Back To College in the COVID-19 Era

With one of my daughters returning to college over the weekend, I reminded her that she needs to remain diligent both on and off campus, to wear a mask, to socially distance and to not attend parties or social gatherings of more than a handful of people who are also diligent. I know…good luck with that one!

Before she left, I impressed upon her to make every attempt to avoid COVID-19 if at all possible and was delighted to see that she was very well prepared for a safe flight! Even though the vast majority of healthy young men and women stricken with COVID-19 make complete recoveries, some develop longer-term heart related complications. They include myocarditis that was first reported in China and more recently identified in college athletes. Another newly reported heart related complication that may occur weeks to months after being infected with COVID-19 infection is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). This condition is characterized by inability of the body to respond properly with changes in position, especially when standing, due to pooling of blood in the lower part of the body rather than throughout the body and brain. As a result, the longer you stand, the more likely you are to experience lightheadedness, fatigue and poor concentration. Pulse rate increases 30-40 beats per minute when standing for more than 10 minutes and you can experience premature (skipped) beats and chest discomfort. Expect to hear more about this association in the coming months.

The Bottom Line: COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon, so best to listen to and heed the advice of qualified health care experts, like Dr. Anthony Fauci. I met Tony when I was a medical student and researcher at the National Institutes of Health during the early stages of the AIDS epidemic and have the highest regard for him. I also had the opportunity to work with Dr. Phil Pizzo, who was also at NIH during that time. Like Dr. Fauci, Dr. Pizzo is of the highest integrity and aims for the promotion of honesty and truth in science.

Michael Miller, MD, is a Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology & Public Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Check out his twitter handle: @mmillermd1