Spain, according to official data, exceeds 13 million infections since the start of the pandemic. The cumulative incidence in the vulnerable population rises to 1,255.51 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Although the pressure on the ICU continues stable, there are 501 people hospitalized in the Intensive Care Units, with the Basque Country, Catalonia and Madrid being the most saturated.
In the last week, in addition, 292 deaths have been registered.
And the new lineages of the omicron variant, which caused an explosion of infections at the end of last year, in the autonomous communities.
BA.2.75, which has been nicknamed centaurus, continues to be undetected in our country.
The appearance of these BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants have not only led many experts to talk about a new disease, very different from the virus that was born in the Chinese city of wuhanbut the symptoms have been changing as the virus evolves.
Cough and fever, which since the onset of , have been the most obvious symptoms. At this time, they only affect 58.3% of the patients surveyed, according to a study by .
The most frequent symptom is fatigue, detected in 75% of the people who have participated in this research.
And these symptoms are followed by headache (headache) and runny nose.
While the , very characteristic symptoms in the first waves of the coronavirus, have been relegated and are barely detected in these new lineages.
But the most important thing is that a new symptom has appeared: orthostatic hypotension.
Orthostatic hypotension: dizziness and weakness
It is a symptom that has already been identified in other variants, such as delta, which appeared in October 2020, although it has now gained more strength.
Orthostatic hypotension occurs when you get dizzy, lightheaded, blurred vision, or weak when you stand up, sit, or lie down.
The episodes can be mild and last as little as a minute.
Its causes, as explained by the (SEMI), can be diverse.
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“Sudden blood loss
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Widespread infections throughout the body
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Drink alcohol
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Certain medications such as anxiolytics, antidepressants…
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Excess medication to lower blood pressure
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toxic
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being dehydrated
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Have heart failure
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Excessive intake of diuretics
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hypothyroidism
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Diseases of the anterior lobe of the pituitary
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Cardiac arrhythmias
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pericarditis
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venous varicose veins, etc.
Why is it produced?
The involvement of COVID-19 in the vagus nerve, the longest in the body, can cause this symptom. It is a nerve, which starts in the brain stem and runs down the neck and abdomen, and controls the heart rate.
Orthostatic hypotension occurs when the blood flow to the brain, by the time a person gets up or stands up, it happens too slowly. This translates into lightheadedness, and in the worst case it can even lead to fainting.
What are your symptoms?
The symptoms last just a few seconds and are as follows:
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Dizziness.
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Blurry vision.
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Disorientation.
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Nausea.
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Syncope (which is the sudden and temporary loss of consciousness and/or postural tone).
What is your treatment?
As SEMI highlights:
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“In the presence of these manifestations we must check the blood pressure levels. And if it is low, it can help us to drink fluids and take salt, as well as having frequent small meals.”
Coffee does not correct it, as the effect lasts a few minutes”.
And in any case, if we are suffering from these symptoms it is advisable to see a doctor. He will investigate its possible cause, and offer us treatment.”
Finally, a warning: “if it has happened to you at some point or you are afraid that it may happen to you, when you go to get out of bed or from a chair you should do it slowly”.