The coronavirus attacks not only the respiratory system or the lungs, but the entire circulatory system of the human body, causing multiple organs to become inoperable. The South China Morning Post said this in a research report published on the medical and health magazine 'The Lancet' last Friday.
"The virus attacks not only the lungs, but also arteries, veins, and sub-veins," said Frank Rushitzka, a professor at Zurich University Hospital who led the study.
He said researchers have found that the consequences of coronary heart disease are far more severe and devastating than pneumonia.
Referring to the circulation of blood through the tiny blood vessels of the circulatory system, Frank Rushitzka said, ‘The coronavirus (COVID-19) enters the endothelium (the layer of cells), which is the defense line of the blood vessels. In this way, it reduces our physical resistance and causes problems in microcirculation.'
The virus then lowers blood supply to various organs of the body and at one point stops blood transfusion, said Professor Frank Rusitzka, chairman of the Heart Center and Cardiology Department at Zurich University Hospital.
"That's why we see that patients with coronary heart disease have problems with almost all organs, including the heart, liver, and intestines," he said.
"It can also be explained by the fact that smokers and those who have previous impairment of endothelial function or malignant blood vessels are the easiest victims to coronavirus," he said.
In addition, those suffering from hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease are also at the highest risk, he said.
The autopsy of three patients who died of coronary heart disease showed that their entire circulatory system was "full of viruses" and that almost all the vital organs of the body involved had lost their function.
