Table of contents:
We increasingly hear that coronavirus is closely related to neurology: during the illness itself, neurological symptoms appear, and after the end of the illness, people experience neurological complications.
To understand what can happen to the human nervous system when he is sick with COVID-19, we turned to the doctor-neurologist, candidate of medical sciences, the founder of the Neurological Clinic of Dr. Yatsenko, winner of the Woman of Ukraine 2018 award in the category "Medicine", Ekaterina Yatsenko …
How coronavirus affects the nervous system
According to many studies, coronavirus in the acute period of the disease can involve the central and peripheral nervous systems in the disease process. The neurological symptoms of COVID-19 include: body aches, muscle pain, lack of smell in the absence of the usual pattern of a runny nose, lack of smell, increased fatigue, headache.
If this is how the coronavirus has shown itself to you or your loved ones, no need to worry. As a rule, when the disease recedes, the symptoms will go away, the nervous system will fully recover and return to its usual work.
- Important: we will be able to determine the exact percentage of people with neurological manifestations of coronavirus only after the epidemic dies down and experts can analyze all the data. For today, all figures are only approximate.
Much less often, neurological symptoms manifest themselves in moderate and severe courses of coronavirus infection: loss of consciousness, seizures, impaired coordination. Even less often, the coronavirus can cause the development of encephalitis.
However, don't panic. Our brain is designed so that around it there is a reliable protection from the blood-brain barrier, which protects it from the penetration of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other negative microorganisms. So you are under reliable protection.
- Important: coronavirus infection can also provoke the development of a stroke, since during its course blood thickens and blood clots form. Therefore, it is necessary to treat even a mild form of this virus under the supervision of a doctor.
Another major problem with COVID-19 is that it hits the lungs of people. As a result, the level of oxygen in the blood drops, and our brain, which needs a lot of oxygen for normal functioning, feels a deficiency of this vital component. A state of hypoxia begins. Yes, the brain needs 20% of all oxygen that a person consumes. Agree, the figure is rather big.
The state of hypoxia is dangerous for the brain and can lead to the death of neurons (brain cells), so if you are sick with coronavirus, even with a mild form, be sure to control your oxygen saturation. At the beginning of the development of hypoxia, a person may think that everything is fine with him, although in fact this is not at all the case. Remember, if the saturation drops below 94 - this is an indication to go to the hospital.
- Interesting: not only coronavirus, but also other viral diseases can lead to complex neurological symptoms. The same flu, which we have not been afraid for a long time, and many other viral diseases familiar to us. And the Spanish flu, which raged in Europe in 1918-1919, very often led to the development of encephalitis.
If you get sick with coronavirus, and you have neurological symptoms, do not panic. In most cases, they will go away with the illness.
However, if you faint, you have convulsions or tremors, severe headaches, but you are being treated at home, you urgently need to inform your doctor about this and, if possible, consult a neurologist.
- Important: Coronavirus also very often gives such complications as constant bad mood, apathy and even depression. Moreover, these manifestations of the so-called postcoid syndrome can be found both in those who have had the disease easily, and in those who have been ill with complications. If you were sick with a coronavirus infection and after an illness you do not want to work, meet with friends and nothing is happy around, this is also a reason to see a doctor.
Be healthy!
