{“title”:”Post-Covid Biomarkers in Long-Term Symptoms: Immune and Hormonal Insights”}

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Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai identified immune and hormonal changes in adults who continue to experience symptoms after a Covid-19 infection. The findings show that fatigue, rapid heartbeat, sleep disturbances, and other lingering effects are not simply the result of insufficient rest or psychosocial stress. These observations were reported by MedicalXpress and help clarify the biological basis of post-Covid syndrome.

The study enrolled 268 adults with long-term Covid symptoms. Participants commonly reported breathing difficulties, fast heart rate, headaches, dizziness, confusion, persistent fatigue, digestive issues, and muscle or joint pains. Blood samples were collected to explore possible biological drivers behind these ongoing symptoms.

Results revealed that many volunteers exhibited signs of immune-system disruption. Blood analyses demonstrated abnormal activity of T cells, which normally coordinate the body’s defense against infections. In some individuals these immune cells appeared less capable of mounting a robust response, potentially allowing dormant infections such as herpes viruses to reactivate or flare up.

In addition, the data pointed to hormonal dysregulation. Notably, morning cortisol levels tended to be lower than expected in several participants. Cortisol is a key hormone that peaks in the morning and influences sleep regulation, energy metabolism, inflammatory responses, and the body’s stress management system.

Although the findings suggest that long-term Covid symptoms can have a measurable biological basis, researchers caution that mood and stress can still influence how people feel. The study emphasizes that clinical biomarkers should not be ignored, even when psychological factors seem involved. The goal is to develop blood-test interpretations that help identify the underlying causes of post-Covid symptoms and enable personalized treatment approaches in the future.

Experts in the field stress that ongoing research is needed to confirm these biomarkers across diverse populations and to translate them into practical clinical tools. By building a more precise picture of immune and hormonal changes after Covid-19, clinicians hope to tailor therapies that address each patient’s unique constellation of symptoms and improve long-term outcomes. The work continues to mature as larger cohorts and longer follow-ups are analyzed. This evolving understanding is a critical step toward better management of post-Covid conditions for patients in Canada, the United States, and beyond. (Source: MedicalXpress)

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