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X-Ray Shows The Effect Of COVID-19 On The Lungs Compared To A Smoker’s Lungs
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X-Ray Shows The Effect Of COVID-19 On The Lungs Compared To A Smoker’s Lungs

X-Rays Reveal That Post-COVID Lungs Are Far Worse Than The Worst Smoker’s LungsSurgeon Reveals That Even Asymptomatic COVID Cases Can Leave Patients With Severe Lung DamageX-Ray Comparison Revealed That Post-COVID Lungs Can Be Left With More Damage Than Any Type Of Terrible Smoker's LungsX-Ray Shows The Effect Of COVID-19 On The Lungs Compared To A Smoker's LungsThis Surgeon's X-Ray Comparisons Of Post-COVID Lungs To Those Of Heavy Smokers Show How Damaging Even Asymptomatic Cases AreX-Rays Of Post-COVID Lungs Reveal Worse Deterioration Than Terrible Smoker's LungsX-Ray Shows The Effect Of COVID-19 On The Lungs Compared To A Smoker's LungsX-Ray Shows The Effect Of COVID-19 On The Lungs Compared To A Smoker's LungsX-Ray Shows The Effect Of COVID-19 On The Lungs Compared To A Smoker's LungsX-Ray Shows The Effect Of COVID-19 On The Lungs Compared To A Smoker's Lungs
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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

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    Image credits: MarkieMartin

    The third image shows post-COVID lungs which appear to be almost fully white, meaning the lungs are severely damaged

    X-Ray Shows The Effect Of COVID-19 On The Lungs Compared To A Smoker's Lungs

    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.”

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    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

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    Here’s how people reacted to the doctor’s insights

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    Lukas Garnelis

    Lukas Garnelis

    Author, Community member

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    Lukas is a photo editor at Bored Panda. 4th year in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University as a graphic designer. Can do whatever he sets his mind to.

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    Lukas Garnelis

    Lukas Garnelis

    Author, Community member

    Lukas is a photo editor at Bored Panda. 4th year in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University as a graphic designer. Can do whatever he sets his mind to.

    Julija Svidraitė

    Julija Svidraitė

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    Julija Svidraitė is an editor here at Bored Panda who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before starting her journey at BP, she had worked as a social media specialist at a marketing agency. She has also tried herself in a few different fields working as an intern: from practicing graphic design at a social media marketing agency, to being an assistant at a psychiatric hospital. Besides writing, Julija is also very passionate about illustrating, drinking coffee, and watching crime documentaries. You can find her in Bored Panda Office or reach her at julija.s@boredpanda.com.

    Read less »

    Julija Svidraitė

    Julija Svidraitė

    Author, Community member

    Julija Svidraitė is an editor here at Bored Panda who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before starting her journey at BP, she had worked as a social media specialist at a marketing agency. She has also tried herself in a few different fields working as an intern: from practicing graphic design at a social media marketing agency, to being an assistant at a psychiatric hospital. Besides writing, Julija is also very passionate about illustrating, drinking coffee, and watching crime documentaries. You can find her in Bored Panda Office or reach her at julija.s@boredpanda.com.

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    Ren Karlej
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Feel for you Della - really hope you recover fully and as soon as possible.

    Load More Replies...
    Leo Domitrix
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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!

    Load More Comments
    Ren Karlej
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Feel for you Della - really hope you recover fully and as soon as possible.

    Load More Replies...
    Leo Domitrix
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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!

    Load More Comments
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