The good and the bad on long COVID-19

A study once showed that when given the choice, folks prefer to hear bad news first, good news after. But news givers are inclined to deliver good news first. When it comes to long COVID-19 and breakthrough infections among people who are vaccinated, you win — here’s the bad news first.

According to a study published in Nature Medicine, about a third of folks who have been fully vaccinated (but not boosted) and then experience a BTI, develop long COVID-19. That means that they are more likely to contend with cardiovascular, coagulation and hematologic, gastrointestinal, kidney, mental health, metabolic, musculoskeletal and/or neurologic disorders — and death — 30 or more days post-infection than folks who have never had COVID-19.

The good news? The study shows that that being vaccinated leads to a 15 percent reduction in long COVID-19 symptoms related to lung and blood clot disorders for up to six months after a breakthrough infection. (More bad news: the vaccination seems to do little to protect from other symptoms.)

The study that generated these findings looked at almost 40,000 people in the Veterans Affairs database and found that around 10.65 of every 1,000 people who were fully vaccinated developed a BTI. Their conclusion: While vaccination offers some protection, it is still important to protect yourself from possible infection.

I suggest that handwashing and mask-wearing don’t take much effort, but the protection they offer may be life-changing, even if you’re vaccinated.

One more benefit of a plantbased diet: Easy breathing

Young adults, ages 18 to 30, are notorious for their casual attitude about nutrition — around 60 percent only get one or two servings daily of fruits and vegetables.

In contrast, the average American eats about 83 pounds of beef a year, the equivalent of 333 quarter-pounders! That’s enough to take your breath away — literally.

A study presented at the American Thoracic Society 2022 Conference reveals that, especially for smokers and ever-smokers, folks whose diet as a young adult, ages 18 to

30, was woefully short on fresh produce and long on beef and unhealthy fats are 60 percent more likely to develop emphysema than people who ate a plant-based diet as young adults.

In 2017, more than 1 million teens, ages 14 to 17, became new daily tobacco users (75 percent through vaping).