As the world waits for a coronavirus vaccine, experts in Italy and the USA. warn of another possible long-term consequence of COVID19 – erectile dysfunction.
During a recent interview at a US news channelDena grayson a American doctor, said there were growing concern COVID-19–19 could causeme long-term difficulty getting an erection.
“We know that it causes problems in the vasculature,” Grayson said. “So this is something that worries a lot – not only can this virus kill, but it can actually cause potential long-term, lifelong complications. “
Both a risk factor and a consequence
A study outside Italy in July found that erectile dysfunction was a risk factor for COVID-19 pneumonia and also “probable consequence “of the disease for the survivors, doing it a “worrying phenomenon” among elderly patients in particular.
“Erectile dysfunction is a perfect biomarker of general physical and psychological health,” he said. the lead author of the study Inmeteryear Jannini, professor of endocrinology and doctor sexology at the University of Rome Hill Vergata in ItalY. SSince COVID-19 affects physical and mental well-beingsaid, erectile dysfunction is not necessarily a surprise consequence of the illness.
People infected with coronavirus who have previously suffered from erectile dysfunction may also be more prone to developing COVID-19 pneumonia. Jannini he pointed.
That’s because pneumonia carries the same comorbidities that are often associated with erectile dysfunction, he said, including endothelial dysfunction, when the lining of small arteries constricts -, respiratory problems, inflammation, hormonal problems, stress, anxiety and depression.
“Erectile dysfunction is a true marker of risk to coronavirus pneumonia. But it is not necessarily a risk factor for contracting the infection, that remains to be seen. ” Jannini said.
Damage to blood vessels is cause for concern
Erectile dysfunction occurs when blood flow to the penis is limited, the causes of which can be complex and varied. both physiological and psychological. Many different factors that affect the cardiovascular system, the nervous system, and the endocrine system can cause or contribute to problems achieving an erection.
A risk factor That stands out for coronavirus patients it is damage caused to the vascular and respiratory systems.
The coronavirus has been found to attack the inner walls of blood vessels, called endothelium, throughout the body, including those in the penis, which can cause vascular blockages.
Although large blood clots can cause heart attacks and strokes, the heart damage caused by COVID-19 is believed to be mainly due to very small clots that block the tiny blood vessels in the heart muscle. There are particularly small blood vessels in the penis that can quickly become blocked wwhen arterial bloodsince flow is restricted.
While this may explain some presentations of erectile dysfunction among coronavirus patients, experts emphasize that more research is needed to determine its link between COVID-19, and this is likely to differ between people.
Preventing the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
Although The vast majority of people seem to recover from COVID19, the disease caused by coronavirus infection, multiple long-term effects have been observed.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the reported long-term complications of COVID-19 include heart palpitations, mental confusion, acute kidney injury, and impaired lung function. Erectile dysfunction is not listed, but, as Grayson points out, experts are still learning about the disease as the number of infections increases and patients are monitored long-term.
“As time passes and more and more people become infected, we will sadly see more and more of these long-term negative consequences of infection,” he said.
Experts say that the best way to prevent the possible long-term consequences of COVID-19 is to avoid becoming infected with the coronavirus in the first place.
The World Health Organization recommends wearing a mask in public places, staying at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from other people, washing your hands frequently, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
Keep your distance, please!
Here are the rules of the coronavirus as we know it: stay 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 2 meters) away from others, observe good hygiene, and wear a mask. But this doesn’t do justice to the complex reality of how aerosols spread, researchers from Oxford and London (UK) and Cambridge MA (US) have written in an analysis published in the British Medical Journal in late August.
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
All this? Or more?
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tried to show school children how it should be done. But what exactly does his gesture mean? Do your fingertips have to be 1.5 meters from someone else’s fingertips? That would be a reasonable interpretation of the regulations. But two arm lengths alone measure 1.5 meters, so distances of 4.5 meters or more could easily result.
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
Are the lengths of the sheep better?
The Icelandic Sheep Breeders Association has established its own rules: Two lengths of sheep are appropriate to avoid infection. One may wonder if face masks are also supposed to be woven from real sheep’s wool. This young Senegalese shepherd may be trying to figure out how tall a sheep is by pulling on its hind leg. Icelanders already know: exactly 1 meter.
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
Natural spacers
Of course this could work too. The standard length of a dog leash corresponds exactly to the current coronavirus rules. Could it be a coincidence that a six foot leash is generally prescribed for places where leashes are mandatory?
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
Where does the 2 meter rule come from?
The authors led by Lydia Bourouiba, an expert on fluid dynamics and disease transmission at MIT, write that the rule is out of date. Two meters was the distance recommended by the German physician C. Flügge in 1897. The visible droplets that he had captured at this distance were still contagious. A 1948 study showed that 90% of strep cough drops did not fly beyond 1.7 meters.
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
Two meters is not enough
The 1948 study was published in the American Medical Journal. It also showed that 10% of strep flew much farther – up to 2.9 meters. If that were the case, maybe the people on this lawn on the Rhine in Dusseldorf would be safe, if all other circles remained free. But wait a minute, we are not dealing with strep (bacteria) here, we are dealing with viruses.
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
Viruses are spread through aerosols
Viruses are much smaller than bacteria, so they can float for hours and spread better in the air. That is why the researchers recommend that distance between people should not be the only safety criterion, but other factors should also be considered: how well a room is ventilated, whether people wear masks, and whether they are quietly speaking. in a low voice or singing and shouting.
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
Don’t sing or cough
Numerous studies have also shown that coughing can propel true virus parcels up to 8 meters through the air. Talking or singing loudly also spreads a lot of aerosols and droplets around the room. However, if people only speak quietly, such as in a library, and sit outside, safe distances may again be shorter.
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
How long should I stay in the room?
The length of a stay in a contaminated room and the number of people in that room are also decisive factors when assessing the risk of contagion. Researchers have used those factors to develop a traffic light model. The clear result: in rooms with a high occupancy, you generally have to stay only for a short time, make sure they are well ventilated, wear a mask and speak quietly.
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
One minute is enough to get infected
Even a very brief contact can be enough to transmit SARS-CoV-2. The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) had to tighten its rules on October 21, after a prison guard detected SARS-CoV-2 from prisoners with whom he had only had contact for during a few minutes at a time. Now, “close contact” is defined as being within 2 meters of an infected person for at least 15 cumulative minutes within 24 hours.
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Coronavirus rules: How much physical distancing is enough?
No mask needed here
Here, however, the UK-US investigation team’s traffic light would turn green. Outside, people can be safe for long periods of time even without a mask, as long as there are few people around, everything is well ventilated, and no one talks much. But still, will the distance between the loungers measured here be enough?
Author: Fabian Schmidt
