During the Black Death, they believed miasma or “bad air” spread the plague which was, I suppose, not too far off from the concept of an airborne pathogen except you can’t smell a pathogen and they believed that filtering bad air through nice smelling medicinal herbs would remove the bad from said air.  While wrong, we certainly wouldn’t be where we are today without the physicians of yesteryears observations and experimentation.  To the plague doctors and healthcare providers through all of history: Thank you for your service & sacrifice. 

The lungs are truly remarkable and are the core of our respiratory system taking in air and oxygenating the blood that gets delivered to every part of our body, then removing waste in the form of carbon dioxide or expelling anything that might get in the way of this beautiful process. According to the Cleveland Clinic “COVID-19 infections can cause lung damage that leads to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or scarring. The damage is caused by an immune-system overreaction that can lead to too much inflammation”. Your actions before and during the acute stages of infection can help to reduce the chances of these things happening. Stay on top of the inflammation early.  

After our infection in 2020, two of my kids developed new & worsening asthma which did eventually calm naturally, but none of us came out unscathed. My husband continues to struggle to breathe to this day. Two family friends from different families with prior COPD, one of whom was hospitalized during his initial infection, also continue to struggle.

On April 1, 2022, 1.5 years after our first infection, my then 19 year old, tall, thin, otherwise healthy, non-smoker, non-vaping son came to me having trouble breathing and pains in his chest. Shortly after leaving the doctor’s office we got a frantic phone call “You know that unlikely scenario we talked about…  Well, your lung is collapsing“. When the chest X-rays came back the radiologist saw he had a spontaneous pneumothorax, his left lung was 40% collapsed.  It was a “do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars”, don’t even go to the local hospital type situation.  We rushed to the chest hospital in the city who were equipped to handle the situation and after 17 days on suction the hole finally closed and we came home.  There was no why “he’s tall & thin/ he has long lungs”, but I did note the surgeon we were consulting with mentioned since Covid she had seen an uptick in otherwise healthy young men coming in with spontaneous pneumothorax.

 In December of 2023 he had another spontaneous pneumothorax on the opposite side, after another week on suction, they did a pleurodesis procedure on his right lung.   

Practical lung health tips for living with Long Covid

Take My Breath Away

When to See a Doctor

COVID-19 and its lingering effects can take a toll on your body in ways that are hard to predict. Note when to seek medical attention—whether during the acute stages of the infection or in the months or years following. Reach out to a doctor if you experience:

• Shortness of Breath: Not just mild breathlessness but a persistent, unsettling inability to get enough air. This could signal something serious like a blood clot, lung damage, or heart involvement.
• Chest Pain or Pressure: Tightness, discomfort, or pain that doesn’t ease with rest should never be brushed off.
• Confusion or Disorientation: Unexplained cognitive issues or memory gaps warrant professional evaluation.
• Bluish Lips or Face: A sign of oxygen deprivation that requires immediate medical attention.

Trust your instincts, and don’t hesitate to advocate for yourself if something feels off. Your health isn’t something to gamble with.

John Hopkins – Lung Damage  |  Cleveland Clinic – Lung Damage