Understanding Endothelium Damage from Long COVID

by Admin, posted in Long COVID basics, Research & Medical Insights, Symptoms & Complications, Treatment and Management

Introduction

“Endothelium”—sounds fancy, right? Well, it’s a super important part of your body’s highway system, also known as your blood vessels. And if you’ve had COVID-19 and are dealing with lingering symptoms (aka long COVID), your endothelium might be part of the problem.

What Is the Endothelium Anyway?

The endothelium is like the hero of your blood vessels. Picture it as a smooth, super-thin lining (just one cell thick!) that coats the insides of your blood vessels—kind of like a non-stick frying pan for your bloodstream. This thin layer of cells has a big job, though! It controls the flow of blood, keeps clots from forming, and helps protect against inflammation.

As a quick analogy: If your blood vessels are highways, the endothelium is the traffic controller. It keeps everything flowing smoothly, making sure there are no random build-ups. When the endothelium isn’t working well, it can lead to clots, inflammation, and general “traffic jams” in the bloodstream.

How COVID-19 Affects the Endothelium

COVID-19 doesn’t just impact the lungs—it’s known to mess with the blood vessels, too. Studies have shown that the virus can invade endothelial cells (those lovely lining cells) and cause all sorts of issues:

  1. Inflammation: The virus triggers inflammation, and when your endothelium gets inflamed, it can’t work as well. Imagine that traffic controller getting distracted—suddenly, there’s chaos on the highways!
  2. Clotting Problems: COVID-19 is notorious for increasing the risk of blood clots and interesting shaped amyloid.Damaged endothelium can lead to blood platelets (the clotting cells) getting all clumpy, which can cause clots in the heart, lungs, or even brain.
  3. Reduced Nitric Oxide Production: Endothelial cells produce nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax and keeps blood pressure in check. But when COVID-19 messes with nitric oxide production, it can cause high blood pressure and poor circulation.

Basically, COVID-19 can leave the endothelium in a bit of a mess, which is why some people develop long COVID symptoms related to blood flow and vascular health.

Can the Endothelium Heal? (Spoiler: It’s Tougher Than It Looks)

Now the good news: your endothelium might be thin, but it’s resilient. Despite being only one cell layer thick, it can repair itself—though it does need a little help, especially after meeting COVID-19. So, while it’s best not to keep “kicking” it with things like inflammation and stress, the endothelium has its own ways of bouncing back. Now over to the researchers….

Long COVID Symptoms Linked to Endothelial Damage

People with long COVID report a wide range of symptoms, and some of these could be linked to endothelial damage. Here are a few examples:

  • Brain Fog: Poor blood flow can reduce oxygen to the brain, leading to “brain fog”—feeling forgetful or struggling to focus.
  • Shortness of Breath: If blood isn’t flowing well in the lungs, it can be hard to catch your breath, at best.
  • Chest Pain: Damage to blood vessels can create heart strain, leading to discomfort or chest pain and more…
  • Fatigue: Without proper blood flow, your body has to work harder to do normal tasks, making you feel exhausted.
  • Dizziness or “Head Rush”: If blood flow to the brain is off, you might feel dizzy when you stand up, like you’ve just stepped off a roller coaster.

Tests for Endothelial Function (Or, How to Check on Your “Traffic Control” System)

If you suspect endothelial damage, there are a few tests that doctors might recommend to assess blood vessel health. Here’s some options I have tried and or heard of:

  1. EndoPAT: This is a non-invasive test that checks your endothelial function by measuring how your blood vessels react to changes in blood flow. You wear a small device on your fingers that can detect blood flow patterns, providing a score that indicates how well your endothelium is functioning. Think of it like a mini “stress test” for your blood vessels—without the running or sweating! Though is not pleasant or comfortable but neither painful.
  2. Capillaroscopy: This test uses a microscope to look directly at the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) under your fingernails. By observing these little vessels up close, doctors can see if there’s any damage, inflammation, or structural changes in the capillaries that might indicate endothelial dysfunction. It’s a bit like checking for potholes on a road but in your own microcirculation! Is a test usually used in Raynaud Syndrome and other autoimmune diseases.
  3. Flow-Mediated Dilation (FMD) Test: This ultrasound test measures how well your blood vessels can widen or “dilate.” It gives doctors a peek into how healthy your endothelial cells are. Essentially, it’s a measure of how well your blood vessels can handle increased blood flow—that is used as an important sign of vascular health.
  4. Endothelial Biomarker Tests: Blood tests can check for biomarkers like nitric oxide or levels of certain proteins (e.g., von Willebrand factor) that indicate how well your endothelium is functioning.
  5. Vascular Imaging: Sometimes doctors use scans like MRIs or CTs to get a look at the blood vessels, or a VQ Scan, especially if there’s a worry about clots, micro clots or inflammation in specific areas.

Wrapping Up: Takeaways on Long COVID and Your Blood Vessels

To put it simply, if you’re experiencing long COVID symptoms, it’s possible that your endothelium might be struggling to keep the “traffic” in your bloodstream flowing smoothly. While research is still ongoing, understanding how long COVID might impact your blood vessels can help you work with your doctor to find potential help. I will write about more blood vessels and micro clot in other articles.

Disclaimer

I’m not a medical doctor, and this article is based on research and information gathered from available sources on the topic, as well as personal observations and experiences. For any health concerns, especially related to long COVID or symptoms involving blood vessels, I strongly recommend consulting a qualified healthcare provider, ideally someone with expertise in cardiovascular health and microcirculation. This article is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Leave a comment