The search for solutions in the fight against COVID-19 is ongoing. Doctors and researchers are constantly looking for medications and other products that might help the body fight off the virus and its resulting disease. One important area of ongoing research right now is the use of melatonin supplements in preventing individuals from either catching the virus or from becoming seriously ill as a result. How can a simple supplement, widely available over the counter in the United States and around the world, help prevent this deadly disease?

Melatonin and COVID-19

Originally, research into melatonin and its connection to the coronavirus came about when early researchers were looking for any potential clues that might suggest how the virus entered human cells and how it might be stopped. The first to report on the link between melatonin and the coronavirus was Dr. Feixiong Cheng of Cleveland Clinic’s Genomic Medicine Institute.

Dr. Cheng’s early research was published in Cell Discovery in March 2020, and soon, other scientists were reporting similar observations. In addition to the common uses of melatonin, most commonly as a supplement to aid in sleep, the hormone also plays a role in regulating our immune systems. Specifically, it might help prevent the body’s immune system from overreacting in the fight against an invading virus. This overreaction, commonly termed a cytokine storm, is one of the things that makes COVID-19 so deadly.

Lowered Risk of COVID-19

Research shows there appears to be a link between patients taking melatonin and a lowered risk of contracting COVID-19. Right now, there are eight different clinical trials in process around the world specifically exploring the potential role of melatonin in preventing COVID-19. If the research does back this current hypothesis, individuals could begin taking the supplement right away. Melatonin is relatively cheap and widely available as an over-the-counter sleep aid. Dr. Cheng’s initial research used artificial intelligence to examine nearly 27,000 patients in a COVID-19 registry, and his team found that those who took melatonin were about 28 percent less likely to test positive for the virus.

Cautiously Optimistic

 Dr. Cheng cautions that widespread taking of melatonin to fight coronavirus is not something he would recommend right away, however. He notes that this could be a simple spurious connection, or that it could point to another correlation we aren’t yet aware of. For example, the melatonin and COVID-19 connection could be a simple indication that getting a good amount of sleep can help your body fight off the virus.

As new vaccines have begun to meet with FDA approval, the United States was just beginning to start hoping for a world beyond the COVID-19 pandemic when news broke of a new mutant variant of the coronavirus still ravaging countries all over the world. Understandably, the idea of a mutant variant has raised concerns with researchers and healthcare professionals all over the world.

So what do we know so far about this mutated version of COVID-19 and how worried should we be?

Where It Started

The initial development of a mutant variant of COVID-19 occurred when researchers were trying to discover the source of an unexpected outbreak that occurred in Kent, a southeastern county in England. After performing genetic sequencing on several samples from people that had gotten sick, they discovered a surprising number of mutations (around 23 in total, 17 non-synonymous and 6 synonymous).

This is unusual as, most commonly, a virus will mutate perhaps once or twice during the course of a month. Most importantly, it seems as though these particular mutations could cause issues. One mutation may help the virus bypass the immune system response, while another might make it easier for the virus to bind to human cells.

It is likely these mutations developed during just one individual’s fight with coronavirus. Such a scenario is quite common, particularly when a virus finds itself faced with medical obstacles, though usually these mutations die out within the individual. In this case, the theory is that this mutated variant escaped into the world.

Is It More Dangerous?

The research on this new variant is still in its early stages, but at this point, researchers have drawn a few cautious conclusions. Though there is no evidence that this variant will cause individuals to get a more severe illness, there is research that indicates it is much more contagious than the initial form of the virus. This is significant, as with greater infectiousness comes increased numbers of infections and potentially more deaths.

Will the Vaccine Still Work?

The good news is that preliminary research seems to indicate that the vaccines currently in development that are beginning to receive approval for emergency use might still be effective against this new variant. At a lab in Galveston, Texas, Vineet Menachery (assistant professor microbiology and immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch) tested the efficacy of serum samples taken from patients that had already recovered from COVID-19 on the virus with and without the new N501Y mutation, finding no difference.

In spite of this encouraging new research, the best way to fight against virus mutation is to lower the chances of transmission by practicing social distancing, wearing masks, and using good sanitation practices.

Though Black Friday is already in the past, the holiday shopping season is well underway. With coronavirus cases continuing to surge at unprecedented levels (topping 2,000 new cases a day according to data), health and safety concerns are affecting the holiday shopping season significantly. If you are making holiday shopping plans, consider the advice of health experts before heading out to the stores.

Online Shopping Surge

Due to the health concerns that come with heading to the stores in person, online shopping is expected to see much more traffic than usual. As a result, retailers are scrambling to improve their online shopping experience and maintain product availability. However, as a shopper, you should keep in mind that you might experience some delay in receiving certain items, depending on how popular they turn out to be this holiday season. Shoppers should account for extra time for delivery and processing as well, particularly due to extra precautions put in place to deal with safety concerns amid the pandemic.

What about the Stores?

Though many Americans report that they feel safe shopping in stores (as opposed to other activities, like returning to work or flying on a plane), most experts recommend avoiding shopping in person whenever possible. Many stores have adjusted their policies, allowing for curbside pickup and other services that can minimize your exposure when out in public. If you must shop in person, try to plan your shopping trip accordingly. Be certain to wear a mask and keep your distance from other shoppers as much as possible. Consider planning your shopping trip during off-hours, when fewer individuals are likely to be out and about. This can be early in the morning or late at night, depending on your preference, but the important thing is to try and minimize your exposure to multiple strangers.

You may also want to consider making a more detailed list of exactly which items you need to pick up. Now is not the time for you to spend hours browsing the mall looking for just the right gift. Instead, you will want to make your in-person visits as quick as possible. Head in and out, minimizing your time inside the building.

Stay Home if You’re High Risk

Despite the precautions you can take when entering stores, the reality is that if you are high risk, you should limit your exposure to others as much as possible. Likely, this will mean staying home and shopping online.

With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to spread, exacting a death toll beyond anything seen in modern times, the race to make an effective vaccine and find new treatments has been extraordinary. To facilitate the search for treatments that can help affected patients recover, the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) instituted the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) in August 2020. This special emergency program is designed to use all available resources to move new treatment options out of trials and onto the market as soon as is safely possible.

What Types of Treatments Are Being Studied?

In its search for a potential treatment for COVID-19, the FDA is exploring several different options. Antivirals, cell and gene therapies, neutralizing antibodies, immunomodulators, and other combinations of these therapies are just some of the types of treatments being studied. Some of these treatments are already in use for other types of illnesses, so researchers need to study the effectiveness of these treatments on COVID-19. More treatment options mean hopefully increased rates of survival for severely ill patients.

Antivirals work by stopping viruses from multiplying, and they have been in use for many years for diseases as devastating as HIV and as common as influenza. Cell and gene therapies are more complicated treatment options, and these treatments include several different, though similar, solutions. For cell therapy, treatments use cellular immunotherapies, other cells such as stem cells, and various related products. Gene therapy works by attempting to modify or manipulate how certain genes are expressed, thereby altering the properties of different cells for use in therapeutic applications.

Neutralizing antibody therapies involve the use of certain blood products (like convalescent plasma or hyperimmune globulin) to help individuals fight off the virus. These products are typically derived from patients who have recovered from COVID-19. Meanwhile, immunomodulators aim to slow the body’s immune system response to the virus. A common issue with COVID-19 infections is that the body’s immune system begins to attack the large organ systems, leading to organ failure.

Speeding Up the Review Process

The main goal of the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program is to speed up the review and approval process to get as many different types of treatments to the public as possible in the fastest amount of time. Among the actions taken by the FDA through this program was a move to accelerate and streamline the process of submitting applications for the launch of new studies and clinical trials. This allows more researchers and innovators the ability to get new treatment options to the public in a fraction of the time.

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, doctors are only now beginning to observe some troubling long-term effects brought on by COVID-19. From neurological issues and chronic fatigue to heart problems and lung scarring, the potential long-term problems after infection with COVID-19 are frightening. And it is not just those who suffered a severe infection that are experiencing these effects: some people with mild symptoms who did not need hospitalization are beginning to see these types of issues as well. Here is what doctors know so far about COVID-19’s worrisome long-term effects.

Neurological Issues

One of the most concerning ways that coronavirus has affected recovered patients is in its impact on the brain. There is some evidence that the disease may damage brain cells, possibly resulting in the reported “brain fog” (difficulty thinking and concentrating), speech problems, and even memory loss experienced by those recovering from an infection. New studies and brain scans have begun indicate that some of these symptoms might be the result of damage to the frontal lobe. A study of EEG (electroencephalogram) tests from COVID-19 patients showed evidence of abnormalities in the brain’s frontal lobe in more than one-third of participants. Experts often call the frontal lobe the “master executor” of the brain because it controls executive functioning—things like self-control, abstract thinking, and the speed of thought and processing.

Heart and Lung Damage

The breathing difficulties experienced by COVID-19 patients have been well documented, but the long-term effects of the disease on the lungs may also be troubling. Experts expect to see lung scarring, a decrease in exercise capacity, and decreased lung function. Those who recover, even from relatively mild cases, have reported lingering shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain. Though the studies are few right now, at least one has discovered opaque patches on the lower lobes of the lungs (an indicator of inflammation) that can make breathing difficult.

Problems in the heart have also been indicated, with nearly one-third of coronavirus patients experiencing cardiovascular symptoms during the acute phase of infection. These symptoms include cardiomyopathy, a stretching, thickening, or stiffening in the heart muscle that affects its ability to pump blood. Other patients have experienced pulmonary thrombosis, or blood clots that block blood vessels in the lungs. These symptoms may increase patients’ future risk of heart failure and other cardiovascular problems for years to come.

Long-Term Fatigue

Another potential long-term effect of a COVID-19 infection is chronic fatigue. Seen before in patients who have recovered from SARS (a related disease), chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by extreme symptoms of fatigue that get worse with physical or mental activity, but do not improve with rest. Experts believe that those who have recovered from COVID-19 may experience similar effects.

Though this virus has been with us for almost a full year now, we are still learning much about its immediate and long-term effects—and we will likely be studying it for years in the future.

Nearly seven months into the coronavirus pandemic, the effects of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread are revealing themselves. If you are starting to feel a deep sense of fatigue and noticing some lingering depression, know that you are certainly not alone in those feelings. Now more than ever, people are reporting experiencing quarantine fatigue. And with a vaccine looking more and more distant by the day, experts have begun pointing out that we might not see a return to normalcy until 2022. The prospect of years of living with masks and social distancing has a lot of people feeling deflated. Here are some ways you can try to cope with quarantine fatigue, especially if we find ourselves in this for the long haul.

Symptoms of Quarantine Fatigue

Quarantine fatigue, or “COVID fatigue” as some are calling it, can be a dangerous phenomenon. After months of isolation and quarantine, people are tired of everything: tired of being afraid and tired of being isolated. These feelings combine to make people careless with the safety precautions that are still necessary to curtail the spread of the virus—and without these precautions, dangerous increases in infection rates can follow.

This reaction, however, is quite normal in terms of typical community disaster responses. In most cases, the initial reaction after a large-scale disaster, like an earthquake or a hurricane, is for people to pull together and work hard to help everyone around them. There is a bracing sense of community and support even for strangers that helps us get through the stress. But as disasters drag on and the return to normal life never seems to happen, people may begin to feel disillusioned and frustrated. That phase is what has brought on quarantine fatigue.

How to Cope

Coping with these feelings is possible, fortunately. First, remember that you’re not alone, and this is an extraordinary year—global pandemics don’t happen often, and most people aren’t feeling their best. Let yourself off the hook and remind yourself that it is OK and natural to feel bad when bad things happen.

Beyond this, experts recommend exercising when you can, practicing mindfulness and gratitude, and talking about how you’re feeling. Holding those feelings and thoughts inside only makes them worse, and talking, even if it’s just with a family member or a close friend, can help you find some relief. Don’t hesitate to talk to a professional therapist or counselor if you feel like you need more structured, intensive support.

It can also help to limit your exposure to social media and the news to just once or twice a day if possible. Constant bombardment with negative news about the pandemic can be exhausting, and cutting out that 24/7 cable news coverage or “doom-scrolling” on social media can help. Find hobbies you can enjoy and stay connected with family and friends. It may be some time yet before we comfortably find a “new normal.”

As the world holds its breath for a possible vaccine to prevent infection with the COVID-19 virus, researchers around the world are still trying to find a way to treat the virus effectively in those already infected. Many different existing treatments have been tried, with varying results.

The latest research may show that simple steroids could be a lifesaving treatment. A new study has confirmed that patients who are severely ill with COVID-19 can be treated with corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory drugs that fight the effects of an overactive immune system response.

The Cytokine Storm

The coronavirus is still puzzling doctors and researchers around the globe. While some people who contract the virus have minimal or no symptoms, others undergo the most severe illness of their lives, often ending up on a ventilator in the intensive care unit. One of the reasons for a severe COVID-19 reaction involves what is known as a cytokine storm. Typically, an individual’s immune system identifies a threat, such as a virus, and begins to fight it off with antibodies. However, for those experiencing a cytokine storm, their immune system overreacts by releasing a flood of proteins, causing what can be life-threatening damage to vital organs.

Using Steroids

Corticosteroids are already a well-known and relatively cheap treatment that is used to suppress an overactive immune system response. These anti-inflammatory drugs are readily accessible to the general public, and they might hold the key to treating severe cases of COVID-19.

The most recent research on the use of corticosteroids with severely ill COVID-19 patients supports this conclusion. The results from seven different studies were compiled by the World Health Organization and published on Wednesday, September 2, by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

This research showed that treating severely ill COVID-19 patients (those in need of extra oxygen, specifically) with corticosteroids effectively reduced the risk of death during the first month by nearly one-third, as compared with placebo or typical care. Dexamethasone, one of the earliest steroids tested by researchers, reduced deaths by 35 percent in those requiring breathing treatments and by 20 percent in those receiving extra oxygen. The success of this first round of testing led researchers to explore other steroids as potential treatments, and the results so far have been very encouraging.

The disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, known commonly as COVID-19, has a staggeringly wide range of symptoms. With the pandemic showing no sign yet of slowing down in the United States—and in fact with cases increasing in many areas across the country—it is important to understand how to identify early signs and symptoms so that you can avoid spreading the virus to other people in your community. If you experience any of the early signs, it is important that you be tested as soon as possible and—in the meantime—isolate yourself at home. Read on to learn about some of the possible signs.

The Most Common Symptoms Of COVID-19

There are many types of coronaviruses around the world that can cause a variety of respiratory symptoms in humans. Some of these viruses can also cause symptoms that are more severe. People with SARS-CoV-2 experience symptoms such as a fever, cough, and headache. In fact, many doctors have reported that a fever with a severe headache is an extremely common presentation of COVID-19. Like many other similar respiratory illnesses, additional symptoms could include feelings of intense fatigue, body aches, chills, and even nausea. A more distinct symptom of COVID-19—one that is not often seen in other common respiratory illnesses—is shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Unusual Symptoms

COVID-19 is quite a unique illness in its presentation, as the range of symptoms and the severity can prove quite broad. For some, the illness is nothing more than a minor inconvenience, while for others it can be a life-threatening illness, sometimes even requiring a ventilator and hospitalization. There are some other symptoms of COVID-19 that are downright strange. Some individuals who have tested positive for the disease experienced what many are calling “COVID toe,” which presents as pain and discoloration in the feet and toes accompanied by an uncomfortable burning and itching sensation. Another somewhat unusual symptom of COVID-19 is a sudden loss of smell and taste, which is not accompanied by any nasal congestion. In fact, many experts now believe this could be one of the earliest indicators of infection. Moreover, gastrointestinal symptoms are sometimes experienced in the early stages of the illness. Some individuals even experience only one day of gastrointestinal upset or loss of appetite before developing the more common respiratory symptoms and fever.

Growing Knowledge

As we continue to learn more about COVID-19, our knowledge of which symptoms are more common and how the disease presents will continue to grow. We can only rely on continued research and observation to help us learn more about the disease and manage it better in the future.

Researchers and scientists all over the globe have spent months trying to find and develop treatments and preventative measures for the novel coronavirus that causes the illness COVID-19. Since its first appearance in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, the coronavirus has ripped through the world, causing the entire global economy to grind to a halt. Even though some countries are reopening slowly, new outbreaks have been slowing that process down. Now, researchers are more focused than ever on finding a new way to fight the disease, and one older method could be showing promise.

What Is Convalescent Plasma?

The use of convalescent plasma as a treatment for various diseases is not a new concept. In fact, this treatment has been in use for over a hundred years to treat other illnesses, including MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), a disease caused by a similar coronavirus. The theory is that taking plasma from survivors of a particular disease can help those currently suffering from it.

Plasma, the liquid portion of the blood left over when white and red blood cells are removed, contains antibodies and various proteins related to the body’s immune system response. Though not a cure, the convalescent plasma treatment shows promise in helping those currently suffering from COVID-19 recover faster and keeping the disease from being as severe as it might otherwise be.

The Difficulties

Despite the potential for convalescent plasma treatments to help COVID-19 patients, some experts are cautious about offering the treatment too soon to a wider patient base. There are some challenges in studying its effectiveness, including the wide variation in concentration of antibodies in different people. Additionally, in some parts of the world, the testing equipment is prohibitively expensive and the necessary containment procedures are difficult to execute, making the research even more challenging. A potential treatment needs to go through a process of rigorous clinical trials to assess its effectiveness accurately. With doctors still using convalescent plasma on a compassionate basis with patients, it is difficult to determine its true benefits.

Donations Needed

The FDA is currently calling for COVID-19 survivors to donate plasma to help with continued research and treatment of current patients. If you have had COVID-19 and have been fully recovered from the illness for at least two weeks, you should consider making a plasma donation. You must have had a positive COVID-19 lab test and meet other criteria for blood donors to qualify.

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 was first reported in December 2019 by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in China and has since spread worldwide to reach global pandemic status. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. As of June 29, there were more than 10.2 million confirmed cases and in excess of 500,000 deaths worldwide.

While around 130,000 new daily cases worldwide were reported on June 20, that number increased to more than 189,000 in less than one week. Countries have implemented gradual reopening policies. However, this recent surge suggests the importance of exercising caution and taking preventative measures such as wearing masks.

Worldwide Daily Record (June 28)

The June 28 tally of more than 189,000 new daily cases, as recorded by the WHO, marked a new record for confirmed cases in a 24-hour period. The prior record of 183,000 was recorded days earlier. Daily deaths worldwide as a result of COVID-19, however, peaked at 8,470 on April 17 and had been below 6,000 every day during the week prior to June 28.

Despite the reduction in daily deaths, the increase in cases has been concerning, particularly in Brazil and the United States, which led the way in daily new cases for the June 28 tally with more than 46,800 and 44,400, respectively. India ranked third with almost 20,000 new cases.

Record High in 7 States (June 28)

The US led all countries with more than 2.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as of June 29. This was more than twice the amount of confirmed cases in Brazil. Moreover, the US also accounted for more than one-quarter of all COVID-19-related deaths worldwide.

More concerning is the fact that many states began experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases as they began relaxing social distancing restrictions. In fact, during the weekend of June 27 and 28, seven states, including Florida and Tennessee, recorded new highs in confirmed COVID-19 cases. John Cooper, mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, issued a mandatory face mask order beginning June 29 to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Only Two States in Decline (June 28)

Only two states in the US as of June 28 recorded a decline in COVID-19 cases from the week prior. In addition to a record high in seven states, rises were reported in 36 states. Only Rhode Island and Connecticut reported a decline in new cases. New York, which was once the epicenter of the virus in the US, reported its fewest deaths since March 15 and had only 616 cases. Florida, which many experts contend is the country's next epicenter, had more than 9,500 positive cases on June 27.

"As a doctor, a scientist, an epidemiologist, I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that in most states where you're seeing an increase, it is a real increase," said former CDC Director Tom Frieden during an interview on Fox News on June 28. "It is not more tests; it is more spread of the virus." Frieden noted that increases in death totals won't be noticed for about a month due to a lag between infections and deaths. He estimated there could be an additional 15,000 deaths in the US by the end of July.

PPE Shortage

The drastic increases in COVID-19 cases has once again made personal protective equipment (PPE) a major concern in the US. The volunteer-led organization #GetUsPPE reported a surge in requests for PPE equipment in late June, particularly in Texas.

The state has had to pause plans to reopen as a result of record increases in hospitalizations. According to #GetUsPPE co-founder Dr. Megan Ranney, health facilities in Texas requested fewer than 2,000 pieces of PPE during the week of June 15 to 21. That number rose to more than 220,000 the following week.

Executives of Florida's Service Employees International Union have also alleged a major shortage in PPE equipment. One of its vice presidents, Jude Derisme, alleges that hospitals in the state stopped making staff wear N95 masks for a short period of time prior to the recent surge in cases.

Similar shortages have been reported in other states. Washington Governor Jay Inslee, for example, recently claimed to have attempted to purchase $400 million worth of PPE with less than 10 percent of all orders filled.

Study of Asymptomatic Individuals

Unlike most other countries, Sweden's approach to fighting COVID-19 has been to develop herd immunity by allowing its citizens to get infected and fight the disease. While it's hard to measure the efficacy of this strategy, a recent study discounted the notion that herd immunity even applies to COVID-19.

The study, which was conducted in China with results published in Nature, found that asymptomatic individuals had limited, if any, detectable antibodies weeks after infection. This means they may not even be capable of developing lasting immunity and could conceivably become infected again. Moreover, even though they had no outward symptoms, 70 percent of study participants showed lung abnormalities known as "ground-glass opacities" in X-rays.