What Can Kill Us Faster
Jacey Chen (ISB 10)
In her third Buddy! article, Jacey Chen delves into the underlying effects of social deprivation present in the age of Coronavirus.
Read on as this staff writer examines if isolation or the consequences of being infected with Covid-19 will take a greater toll.
Let’s introduce this topic for those who might have literally been living under a rock for the past 4 months. COVID-19, the Corona Virus, or the Wuhan Virus, whatever you may call it, is an additional threat to our world. Humanity has chosen to stay inside and keep at least 3 feet apart from others outside of their household. To keep things short: no touching or you get the cooties. All this makes sense, however, have you ever thought about how all this isolation is affecting our mental state? As humans, we generally choose who we want to spend our time with, but having that freedom be taken away at such a short notice may take a toll on the few million people being affected. Both loneliness and COVID-19 can kill but which one can kill us faster and have its affect linger on for longer.
(From WRCBtv)
Lets first look over COVID-19 to get us all a little more educated. Because COVID-19 is fairly new, scientists don’t know too much about it; but by looking at the virus’s cousins and as new cases arise we are able to get a better understanding of COVID-19 and how it affects our bodies. Generally COVID-19 can enter either through your nose, mouth or occasionally your eyes. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. But what exactly does the virus do to cause those symptoms? According to Mayo Clinic, the virus can cause initial damage locally to where it entered. It may stay in that area or go further down into the respiratory system. As the body’s immune system finds and tries to kill the virus they build more antibodies through a process called ‘adaptive immunity.' Your body is building an army to take down this virus. However, there are times where the virus travels its way into the lower respiratory tract and causes a lot of damage. Unfortunately, the body's response to kill that virus in the lower respiratory tract can also cause a lot of collateral damage as well. The body's immune response was exaggerated, leading to the body's demise. This response to the invader destroys lung tissue and causes inflammation. Because of this, the body's ability to get oxygen in and out of the bloodstream becomes affected. Muscles may become impaired and the body may become fatigued in trying to inhale and exhale against lungs that aren’t working too well. Thus, potentially triggering a cascade of problems. The lack of oxygen leads to more inflammation, that leads to more problems in the body. Organs need oxygen to function, right? So when you don't have oxygen there, then your liver dies and your kidney dies and basically everything dies. COVID-19 also hits hard for older generations and long-term smokers because their airways and lungs are more vulnerable. People with other underlying medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or chronic lung disease, are also vulnerable to the virus. COVID-19's deadliness is apparent when considering how rapidly it spreads than another pandemic that happened not long ago, SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome], the other Coronavirus. Though fatality rate is much less the incessant spreading is deadly, enforcing the reasoning of staying inside for the safety of yourself and others.
“COVID-19 also hits hard for older generations and long-term smokers because their airways and lungs are more vulnerable.”
(From Phmovement)
Now, what about loneliness? Yes, loneliness can make a person feel terrible and tiresome but how does it really affect your mind? Now, loneliness is only one word but it can feel and effect each individual person differently. The most common way of feeling lonely, and the way millions of people are currently feeling lonely, is when the reward of social interaction or contact is not given. Loneliness has many different causes, which vary from person to person. We don't always understand what it is about an experience that makes us feel lonely. Many examples are: going through a relationship break-up, retiring and losing the social contact you had at work, changing jobs and feeling isolated from your co-workers, moving to a new area or country without family, friends or community networks. The problem with the isolation is 3 out of 4 of these examples are happening to people all over the globe, either separately or all at once. This loneliness not only induces stress about our health and people we care about, but it can also enhance or start up depression in a person. People who are lonely often crave human contact. Many experts say that loneliness is not necessarily about being alone, instead, its the feeling of being alone. Again, because of the Coronavirus, people have been removed from friends and families. Because of this, the lonely feeling can root itself inside a person's head, enhancing or creating depression, then leading to many other difficult factors. Loneliness has can have many negative effects on both physical and mental health: Cardiovascular disease and stroke, increased stress levels, decreased memory and learning, antisocial behavior, poor decision-making, alcoholism and drug abuse, the progression of Alzheimer's disease, altered brain function, depression and suicide. Lonely people's diet is higher in fat, their sleep is less efficient, and they report more daytime fatigue. I can 100% relate to that.
“This loneliness not only induces stress about our health and people we care about, but it can also enhance or start up depression in a person. People who are lonely often crave human contact.”
(From UVA)
In the end, it makes sense that COVID-19 kills you and whole population in a faster rate. Loneliness on the other hand is a slower burn that can last and end tragically. Both are deadly and both have different affects. However, I’ve looked into how these two harm and kill separately. Right now these two are working together, partners in crime. Imagine what they can do together.
Photos taken from:
WRCBtv.com
phmovement.org
UVA - University of Virginia
