#covid saliva test

[4uhealth]

Navigating Health Tests: Food Sensitivity, Food Intolerance, and COVID Saliva Tests

In the realm of personal health and well-being, understanding your body's responses to different stimuli is crucial. From identifying food sensitivities and intolerances to monitoring infectious diseases like COVID-19, various tests are available to provide insights into your health. This guide explores three important types of tests: food sensitivity tests, food intolerance tests, and COVID saliva tests, helping you navigate their purpose, methods, and benefits.

[maridotnet]

ow

[doctor-fancy-pants]

Totally Scientific and Not At All Anecdotal Review of Rapid Antigen Test UX by type

So we were PCR tested twice during quarantine, and then we were given a bag of saliva test RATs. Took one of those before getting on the bus down to the wharf, then one every three days until 26th November. I messed up my first one and so had to grab one from ship supply, which was “oral fluid.”

This means that I am now in a position to compare the experiences of different RATs.

OLD SCHOOL Ye olde swab! Scrape the back of the throat! Then scrape the brain via the nose! Mix with buffer, apply to test cassette. Don’t fucken wuss out on the scraping either — SARS-CoV-2 infections present initially as lower respiratory tract, which we can’t swab. So there’s less of it lurking about in the upper respiratory tract. Also please swab your throat. YES EVEN IF THAT’S NOT IN THE DIRECTIONS.

SALIVA TEST Stick the hideous absorbent lollipop in your mouth until the indicator turns blue, which means it has enough saliva, then apply to test cassette.

ORAL FLUID Hock up a loogie into the buffer. Apply to test cassette.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

Now, I previously hated swabbing my nose. Then I started swabbing my throat, which I hate even more, so I don't hate swabbing my nose so much. Basically, I stimulate a pretty solid coughing reflex on the throat and I always, always sneeze after swabbing my nose, but it's now pretty inoffensive to me.

I've been aware of the saliva and oral tests for a while, and thought that something less intrusive would be good for people with hyper-sensitive gag reflexes, and also little kids, who really don't like sitting still long enough for someone to swab their tiny wee nostrils.

So I was optimistic about the saliva test.

My optimism was misplaced. The instructions say that it should take about 2-3 minutes for the sponge inserted into your mouth to absorb sufficient saliva. The indicator is supposed to turn blue.

My medication causes dry mouth.

3 minutes? HA. FUCKING. HA.

TRY 20 FUCKING MINUTES.

That thing felt like it was sucking out my goddamn motherfucking soul. And I had to move it around and swizzle it and press down and I had to do all this before leaving my cabin before shift. My very life essence was drained into this obnoxious fucker.

(I actually had significant shoulder pain due to continuously trying to move it around while lying down. My joints are weird. This is not going to be an issue for most people.)

We had a messaging platform on the ship's intranet, which I used to declare that if anyone had swab tests and wanted to swap it for the spit lollipop, I was down for that. I now considered swabs to be the best possible option.

Nobody took me up on it. Everyone struggled to get enough spit.

On the last day, I had that "oral fluid" test, which involves hocking up a loogie and spitting into the funnel. This was less of a trial, to be honest, but given my dry mouth issues, it was still a pain in the arse to muster up the necessary quantities of saliva. Not as bad as the fucking saliva sponge.

I cannot imagine that sponge thing works well with little kids, not unless they are producing copious quantities of spit and snot and--

[pauses abruptly]

--okay, yes, I now recall that little kids are absolutely capable of just leaking from every available orifice (hopefully not the ears), so maybe they would have an easier time of it.

Anyways, TL;DR: the saliva sponge is vile. The oral fluid is okay.

I still prefer the old school swab.

[yuri-for-businesswomen]

im thinking of jobs that involve contact with the private area. doctors, beauty salons, tattooist/piercer. they all wear gloves and work in sterile environments, also the worker is clothed.

im thinking of jobs that involve saliva. also doctors, covid test stations. again, sterile environment, worker is clothed, probably even wearing a mask, and gloves.

im thinking of jobs where the worker has to get naked. actors and actresses, models. they are at least supposed to have a coach on set and an agent supporting their safety.

none of this is implemented in prostitution and never will be because it destroys the illusion of it being about sex and not money and power exerted through it. sex cant be regulated or professionalised and thats beside the point that with all possible regulations it is still unwanted sex.

[covid-safer-hotties]

You were asking for COVID news the other day. I don't know if this counts, but the Aptitude Medical Metrix COVID Test reader is back in stock after being out of stock for at least a month if not more. AFAIK, they're the only at-home, molecular, reusable test available in the USA (and it took me far too long to even learn it existed. I only found out about a month ago, despite being in the C19 Cautious-sphere for a few years now.) The reader costs US$50 and the tests cost US$25 each. It's also possible to do a saliva test instead of a swab test if needed.

(It won't let me put a link, sorry.) (I'm not affiliated with them nor do I make any money off of this; I just thought it would be useful for people to know. I know I was refreshing their page every day for the past month.)

Added a link on our "where to buy" section of the archive!

I know a girl who uses these because she travels all the time! A bit more expensive than the RATs, but incredibly accurate for such a small package!

[wingedcat13]

The note about changing toothbrushes is so interesting. Do people not swap theirs out every 3 months as the packaging says?

Can confirm they do not, as it requires a variety of factors, including the awareness of the passage of time - but even if you do swap it regularly, if you’ve got Covid or some other illness commonly transmitted via saliva (like strep throat) and you’re concerned about re-infecting yourself, it’s a good idea to just go ahead and swap to a new one.

When I had Covid I swapped to a new toothbrush the first day I started Paxlovid, on the third day I swapped again, and after I tested negative I swapped again, because fuck that noise. (We had a packet of a bunch of toothbrushes already, so I didn’t have to worry about going and buying any)

I prooobably could’ve just waited til the end of the Paxlovid dosages to swap, but it made me feel better, and again, immunocompromised. Wasn’t going to play with that.

[bodyalive]

How to Shift the Body into the Parasympathetic Side of the Nervous System

Breathing out and holding out or pausing at the bottom of the breath amplifies the body's natural production of Nitric Oxide, a vasodilator that expands the porosity of our vascular system. During Covid, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that Nitric Oxide improved respiratory permeability & bronchodilation. (They were not looking for the vasodilation effects but I’m sure that must have been happening too.) I first learned about breath holding out from Rosealba Courtney DO Lac from Australia, who used it to test Eucapnic metabolic health, the O2/CO2 exchange rate in the lungs. This was a contributing factor to asthma and sleep apnea and restricted breathing exercises could be used to cure asthma. Then I encountered this again studying at the beginning level with Lois Laynee. She had adopted a practice of Breathing out while humming to increase Nitric Oxide and Vasodilation and used it to calm the nervous system. One of the key actions to making the shift was swallowing at the bottom of the breath before inhaling again.

Signs that the parasympathetic nervous system is coming back online in the body:

+Spontaneous swallowing. When we are in a state of shock, our mouth dries up, we don’t produce saliva (neither are we producing digestive enzymes), and in order to swallow our food we need to drink something. Eating when in a state of stress, you can’t digest your food.

+Intestinal gurgles and rumbles. Have you noticed that when a client begins to relax that their organs and intestines begin to gurgle? As the parasympathetic wakes up, the viscera wake up.

+Yawning. Did you know you can make yourself yawn simply by rubbing your jaw muscles vigorously with your fingers and opening your mouth wide anticipating/expecting to yawn. Fake it til you make it.

Putting these two things together has enabled me to work effectively with shifting people out of long Covid symptoms. It has become my conviction that breathing dis-regulation is the metabolic habit that locks our nervous system into the Sympathetic side of the CNS where natural healing and self regeneration cannot happen due to the ���emergency’ metabolism associated with the fight for survival.

[Thanks Jocelyn Olivier and Neuromuscular Reprogramming]

[xhanisai]

Negative!!!

AO3

Collab between me and @seas-of-silver​

Pairing - Adrinette

Summary -

"I'm so glad for Mari, though! I was so worried she got COVID, so the negative result was a relief!"

Adrien practically choked on his saliva and then proceeded to quickly turn around and face Alya with an astonished gape. Relief filled his entire being from head to toe as his mind fumbled with what to say next and his traitorous, confusing heart rejoiced within his chest. So of course, he spoke without thinking.

"It was just a covid test!? Really?!"

.

He didn't expect the instant silence that spread across the entire class like a fog, everyone now looking at him as if he suddenly grew two heads or something just as bizarre. That was until an unholy smirk naturally found its way on Alya's pretty face and she leaned forward to the sunshine boy like a little fox who was up to no good.

"Yes, it was just a covid test...what did you think it was, Adrien~?"

Or, Adrien mistakes Marinette’s negative covid test for something else...

~(x)~ . . . Adrien hadn't moved, hadn't blinked, hadn't been able to function since he saw the image on Marinette's post as he scrolled through his Instagram feed out of boredom and curiosity. . A white object with a single red line, and the caption "Negative! 😅 ". . He didn't even need to look at the hashtags to know why exactly someone would be relieved to get a negative result on a white test stick. He didn't dare to look further. His stomach lurched and his heart jumped to his throat, and he felt like he couldn't even breathe. Marinette had- had- done it with someone else. 'Not me...wait- not me?' He didn't have time to unpack the thought and the emotions it had unleashed within him, because- "LOOK OUT!!" CRASH!!! BANG!!!!!!! A roller-skating Alix collided with Marinette, who had been ever-so-carefully carrying a large box with her family bakery logo. Adrien didn't even register running over to Marinette, only that he was now by her side, thoroughly checking her over for any injuries, and he couldn't help but pay particular attention to her stomach, even though he knew what "negative" meant. "Are you okay?" he asked breathily. He hadn't meant for his voice to be that soft, that full of affection, that lovin- Her gaze was somewhere else. "No!" she cried. "The cakes! These were for the activities for today's classes!" She made to crawl over to the bakery box a few metres ahead of her, but she recoiled instantly, clutching her ankle with an inaudible gasp. Seeing her in pain set his nerves alight, so he swept her up in his arms, carrying her bridal style. "Those cakes are replaceable; you, however, are not. Let's go to the nurse's office, shall we?" Without waiting for an answer, he walked off with her in his arms effortlessly. The nurse thanked Adrien for bringing Marinette to him and dismissed the boy so he could go to class. Reluctantly, he departed (not before telling Marinette to text him if she needed absolutely anything, no matter how small the favour) and grumbled his way into his seat beside Nino, who was busy chatting away with Alya. "I'm so glad for Mari, though! I was so worried she got COVID, so the negative result was a relief!" Adrien practically choked on his saliva and then proceeded to quickly turn around and face Alya with an astonished gape. Relief filled his entire being from head to toe as his mind fumbled with what to say next and his traitorous, confusing heart rejoiced within his chest. So of course, he spoke without thinking. "It was just a covid test!? Really?!" . He didn't expect the instant silence that spread across the entire class like a fog, everyone now looking at him as if he suddenly grew two heads or something just as bizarre. That was until an unholy smirk naturally found its way on Alya's pretty face and she leaned forward to the sunshine boy like a little fox who was up to no good. "Yes, it was just a covid test...what did you think it was, Adrien~?" Her glasses glinted just like the way his favourite anime characters' would when they had a diabolical plan or something just as sinister and immediately Adrien had an indescribable urge to dart out of the classroom as fast as his alter-ego's namesake. Unfortunately for the boy, Alya didn't even give him a chance to contemplate a solid plan or excuse to escape and she was quick to carry on with a smile that would give the Cheshire cat a run for its money. "My, my, my...you didn't think it was that did you?" "Th-Think that it was what? Hehehe- I have no idea what you're talking about! I mean! Yeah, I absolutely knew it was a covid test! How could it be anything else but that? Ahahah! I'm not that dumb-" Alya suddenly stood up, her pearly whites flashing sinisterly whilst everyone in the class mimicked her expression like evil minions in the background. "No wonder you were so irritated and pissy all day! You- you ACTUALLY thought that she got laid by someone else and couldn't stand the idea at all! Ahhahahahah!" Alya cackled heartily, deaf to the embarrassed, red-as-a-tomato Adrien who tried his best to protest and even lie his way out. His ears virtually caught on fire as the majority of the class joined in the laughter, tears pouring out of Kim's eyes, Nathaniel pounding a fist on the desk as he roared in hysterics, Rose literally on the floor clutching her stomach and of course, Nino wheezing against the wall from all the snickering that escaped his lungs. This is it. This is his life. Adrien Agreste shall now forever be known as the guy who mistook a covid test for a pregnancy test. He was so fucking doomed! . "What's going on?" Marinette appeared at the door, leaning on a crutch to assist her injured ankle and confusion written all over her face. However, all that her classmates (sans a blubbering, discombobulated Adrien Agreste) did was roar even louder in laughter as if they've witnessed the biggest joke in the century. Nino was the next to have fallen to the ground, trying his everything to calm down and even Chloé was trying her best and failing in hiding her chortles behind her perfectly manicured hands, unable to stick to her usual snarkiness and rude comments. "No! Don't listen to them!" Adrien blurted, attempting to rush towards his adorably baffled friend, only to get tackled to the ground by both Nino and Ivan who delivered a grin more satanic than even the scariest of Akumas he's ever fought. "Marinette! Cover your ears!" He tried again with his pleading emerald greens. Sadly, it seemed like that luck wasn't on his side for the umpteenth time and Alya opened her mouth. "Monsieur. Smartypants here mistook your covid test as a pregnancy test and got so mad because he wanted to be the one to pop your cherry! Hahahah! Luckily for him, that opportunity is still on the table, right~?" . . . Marinette proceeded to faint right after that. ~(x)~ When Marinette finally came to, she groggily noted that she was back in the nurse's room at school and that unfortunately, her ankle was still injured. Then, she managed to notice two hushed voices squabbling on the chair by her side, one more strangely nasal and somewhat inhuman than the other. Yet, both were more familiar than she could comprehend and the deja vu was indescribable. Silently and moving as little as possible, she moved her head to the side so that she could see what the commotion was all about, only for the blood to freeze in her veins in an instant. "Will you quit it!? I just want five minutes, five minutes of you NOT making fun of me, you insufferable floating stomach!" Adrien hissed, teeth gnashing together and stray blond strands of hair comically sticking upright like an angry cat yowling at an intruder. His companion on the other hand was completely undeterred. "Better to be a floating stomach than to let the whole world know that you can't tell the difference between a covid test and a pregnancy test-" "They look exactly the same-" "And then confirming everyone's suspicions of you wanting to put a baby in Princesse!" "Plagg!?!" Adrien slumped on the seat in defeat with his complexion completely flustered, a permanent pout now on his lips as the little kwami burst out into more obnoxious cackles, not even trying to be quiet. . "Uh-oh." Plagg silenced himself immediately, freezing in front of Marinette's face who was more than wide awake. His tiny face perfectly mirrored the expressions Chat Noir would make whenever he was in a huge pinch or did something so stupid it was guaranteed to receive a verbal lashing from her. Adrien's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets as he realised what was going on, his skin turning ashen. With a hysterical, maniacal giggle, Marinette swiftly turned around to the other side and pulled the blankets over her frame. "This is totally just a dream, ahahahha! No way this is real- ahahahah! As if Adrien is my silly Chaton and as if that's Plagg teasing him, ahahhaha! As if the love of my life wants to put a baby in me, wow! What a funny dream!" Unfortunately for Marinette, this wasn't something she can sleep away. "What do you mean as if I'm Chat Noir!? I totally am charming and cute enough to be him! And what's wrong with me wanting you to have my babies!?" Adrien immediately bit his tongue when he realised that he blabbed without thinking again, his shocked expression meeting hers when she turned around to face him once more. Then, he finally used his brain and leaned closer. "My Lady? C'est toi...?" And even closer. "I'm the love of your life?" . She fainted again. . "I don't think you'll be able to make babies with her any time soon with the way things are going, kid." "PLAAAAAGG!??!?" . . . ~(x)~

[its-moopoint]

Will never understand how so many are so stupid but here they are proving themselves just that. Covid protocols where daily during S6 filming not just ones/day but multiple times every day. They filmed in small groups planned months ahead for testing purposes so when scenes like this one happened, they were both tested to make sure Cait was protected the most. To say this about her is appalling. They don't look at her like an actress doing her job but as his adjacent who wouldn't do these scenes unless she was screwing him in RL.

dstormborn13 asked:

Hey! New here… just wanna say, just in case, T and C are a real couple… I feel so bad for the dude after watching 6x08 again yesterday… I mean if S is only her co-star it’s really hard to believe it 😏

balfeheughanmm answered:

you feel so bad for the vamp? well, i don’t.

when i think about episode 6x08, i’m really shocked. what pregnant woman in her right mind would agree to record a scene like that with her naughty blonde co-star who hangs out with a bunch of blondes around? who assured her that he couldn’t give her covid? who assured her that he was respecting covid regulations? the only person she could trust in the middle of a pandemic would be someone very close to her. someone who shares a LIFE with her. someone who LIVES under the same roof as hers, in the same house, aka her HUBBY.

being pregnant in the middle of a pandemic is difficult, i even went through it and i didn’t trust anyone. i didn’t get close to anyone, i didn’t even share saliva with my husband (poor soul, i was disgusted!). and i believe she could have asked for body doubles (?), refused to kiss him, even though they were soooo good friends, she could not have done it. but the fact is that she did. the fact is that she always does the things that deliver what they have. and it was hot, intense, real in so many ways, hormones raging and very sensual, as only they know how to be. friends? just co-stars? MY EGGS!

TELL ME PLEASE! how did she get home to t after having sex ferociously with s the way she did? how did she get home to t after being clinging, hugging and laughing with s all day? holy shit. she is a slut or a liar. i don’t think she is a slut, never. i think she is a liar. but i love her anyway 😏

i usually say that i have some GIANT receipts and this specific scene from this episode is one of them. :)

Who wrote the shipper part, a 6 year old?

We've read about the COVID restrictions, rules and working environment in OL. She had to shoot, it was her work and couldn't just say no and ruin all the set timetables.

Apart from that as you say the protocols assured he was clean and isolated.

[4uhealth]

Unlocking Wellness: The Power of COVID Saliva Tests and Beyond

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the emergence of at-home testing kits has been a game-changer, offering individuals unprecedented access to vital diagnostic tools from the comfort of their homes. Among the myriad at-home testing options available, two stand out for their significance in promoting wellness and disease prevention: COVID saliva tests and food sensitivity tests. Let’s delve into the details of these innovative testing methods and explore how they are reshaping the way we approach health and wellness.

[meditating-dog-lover]

Why I think it came from a lab

Note: before you judge me for what I'm about to say, just know I am speaking from a scientific and biological standpoint. I'm a cell biologist who works in virology, and have a BSc in Anatomy and Cell Biology and MS in Neuroscience. I'm a scientist, not your 40 year old conservative MAGA uncle on Facebook. I absolutely hate how the pandemic was politicized as you should never introduce bipartisan nonsense to indisputable and factual matters like science and diseases.

So coronaviruses are nothing new. There have been previous coronavirus strains that infected the world. There is the one that caused SARS in 2002 and the other that caused MERS in 2012. And yes, bats do spread them. They are species capable of zoonotic infections (between species), including rats (spread the bubonic plague) and cattle. However, COVID-19 was a lot more devastating than the other 2 outbreaks. With all the modern knowledge and technology we have on disease prevention/control and vaccines/drugs, the fact that this outbreak was devastating to the point of causing a global pandemic is suspicious. There is no way something as cataclysmic came from nature given our current immunological and microbiological advancements in the 21st century. And judging how bats have spread coronaviruses in the past, it was never this catastrophic.

This leads me to think there was gain of function research involved using animal models in a lab (the Wuhan Institute of Virology). I do have a theory as to how they conducted their research, but it could be wrong. But gain of function research was definitely taking place. I believe they had animals in the lab that were positive for coronavirus (either bats or rats). They took nasal swabs and/or saliva samples from them to be able to harvest cells that had coronavirus RNA replicated in them. One strange thing about some viruses is that they do not possess any DNA. They contain RNA, which is the nucleotide chain that is generated from DNA during a process known as transcription. And most RNA sequences are converted to proteins via translation. Why some viruses lack DNA, however, I never really knew why.

Now in this day and age, we have the technology to modify the sequence of DNA/RNA. This process is known as gene editing. You would have to cut the sequence at specific nucleotide junctions, either insert or remove nucleotides, and then glue the sequence back together. One famous method of doing so is using the CRISPR technique. But there are many other ways to modify DNA/RNA sequences. These modifications do have an effect on the function of the virus. By editing the virus' RNA sequence, you can either cause the virus to weaken (loss-of-function) or to strengthen (gain-of-function). Some modifications lead to no changes in the viral strength and activity. Weakened viruses are used in traditional vaccines, so this is when RNA editing can be beneficial. However, I do believe gain-of-function gene editing was performed in the lab by using the coronavirus RNA sequences harvested from these animals that tested positive for the virus.

This is one theory as to how the gain-of-function research was conducted. There are many ways to do it, we can never be sure as to how it was exactly performed with these coronavirus samples in the lab.

Now how it spread from the lab to the rest of the world, I have no idea. Obviously, infections spread between people who interact with one another. How it expanded from a single lab to the whole world is a complex process to understand.

So this is my theory as a cell biologist regarding the origins of COVID-19. Yes it came from a lab. I fail to believe something this infectious and destructive came naturally from bats. We have the technology and immunological knowledge to aid in minimizing the spread of illness and creating effective drugs and vaccines. Looking at previous trends where bats have spread coronaviruses to other animals and humans, they did not result in global pandemics to this extent. So I think the virus was genetically modified to become more infectious. What was the reasoning behind this? What was the hypothesis they were trying to test? I don't know.

Here in the US, there are strict regulations as what type of research you can conduct in a lab. In theory, you can create almost anything in a lab, from drugs, to explosives, to deadly bioweapons. However, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. While that strictness is enforced here, it is not in other countries unfortunately.

I am devastated by the destruction the pandemic caused. From a single viral outbreak, to illness, disease, lockdowns, crashing economy, closing of small business, politicization of science and biology, anti-Asian hate, etc... Had we had the knowledge beforehand, this would have fared better for us.

[graymanbriefing]

Government Oversight Brief: Vaccine Delivery via Mosquito BLUF: China developed mosquito carried vaccine delivery system; Florida, Texas, and EPA approved and has begun release of genetically modified mosquitoes. Chinese scientists have published research on a "mosquito-delivered vaccine: in the peer-reviewed journal "Nature Communications". Researchers harnessed mosquitoes to deliver re-engineered vaccines for animals by using a vector of the Chaoyang virus (CYV) vaccine to "replicate efficiently in mosquitoes and be secreted in saliva". The researchers infused the virus/vaccine in blood and allowed mosquitoes to feed from the pool of blood. They then allowed the mosquitoes to bite mice. The data shows the vaccine was successfully transferred to the mice from the mosquitoes. Researchers hope to mass produce the carrier-method to enable a global "mosquito-delivered vaccine for wildlife immunisation" however no analysis was conducted on how to avoid having a wild population of vaccine carrying mosquitoes from biting humans. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2021 approved an inhalable COVID-19 vaccine delivered via fine mist to enable an alternative form of vaccine delivery. The CCP has also signaled approval of a mosquito-delivery vaccine system for zooatonic viruses. Separately, a genetically engineered mosquito (OX5034) was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2021 and officially granted the permits for release of at least 750 million OX5034 mosquitoes in Texas and Florida. In 2022, the EPA approved an additional release of 2.4 billion modified mosquitoes in Florida. Local or state government agencies in both TX and FL also approved the pilot programs. The stated purpose of releasing modified mosquitoes into the population of the two states is to test for a...(CLASSIFIED, see full Briefing at www.graymanbriefing.com)

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Today is the 117th birthday of the world’s oldest living person, Maria Branyas Morera.

Maria was born on 4 March 1907 in San Francisco, USA, but returned to Spain with her family when she was eight to settle in Catalonia.

She's lived in the region ever since and has resided in the same nursing home for the past 23 years.

She became the oldest person on Earth in January 2023, following the death of 118-year-old Lucile Randon (France).

"She is very grateful for all the congratulations received and the interest that so many people have shown in her state of health," said Eva Carrera Boix, the director of Maria's nursing home.

"She is happy to be able to celebrate this special day intimately with her family and colleagues and wishes everyone a happy Monday."

Beyond being hard of hearing and having mobility issues, Maria has no physical or mental health problems.

In fact, she's in such good condition that she has agreed to undergo scientific testing by researchers who hope to gain further insight into the secrets to long life.

Scientist Manel Esteller, who has conversed with Maria at length, told Spanish outlet ABC:

“She has a completely lucid head. She remembers with impressive clarity events from when she was only four years old, and she does not present any cardiovascular disease, common in elderly people.

It is clear that there is a genetic component because there are several members of her family who are over 90 years old.”

Samples of Maria’s saliva, blood and urine have been taken and will be compared with those of her 80-year-old daughter.

The researchers hope that assessing Maria’s genes will aid the development of drugs which could combat diseases associated with ageing.

Befitting her status as the world’s oldest person in the digital age, Maria is active on X (formerly known as Twitter) with assistance from her daughter.

Her bio states: “I'm old, very old, but not an idiot.”

In addition to “luck and good genetics,” Maria attributes her longevity to “order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.”

Due to her poor hearing, Maria's family use a voice-to-text device to communicate with her.

She became permanently deaf in one ear when she was a child, after falling while playing with her brothers during the voyage from America to Spain in 1915.

This wasn’t the only misfortune the family suffered aboard the ship – Maria’s father sadly died due to pulmonary tuberculosis towards the end of the journey.

Maria lived through the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 as well as the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), which she said she has “very bad memories” of.

She got married in 1931 to a Catalan doctor named Joan Moret, with whom she had three children.

Her husband passed away in 1976; she has also outlived her only son, August, who died in a tractor accident at the age of 86.

Over a century after the 1918 pandemic, Maria also survived COVID-19.

She contracted the virus a few weeks after turning 113 in 2020 but made a full recovery within days, becoming the world’s oldest COVID-19 survivor.

The title was taken later in the year by Lucile Randon, who was three years older than Maria.

Despite admitting that she’s “getting closer and closer to death” in a post on X last month, Maria maintains a positive outlook on life and believes that there is always something new to learn every day, even at her grand old age.

She is now the 12th oldest verified person in history and should she reach her 118th birthday, she’ll climb up to 5th place.

The oldest person ever authenticated was Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who lived to the age of 122 years 164 days.

Source: Guinness World Records

Celebrating the World's Oldest Person: Maria Branyas Morera's 117th Milestone

5 March 2024

From surviving global pandemics to outliving generations, Maria’s journey is a testament to longevity and resilience.

[definitelynotsiffrin]

Update on the sickness:

Got a lot fucking worse last night. My entire body is hurting like HELL and back and i cant breathe from how stuffy my nose is.

Weirdest part of it all? I do not have a fever. My temp is not even high enough to be considered a mild fever.

And tbf? That's what concerns me more lmao. Like I am so miserable, this is what you'd expect from a 40ºC fever and yet I have nothing.

Absolutely betting on it being covid. I'm going to have to ask my dad to buy a testing kit as much as I do not want to (it hurts to stick the swab so far down my nose and the only ones sold here are the ones that go all the way back. will try and see if there's saliva tests or something cause rn my nose is hurting already by itself)

[covid-safer-hotties]

Impact on the nervous system of long COVID-19 infection in children (Impacto en el sistema nervioso de la infección COVID-19 larga en niños) - Published Sept 24, 2024

In English y en Español

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound global impact, raising concerns about its long-term effects, particularly neurological complications. While studies have highlighted such complications in adults, there is a paucity of research focusing on children.

Objective To examine the medium- to long-term neurological and cognitive symptoms in 18 year old children and below with positive versus negative COVID-19 antigens and to identify the probable risk factors to promote specific health actions.

Methods An observational study was carried out to determine neurological symptoms in the medium and long terms after COVID 19. A random sample of 124 children, both symptomatic or asymptomatic, tested positive or negative for COVID-19 through swab tests.

Results Neurological symptoms were assessed between 6 to 12 months and 2 years after the infection. Acute symptoms, including headache, anosmia, ageusia, and myalgia, were observed in more than 20% of the children, but they generally resolved within 6 to 12 months. Persistent functional difficulties, such as in studying, paying attention, and socializing, were reported in 3% of the cases. Behavioral symptoms at baseline were noted in 7.8% of children, but they were remitted in most cases, except for those with prior involvement.

Conclusion These findings underscore the need for continued monitoring of children following COVID-19 infection and the importance of tailored health interventions.

Resumen Antecedentes La pandemia por enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, en inglés) ha tenido un profundo impacto global y ha generado preocupación sobre sus efectos a largo plazo, especialmente sobre las complicaciones neurológicas. Si bien los estudios han destacado tales complicaciones en adultos, hay escasez de investigaciones centradas en niños.

Objetivo Examinar los síntomas neurológicos y cognitivos a mediano y largo plazo en niños de 18 años o menos, con antígenos positivos versus negativos para COVID-19, e identificar los posibles factores de riesgo para promover acciones de salud específicas.

Métodos Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional para determinar los síntomas neurológicos en el medio y largo plazo tras COVID-19. Una muestra aleatoria de 124 niños se diagnosticó por tests de saliva. Los tests para COVID-19 podían ser negativos o positivos, en niños sintomáticos o asintomáticos.

Resultados Los síntomas neurológicos se evaluaron entre 6 y 12 meses y 2 años posinfección. Se observaron síntomas agudos como cefalea, anosmia, ageusia y mialgias en más del 20% de los niños, que generalmente se resolvieron en un plazo de 6 a 12 meses. En el 3% de los casos, se informaron dificultades funcionales persistentes, como para estudiar, prestar atención y socializar. Los síntomas conductuales se produjeron en el 7.8% en el momento inicial, pero remitieron en la mayoría de los casos, excepto en aquellos con afectación previa.

Conclusión Estos hallazgos enfatizan la necesidad del monitoreo continuo de niños tras la infección por COVID-19 y la importancia de intervenciones de salud personalizadas.

[tuesdayisfordancing]

Apparently there are home covid tests that use saliva instead of a nasal swab? I have never encountered them but it’s apparently what I’ve been meant to be using as someone who inevitably gets a little bit of blood or snot on the swab no matter how carefully and gently I blow/clean out my nose first.