New Delhi, September 11 (IANS) Experts on Wednesday issued a warning for people who have contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic. Those who have recovered from COVID and are showing symptoms like chronic cough, hoarseness of voice, difficulty in clearing throat frequently, may be at risk of heart attack or stroke.
Researchers at the University of Southampton reported in their research on this subject that patients with such symptoms had a decrease in baroreflex sensitivity (a measure that detects changes in a person’s heart rate due to changes in blood pressure).
The team of researchers said that the interpretation of the findings suggests that the vagus nerve (which controls the autonomic nervous system) prioritises protection of the airways over less important functions such as blood pressure regulation.
Reza Nourei, professor of laryngology and clinical informatics at the University of Southampton, said on the matter: “Our immediate survival depends on the throat being able to separate air and food passages whenever we swallow.”
He added: “The throat does this using delicate reflexes, but when these reflexes are weakened due to a viral infection such as Covid, this balance is disrupted, leading to symptoms such as feeling a lump in the throat, clearing the throat and coughing.”
A study published in JAMA Otolaryngology delves into this topic in depth. It states, “The baroreflex, in particular, may be impaired in patients with an infected throat.”
He added, “This disease may impact our longevity, with patients with reduced baroreflex function being most likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke in the coming years.”
This study from the University of Southampton involved 23 patients admitted for nose, ear and throat (ENT) surgery. These patients had symptoms such as choking, chronic cough and difficulty swallowing. The heart rate, blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity of these patients were compared with 30 patients suffering from digestive disease admitted to gastroenterology.
–IANS
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