER. Review your family health history. Get a medical physical. Insist on blood labs that include B12 and D. Change your diet as if you were diagnosed with cancer, cardiovascular conditions, high cholesterol, and diabetes. If you feel excess fatigue or brain fog after physical or mental exertion, stop that routine.

New Health Concern
COVID compromises your immune system. Now, I am seeing people having difficulty fighting the common cold and other typical illnesses. Often they are coming down with symptoms that last for weeks. Unfortunately, this is allowing weaker viruses to mutate in their body and become more efficient. At the same time, their immune systems are becoming weaker. A vicious downward health cycle for the planet. Perhaps you should be wearing a mask if you’ve had COVID in the past? After all, you are immunocompromised.

FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS:
1. Is that the original vitamin stack (niacin plus) still the same or have you all updated it?
2. Is it for everyone who has had COVID or just if symptoms of long-COVID?
3. They comment about excess fatigue. Where are you going with that? Does post-COVID fatigue have a treatment?

1) I take take 25-50mg of niacin with each meal. Niacin does not stay in the bloodstream for more than a couple hours. Taking large doses once a day is not nearly as effective as taking small doses throughout the day. I crush 5mg of zinc twice-a-day and allow it to linger in the mouth as it is better absorbed that way. Zinc lozenges are an alternative. Vitamin D is best obtained through a combination of a once-a-day supplement and limited exposure to sunlight. I radically changed my diet to enhance NAD+ production.
2) Everyone who has had COVID. The symptoms of long-COVID are only about 1/3 of the disease. 2/3 of the disease are the “silent killers” and show no symptoms. 99% of people that have had COVID have genetic changes with negative health consequences.
3) My fatigue was part of the 1/3 of the disease with symptoms. In my case, it was being caused by persistent virus. Similar to HIV, COVID can covertly live and thrive undetected. Once I killed the persistent virus (by getting vaccinated), the chronic fatigue and brain fog were cured. However, all my epigenetic changes remain i.e. the silent killers e.g. elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, liver enzymes, etc.

Coronavirus: Science Based Information on the Covid-19 Virus

bookmark_borderCOVID -19: Permanent Organ Damage

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Update: February 21, 2025: Non-Hospitalized Long COVID Patients Exhibit Reduced Retinal Capillary Perfusion
In patients with long COVID, researchers found that the most significant change was a decrease in blood flow in the smallest blood vessels in the deeper layers of the retina. Researchers believe this decrease in circulation may reflect reduced blood flow in the brain, potentially leading to neurological symptoms.

“In oculomics—the field of study that examines the relationship between eye health and systemic diseases—we are understanding the power of the retina as a biomarker for disease, identifying early signs of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. It’s exciting to see how long COVID could fit into this framework,” said Dr. Gill. “Retinal imaging allows us to see the blood vessels that we cannot readily image elsewhere, so in this context, the eyes really are the ‘window to the soul.'”

“This finding bridges gaps between ophthalmology, neurology, and COVID-19, helping us better understand how inflammation affects different organs in the body,” said Manjot K. Gill, MD, senior author of the study and ophthalmology lead of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center. “The change in blood vessels in the deep part of the retina supports the hypothesis that long COVID affects similar blood vessels in other parts of the body, like the brain, which can potentially contribute to the symptoms of long COVID such as memory loss, brain fog and fatigue.”

Original Article
“Dr Betty Raman, from the University of Oxford and one of the lead investigators on the study, says it is clear that those living with long-COVID symptoms are more likely to have experienced some organ damage.”

The biggest impact was seen on the lungs, where MRI scans were 14 times more likely to show abnormalities. Scans were also three times more likely to show abnormalities in the brain, and twice as likely in the kidneys, among people who had severe COVID.

The article Multiorgan MRI findings after hospitalisation with COVID-19 in the UK (C-MORE): a prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study was published September 22, 2023 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

After hospitalisation for COVID-19, people are at risk of multiorgan abnormalities in the medium term. Our findings emphasise the need for proactive multidisciplinary care pathways, with the potential for imaging to guide surveillance frequency and therapeutic stratification.

ABOUT LONG-COVID
Long-standing multiorgan impairment following SARS-CoV-2 infection has been a major concern for individuals recovering from severe disease and is thought to be caused by a multitude of factors, including direct viral cytotoxicity, chronic inflammation, ischaemic injury, acute reactivation of other viruses, metabolic derangements, and acute treatment effects (especially invasive ventilation). Numerous reports of delayed organ complications such as myocarditis, stroke, and pulmonary emboli have led to speculations that the multiorgan dysfunction caused by COVID-19 might be responsible for impaired recovery and ongoing symptoms in individuals, a condition referred to as long COVID.

COVID-19 Chronic Conditions

MORE ON COVID: COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 / Novel Coronavirus

bookmark_borderCOVID: Insulin Reduction, Diabetes, High Cholesterol, Heart Disease and Stroke

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by Daniel Brouse
March 11, 2023

COVID=19

Post-COVID patients are at an increased risk of developing or exacerbating diabetes.

In addition, the American Heart Association (AHA) states that diabetes often lowers HDL (good) cholesterol levels and raises triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

Both blood sugar and cholesterol increase the risk for heart disease and stroke.

Coronavirus Transforms Pancreas Cell Function
When COVID infects cells, it impairs cell activity and can also change their function. When insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas become infected with the virus, they produce much less insulin than usual, and also start to produce glucose and digestive enzymes. “We call this a change of cell fate,” said study leader Dr. Shuibing Chen, who described the work in a presentation at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

It is not clear whether the changes are long-lasting, or if they might be reversible (though individuals have been impacted more than 3-years after infection), the researchers reported in Cell Metabolism in August 2021, SARS-CoV-2 infection induces beta cell transdifferentiation. “Single-cell RNA sequencing and immunostaining from ex vivo infections confirmed that multiple types of pancreatic islet cells were susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, eliciting a cellular stress response and the induction of chemokines. Upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, beta cells showed a lower expression of insulin and a higher expression of alpha and acinar cell markers, including glucagon and trypsin1, respectively, suggesting cellular transdifferentiation. Trajectory analysis indicated that SARS-CoV-2 induced eIF2-pathway-mediated beta cell transdifferentiation, a phenotype that could be reversed with trans-integrated stress response inhibitor (trans-ISRIB). Altogether, this study demonstrates an example of SARS-CoV-2 infection causing cell fate change, which provides further insight into the pathomechanisms of COVID-19.”

Diabetes Risk Rises After COVID
A March 2022 study published in the Journal Nature found, “Even mild SARS-CoV-2 infections can amplify a person’s chance of developing diabetes, especially for those already susceptible to the disease. People who get COVID-19 have a greater risk of developing diabetes up to a year later, even after a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared with those who never had the disease.”

A study published in February of 2022 in JAMA, Diabetes After COVID-19 Infection, found COVID-19 Omicron infection is linked to new-onset diabetes. COVID-19 Omicron survivors may be at a greater than 60% risk of new-onset type 1 or 2 diabetes (a potential precursor of heart attack and stroke.)

A Cedars-Sinai news release said that data trends and patterns suggest that COVID-19 may act as a disease accelerator, amplifying the risk of an illness that may have come later in life. “So, it could be that instead of being diagnosed with diabetes by age 65, a person with preexisting risk for diabetes might—after a COVID-19 infection—be more likely to develop diabetes by age 45 or 55.”

The Pennsylvania State University meta-analysis Association of COVID‑19 with Diabetes included eight studies on new-onset type 1 or 2 diabetes in COVID-19 survivors published from December 2019 to October 2022. COVID-19 was tied to a 66% higher risk of new-onset diabetes regardless of age or sex. “Given the extraordinary number of COVID-19 survivors globally, the modest increase in diabetes risk could correspond to a drastic rise in the number of people diagnosed with the disease worldwide,” the authors wrote.

Cholesterol Levels
The study Risks and burdens of incident dyslipidaemia in long COVID found people with a prior COVID infection had a 24% increased risk for high cholesterol levels.

“These are people who never had cholesterol problems before,” said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, an author of the study and a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis. “Now, all of a sudden, they started having problems weeks and months after Covid-19.”

In June of 2023, the study Incidence of Diabetes in Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic was published in the Journal Nature and found COVID is linked to surge in child and teen diabetes.

Increased Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke
The Centers for Disease Control says, “High blood cholesterol is a major modifiable risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. A 10% decrease in total blood cholesterol levels can reduce the incidence of heart disease by as much as 30%,” and “Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart. People with diabetes are also more likely to have other conditions that raise the risk for heart disease.”

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