Why me, specifically?
In the years prior to being diagnosed with Long Covid, I was a healthy, active individual. I was a regular at the gym, and I enjoyed running and cycling. I had never experienced any serious health issues, and I considered myself to be in good shape.
However, I did have several risk factors that may have contributed to my susceptibility to Long Covid.
Allergies
These existing conditions may have made me more susceptible to Long Covid:
- I have a seafood allergy, which can cause inflammation in the body.
- I also have a history of seasonal allergies, which can weaken the immune system.
- I also suffered from regular sinusitis prior to Covid. When I started following a low histamine diet, my sinusitis problems significantly improved!
Lack of sleep
Some interesting research shows that "short sleepers" (which I was for a long time) are more likely to develop Long Covid.
Source: Habitual short sleepers with pre-existing medical conditions are at higher risk of Long COVID - PubMed Read more (opens in a new tab)
Being more flexible is.... bad?
I am not double-jointed, but strangely enough, people who are double-jointed might also be more likely to develop Long Covid.
At least, in this study, they don't mince their words about the seriousness of Long Covid:
Long COVID represents one of the greatest clinical challenges and public health burdens of a generation.
Source: Is joint hypermobility linked to self-reported non-recovery from COVID-19? Case–control evidence from the British COVID Symptom Study Biobank Read more (opens in a new tab)
Neanderthal genes
I have no idea if I have these genes, also this study predicts the severity of Covid, not Long Covid, but it's interesting nonetheless.
A new study suggests that people who inherited Neanderthal genes may be at a higher risk of severe COVID-19.
The study identified four gene variants inherited from Neanderthals that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 by causing cytokine storms. This finding was achieved through a combination of computational analysis and molecular biology techniques.
The research specifically shows that these variants affect gene expression of key receptors involved in immune responses. The findings highlight the influence of Neanderthal genetics on modern human susceptibility to severe disease manifestations but note that further research is needed to understand the implications for the global population.
Source: The four Neanderthal genes that make COVID-19 worse Read more (opens in a new tab)