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Writer's pictureKlara Esperger

Part I: Cytokine storm, COVID-19 and COVID vaccination after effects

Updated: Jun 14, 2022

We know you are sick of talking about it but this is still on and here to stay...


What we know is COVID 19 has entered our lives over 3 years ago, sneakily and caused much more problems than anyone could imagine. People with underlying health issues really suffered the consequences. First affected elderly people the most as their immune system could not fight it off but more and more now it affects many young people. One would ask: Does it have anything to do with the ‘protective’ vaccination?


What we are told, vaccination helps fight the COVID 19 virus. But first let us understand what is happening in our body when COVID 19 virus enters. Have you heard of the Cytokine storm? ‘Cytokine storm and cytokine release syndrome are life-threatening systemic inflammatory syndromes involving elevated levels of circulating cytokines and immune-cell hyper-activation that can be triggered by various therapies, pathogens, cancers, autoimmune conditions and monogenic disorders.’


In history, cytokine storm was known as an influenza-like syndrome that was triggered after a systemic infection such as sepsis or Coley’s toxins after an immunotherapy. For instance, the plague, the Black Death (1346- 1353), yersinia pestis infection became a major pandemic that produced alveolar macrophages that resulted in excessive amounts of cytokines and a cytokine storm. In fact, the 1918-20, H1N1 virus related first influenza pandemic, known as the Spanish flu pandemic exaggerated an immune response that led to major lethality. Second H1N1 virus pandemic was the Russian flu in 1977 and the third, latest ‘swine flu’ 2009-2010.


COVID 19 infection also causes an aggressive inflammatory response in our body releasing large amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, creating as we already learnt the cytokine storm. The immune response to the pathogen, but not the pathogen itself, causes multi-organ dysfunction and the cytokine storm syndrome surface also with no obvious infection. In translation, a cytokine storm is created in the body when someone is affected by a virus, our immune system is overworking and confused and kills bad and good cells in the body. So, if you catch COVID 19 your immune system overworks simultaneously affecting your good working cells, resulting in many side and after effects of COVID 19. As a result, our immune system causes the death of these viruses, not the actual pathogen that is encountered in the body.


Most common, long-term COVID after-effects


Possible lasting effects from a few days to 12 weeks

  • extreme tiredness (fatigue)

  • shortness of breath

  • chest pain or tightness

  • less focused memory and concentration ("brain fog")

  • sleeping difficulty (insomnia)

  • heart palpitations

  • dizziness

  • pins and needles

  • joint and muscle pain, certain areas or all over the body

  • depression and anxiety

  • tinnitus, earaches

  • feeling ill: diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite

  • flu-like symptoms: a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes or complete loss to sense of smell or taste

  • skin rashes


Common side effects of COVID vaccines


Lasting only a day or two

  • pain in vaccinated arm

  • headache or muscle ache

  • chills

  • nausea or vomiting

  • diarrhoea

  • fatigue

  • fever (temperature above 37.8°C)

  • flu-like symptoms accompanied by shivering and shaking for a day or two.

More serious COVID vaccination after effects

  • a new, severe headache which is not helped by usual painkillers or is getting worse

  • an unusual headache which seems worse when lying down or bending over or may be accompanied by: blurred vision, nausea and vomiting

  • difficulty with your speech,

  • weakness, drowsiness or seizures

  • new, unexplained pinprick bruising or bleeding

  • shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain


Rare cases of inflammation of the heart called myocarditis or pericarditis have been reported after Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, mostly in younger men. They reported improvement after a few days of rest and simple treatments.


If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath or a fast beating, fluttering, or pounding heart you should seek medical help immediately.


Capillary leak syndrome has been reported after the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in individuals with a prior history of this condition. Capillary leak syndrome is a rare disorder producing flares of massive leakage of plasma from blood vessels into neighbouring body cavities and muscles. Results in fast drop of blood pressure and if not treated on time can lead to organ failure or death.


In Part II, you will find out how reflexology is an excellent treatment for after COVID effect sufferers. Coming soon!


Best wishes


Klara Esperger




Sources:



Long-term effects of coronavirus (long COVID), NHS, April 2022, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-long-covid/


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