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X-Ray Shows The Effect Of COVID-19 On The Lungs Compared To A Smoker’s Lungs
Even after a whole year of fighting this deadly virus, there’s a devastating amount of things we still have yet to find out about COVID-19 and its long-term effects on a person’s health. However, recently, a doctor from Texas, who’s treated thousands of COVID patients since March, shared some valuable insights on the disease and its consequences after comparing three lung X-rays: one of a healthy patient, one of a smoker, and one of a COVID-19 patient.
More info: Twitter
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A trauma surgeon from Texas revealed some valuable insights about COVID-19 and its long-term effects after comparing 3 lung X-rays
Image credits: BKendallMD
Dr. Brittany Bankhead-Kendall, an assistant professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, went on Twitter to share that post-COVID lungs look way worse than any type of terrible smoker’s lungs she’s ever seen.
The doctor also posted photos of three lung X-rays—one of a healthy patient, one of a smoker, and one of a COVID-19 patient—to point out the differences.
The lungs of a healthy patient appear to be clear as they have a lot of black space, indicating that a person can inhale a great deal of air
Image credits: MarkieMartin
Looking at the X-ray of a smoker’s lungs, you can notice some haziness indicating scarring and congestion
Image credits: MarkieMartin
The third image shows post-COVID lungs which appear to be almost fully white, meaning the lungs are severely damaged
Image credits: MarkieMartin
After her tweet gained a lot of attention and received thousands of responses, the doctor was invited to say a few words during CBS DFW news. “Everyone’s just so worried about the mortality thing and that’s terrible and it’s awful,” Dr. Brittany Bankhead-Kendall pointed out. “But man, and all the survivors and the people who have tested positive this is—it’s going to be a problem.”
As you can tell from the X-ray comparison, post-COVID lungs can look way worse than those of a smoker
Image credits: KMOV St. Louis
“There are still people who say ‘I’m fine, I don’t have any issues,’ and you pull up their chest X-ray and they absolutely have a bad chest X-ray,” the doctor told CBS DFW. “You’ll either see a lot of that white, dense scarring or you’ll see it throughout the entire lung. And if you’re not feeling problems now, the fact that that’s on your chest X-ray, it sure is indicative of you possibly having problems later on.”
Turns out, even asymptomatic COVID cases can leave patients with severe lung damage
Image credits: BKendallMD
Apparently, even asymptomatic patients show a severe chest X-ray 70 to 80 percent of the time. Dr. Bankhead Kendall also adds that if a post-COVID patient is experiencing shortness of breath, they should stay in touch with their primary care doctor.
“There is no long-term implication of a vaccine that could ever be as bad as the long-term implications of COVID”
Image credits: BKendallMD
Here’s how people reacted to the doctor’s insights
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Ren Karlej 4 years ago
By the idiot brigade. People who persist in thinking this is no worse than flu either haven't bothered to do the reading or don't understand it.
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Della Greymane 4 years ago
Relatively healthy 48 year old, I caught the virus the first week of December. Ended up in the hospital but discharged right before Christmas, and I am still at home on O2 full time. More than 5 min without O2 has my sats in the low 80s. Doc thinks it may be February before I can ditch the cannula
Ren Karlej 4 years ago
Feel for you Della - really hope you recover fully and as soon as possible.
Load More Replies...
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Yep. This. Granted, some post-COvid patients recover better than others ------ no complete picture who/what/why ----- but post-Covid lungs as a rule are horrible. We were brought in to see an autopsy to show us. And I'd seen healthy and smoekr lungs on autopsy in the past. So.... Scarring from smoking is bad. post-Covid lungs remind me of black lung, minus the black. Just.... destroyed. MASK UP AND STAY SAFE PLEASE!
Aksa 4 years ago (edited)
My father died after 2 weeks in the hospital. The fight was hard, he received medications and even plasma from a healer. His condition, after a slight improvement, suddenly deteriorated significantly and he died. Alone, scared, he just suffocated. He was a healthy 60-year-old who allowed sports. It is not a light disease, someone will get over it and someone will get the hardest, but you never know how you will get it. Take care of yourself and others. Dying alone and in fear is terrifying.
Mimi777 4 years ago
I’m so sorry you lost your father. I can’t imagine. And you’re exactly right.
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Claire 4 years ago
In case anyone was wondering, PTX is pneumothorax, which is air inside the thoracic cavity but outside the lung.
PaulV 4 years ago (edited)
And PMH is past medical history. Doc says "no other," meaning no other contributory diseases, lung or otherwise, that may explain this CoVid lung picture; i.e., the lung effect here is all CoVid. Tachy means tachycardia, increased heart rate as the heart attempts to compensate for lower oxygen delivery. Desat means desaturation, lowered oxygen saturation of the blood. The medical picture speaks as one, as the doctors hope it would from a diagnostic standpoint.
Load More Replies...
deanna woods 4 years ago
My father has already had problems with fluid in his lungs and has had to be on oxygen before, so that's why my family does everything we can to protect him from this very deadly virus. Coronavirus is very real and should be taken very seriously. Going to a restaurant, to a bar, or to the movies is not that important right now and it is certainly not worth it.
giovanna 4 years ago
Deanna, I hear you, and do the same with my parents.
Load More Replies... 
Katinka Min 4 years ago
I had a mild case ten months ago. The shortness of breath has finallly improved last month but I still have the feeling my lungs are not back ot normal. And who knows if there are any other side effects like a thrombosis sitting around somewhere.
Colin Mochrie At Its Finest 4 years ago
This one pisses me off....I spent my life away from smoke inhalation (weed, fire, cigarettes) and if I get covid, screw it-my lungs would be f u ck ed.
Ren Karlej 4 years ago
By the idiot brigade. People who persist in thinking this is no worse than flu either haven't bothered to do the reading or don't understand it.
Load More Replies... Della Greymane 4 years ago
Relatively healthy 48 year old, I caught the virus the first week of December. Ended up in the hospital but discharged right before Christmas, and I am still at home on O2 full time. More than 5 min without O2 has my sats in the low 80s. Doc thinks it may be February before I can ditch the cannula
Ren Karlej 4 years ago
Feel for you Della - really hope you recover fully and as soon as possible.
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Yep. This. Granted, some post-COvid patients recover better than others ------ no complete picture who/what/why ----- but post-Covid lungs as a rule are horrible. We were brought in to see an autopsy to show us. And I'd seen healthy and smoekr lungs on autopsy in the past. So.... Scarring from smoking is bad. post-Covid lungs remind me of black lung, minus the black. Just.... destroyed. MASK UP AND STAY SAFE PLEASE!
Aksa 4 years ago (edited)
My father died after 2 weeks in the hospital. The fight was hard, he received medications and even plasma from a healer. His condition, after a slight improvement, suddenly deteriorated significantly and he died. Alone, scared, he just suffocated. He was a healthy 60-year-old who allowed sports. It is not a light disease, someone will get over it and someone will get the hardest, but you never know how you will get it. Take care of yourself and others. Dying alone and in fear is terrifying.
Mimi777 4 years ago
I’m so sorry you lost your father. I can’t imagine. And you’re exactly right.
Load More Replies... Claire 4 years ago
In case anyone was wondering, PTX is pneumothorax, which is air inside the thoracic cavity but outside the lung.
PaulV 4 years ago (edited)
And PMH is past medical history. Doc says "no other," meaning no other contributory diseases, lung or otherwise, that may explain this CoVid lung picture; i.e., the lung effect here is all CoVid. Tachy means tachycardia, increased heart rate as the heart attempts to compensate for lower oxygen delivery. Desat means desaturation, lowered oxygen saturation of the blood. The medical picture speaks as one, as the doctors hope it would from a diagnostic standpoint.
Load More Replies... deanna woods 4 years ago
My father has already had problems with fluid in his lungs and has had to be on oxygen before, so that's why my family does everything we can to protect him from this very deadly virus. Coronavirus is very real and should be taken very seriously. Going to a restaurant, to a bar, or to the movies is not that important right now and it is certainly not worth it.
giovanna 4 years ago
Deanna, I hear you, and do the same with my parents.
Load More Replies... Katinka Min 4 years ago
I had a mild case ten months ago. The shortness of breath has finallly improved last month but I still have the feeling my lungs are not back ot normal. And who knows if there are any other side effects like a thrombosis sitting around somewhere.
Colin Mochrie At Its Finest 4 years ago
This one pisses me off....I spent my life away from smoke inhalation (weed, fire, cigarettes) and if I get covid, screw it-my lungs would be f u ck ed.
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