Long COVID, Firearms, Abortion Ban Fallout
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Long COVID-19 Test (Coming Soon)
For most people once COVID-19 symptoms disappear, they are finished with the virus. But for a significant number (6.9% in the US) there are symptoms that remain long after. A National Library of Medicine article I was reading speculated that some cancers can even be triggered.
Here are the most common symptoms of Long COVID:
Bloating/constipation/diarrhea
Difficulty concentrating
Light headedness/fast heart rate
Memory change
Persistent fatigue
Post-exertional malaise
Problems with smell
Problems with taste
Recurring headaches
Shortness of breath/cough
Sleep disturbance
According to the CDC the causes of Long COVID are myriad and include
Organ damage resulting from acute phase infection
Complications from a dysregulated inflammatory state
Microvascular dysfunction
Ongoing viral activity associated with an intra-host viral reservoir
Autoimmunity
Inadequate antibody response and m
Having a rock solid test for Long COVID-19 could help with treatments for the related illnesses that present. According to StatNews, a test may be on the horizon. Research published in Science has identified proteins present in the blood of people with long COVID that could point the way to a much-needed diagnostic test and possibly to future therapeutic targets. Watch this space.
Firearms Are A Health Risk
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared firearm violence a public health crisis, as gun deaths and injuries punctuate daily life in America.
On nearly every day of 2024 so far, a burst of gunfire has hit at least four people somewhere in the country. Some days, communities have endured four or five such shootings.
The nation’s top doctor called on policymakers to consider gun safety measures such as bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines and universal background checks for all firearm purchases. His advisory also urges a “significant increase” in funding for research on gun injuries and deaths, as well as greater access to mental health care and trauma-informed resources for people who have experienced firearm violence.
In 2022, more than 48,000 people were killed by guns in the U.S., or about 132 people a day, and suicides accounted for more than half of those deaths, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An additional 200-plus Americans seek emergency care for firearm injuries each day, according to estimates from Johns Hopkins University research. No federal database records nonfatal gun injuries. (KFF News)
The US Surgeon General issued a report in 1964 that showed that smoking caused lung cancer and other diseases. This kind of warning may be the impetus needed to begin to control firearms. After all they take the lives of nearly 50,000 of us every year.
Transgender Healthcare
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear a challenge to Tennessee’s gender-affirming care ban for minors sets the stage for a potentially blockbuster case implicating transgender protections.
It marks the first time the justices will weigh in on the issue, which could impact laws passed by 24 Republican-led states since 2021 that ban medications like puberty blockers and hormones for transgender children and teens. Legal challenges mounted by transgender youths, their families and medical providers have been met with mixed results.
The law in question bars health care providers from administering puberty blockers, hormones or surgery to help a minor transition, though the restrictions don’t apply to adults. Violations can lead to professional discipline and carry a $25,000 civil penalty and private lawsuits.
No mention of providing puberty blockers for other medical reasons, though.
This is just another place where legislators, most of whom are not medically trained, are standing between doctors and patients to the detriment of both. (The Hill)
Leave Abortion Up to The States and Suffer
States rights is typically a technique used by a minority to oppress majority opinion. Texas has one of the harshest suite of anti abortion laws nationwide. Doctors can go to jail. In some areas you cannot drive on public roads to help someone leave the state for an abortion. The alleged exceptions offered by the states that ban or restrict abortion are so vague that doctors are willing to let women reach critical stages near death before intervening. Oh and lots of doctors don’t want to see a pregnant patient before 12 weeks since that’s when most miscarriages occur and the doctors don’t want to risk prison for abortion. Of course baby and mother health is put at far higher risk.
Since Texas’ ban on abortion went into effect, infant deaths in the state increased by nearly 13%, according to a new analysis published on Monday in JAMA Pediatrics. In the rest of the country, infant mortality increased less than 2% over the same period. even 2% is is a disgrace and far higher than the rest of our industrialized peer countries.
Among the causes of infant deaths, one increased the most: congenital abnormalities, which increased 22.9% in Texas in children between 2021 and 2022, while they decreased 2.9% in the rest of the country. That trend suggests that at least in some cases, parents were forced to carry a pregnancy to term while knowing their children had little to no chance of survival. Deadly fetal abnormalities can’t be corrected through medical intervention, thus the current law condemns the children to suffer and die and the parents to suffer. (Stat News)
ACTION
If you used RESISTBOT for this action already consider calling or emailing your MoC and Senators- Here is their contact info, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Use RESISTBOT by texting SIGN PQJCSE to 50409 to send this message to your Member of Congress and Senators. (Chop Wood/Carry Water)
“I am your constituent and it’s the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, and I’m writing to say that I’m disgusted by what’s happened to our country since then. Our maternal mortality rates are getting worse. 171,000 women had to travel out of state last year to get the reproductive healthcare they needed. Women are being turned away from emergency rooms. Doctors are being threatened with prosecution for doing their jobs. 64,000 women across the country have been forced to carry their rapists pregnancies to term. It’s a disaster. I want the Senate to pass S. 701 and the House to pass H.R. 12, the Women’s Health Protection Act now. Politicians shouldn’t be controlling what we do with our bodies. If they can’t understand that then we will vote them out in November.”
Resources
Find My Elected Officials
Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email
Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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Thanks very much. I have a friend who has an undiagnosed debilitating condition. The guess is that it is long covid, but without a specific test it’s all just a guess. So far, all tests for the Dr’s best ideas have come back negative, so there’s nothing to treat. “Lose weight!” and “See a shrink !” have been some of the suggestions… In the meantime, I’ve watched my happy and active friend become a totally different person. She now has to plan ONE activity a day because she doesn’t have the energy to do more than that.
I’ve passed on your article to her. I hope there is a test and treatment plan soon!
All great information with action steps too!