March 21, 2020
AP Biology Even C
Current Event 20
Cunningham, Aimee. “Why Some Heart Patients May Be Especially Vulnerable to COVID-19.” Science News, 20 Mar. 2020, www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid-19-why-some-heart-patients-especially-vulnerable.
According to a recent article by Aimee Cunningham, some heart patients may be especially vulnerable to COVID-19. In Italy, where the number of deaths has now surpassed those in China, public health officials reported on March 17 that among 355 people who died, a whopping 76 percent had hypertension and 33 percent had heart disease. And among more than 44,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in China, the case fatality rate for people with underlying conditions was highest for those with cardiovascular disease, at 10.5 percent compared with the overall fatality rate of 2.3 percent. Cunningham explains that to invade a cell, SARS-CoV-2 latches onto a protein called ACE2. This protein is found on cells in the lungs, allowing the virus to invade these cells and cause respiratory symptoms. Cunningham then describes drugs such as ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers that are getting some scrutiny during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cunningham adds that an infection also stresses other parts of the cardiovascular system, notably where arteries are narrowed by plaques. As the body’s immune system fights the virus, “inflammation can cause a plaque rupture,” Cunningham quotes from preventive cardiologist Erin Michos of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. That rupture induces blood clotting that can block an artery and lead to a heart attack.
COVID-19 is a global pandemic that holds a range of severity among people depending on age and underlying health issues. Although about 80% recover from the disease without needing special treatment, COVID-19 could be fatal for heart patients. During these uneasy times, we must all practice social distancing and stay home, taking care of ourselves and protecting especially the elderly and those with underlying health issues that are at a higher risk of COVID-19.
I decided to read this article because COVID-19 is such a relevant and important topic in today’s world. Cunningham clearly explains the science behind why some heart patients may be especially vulnerable to COVID-19. She also includes quotes by leading cardiologists and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. However, Cunningham doesn’t include any background information of COVID-19. Including a quick summary on COVID-19 explaining what it is and how it originated would enhance the reader’s knowledge.
Amanda Troy
ReplyDelete3/20/20
AP Biology
Current Event 20
Cunningham, Aimee. “Why Some Heart Patients May Be Especially Vulnerable to COVID-19.” Science News, 20 Mar. 2020, www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid-19-why-some-heart-patients-especially-vulnerable.
https://bronxvilleapbiology.blogspot.com/2020/03/mariana-apostolatos-march-21-2020-ap.html
For this current event, I chose to comment on Mariana’s review of the article, “Why Some Heart Patients May Be Especially Vulnerable to COVID-19” by Aimee Cunningham. First, Mariana describes the focus of the article: some heart patients may be especially vulnerable to COVID-19. I think it was wise of her to begin this way as it grabbed the reader’s attention. Next, Mariana dives into more detail behind the science of COVID-19, all explained by Aimee Cunningham. One important piece of information being that infection also stresses other parts of the cardiovascular system, notably where arteries are narrowed by plaques.It is important for the reader to learn about and understand the science behind this virus, since this is a very relevant topic in today’s society. Lastly, Mariana makes some general statements regarding COVID-19. This is a global pandemic that holds a range of severity among people depending on age and underlying health issues.
I found Mariana’s review to be very well written, however, there is always room for improvement. For one, Mariana could have incorporated more quotes from the text in order to create a more professional review. Also, Mariana could have explained in more detail why cardiovascular patients would be more severely impacted by this virus.
I chose to comment on this review because the outbreak of COVID-19 is a problem occuring in our world today. On news outlets, we are often learning about the economic impacts of this virus, but it is also equally, possibly more important, to learn about the true science behind the CoronaVirus. It is important to understand all aspects of this virus, being that it is affecting people across the globe, including our town of Bronxville. When we understand the science behind the virus, we can partake in the proper prevention methods, such as social distancing, to slow the spread and ultimately flatten the curve. Taking these measures will also help to prevent those who are vulnerable to the virus, such as those with heart issues, in contracting this contagious, unpredictable illness.
Victoria Ruffo
ReplyDeleteMr. Ippolito
AP BIO
9/23/20
Citation: Cunningham, Aimee. “Why Some Heart Patients May Be Especially Vulnerable to COVID-19.” Science News, 20 Mar. 2020, www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid-19-why-some-heart-patients-especially-vulnerable.
Hyperlink to Article:
www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid-19-why-some-heart-patients-especially-vulnerable.
Hyperlink to Blog:
https://bronxvilleapbiology.blogspot.com/2020/03/mariana-apostolatos-march-21-2020-ap.html
Overall, Mariana presents us with a very well written review of her article. She exhibits three main strengths. First, I love how Mariana cites data from the article to help validate her claim. When describing how heart patients are especially vulnerable to the Coronavirus she makes to support her statement with concrete evidence. For example, Mariana reveals, “ In Italy, where the number of deaths has now surpassed those in China, public health officials reported on March 17 that among 355 people who died, a whopping 76 percent had hypertension and 33 percent had heart disease,” (review). Adding this piece of information increases Mariana’s credibility as a reviewer while also enhancing the sophistication of her writing. Second, I greatly appreciated Mariana’s relevance paragraph. She successfully connected the article to the real world and even added some of her own input. For instance, she asserts, “During these uneasy times, we must all practice social distancing and stay home, taking care of ourselves and protecting especially the elderly and those with underlying health issues that are at a higher risk of COVID-19,” (review). I liked this call to action because it emphasizes the importance and severity of the coronavirus. Lastly, Mariana did a great job communicating the strengths she found in the article. Her comment is very specific and pinpoints an area where she feels the author excelled. She writes, “She also includes quotes by leading cardiologists and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force,” (review). I felt this was a very notable strength as well, arguably one of the most important aspects of the article.
Although Mariana’s review was certainly good, there are still some areas she could improve upon. First, although her strengths paragraph stands strong on its own, Mariana doesn’t include any concrete evidence from the text nor does she explain how this benefitted her learning. Instead of adding a specific quote Mariana simply states, “She also includes quotes by leading cardiologists and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force,” (review). To improve this, Mariana should go back in the text and find a quote that helped her understand the article better. Secondly, Mariana fails to identify some of the key terms in her summary paragraph. For example, when talking about the different drugs that have undergone some controversy during the COVID pandemic she writes, “Cunningham then describes drugs such as ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers that are getting some scrutiny during the COVID-19 pandemic,” (review). As a reader who has no idea what these drugs are and what they do, it would be helpful to explain why they are under scrutiny. To improve this, Mariana could research the names of these drugs, find out some background information about them and then explain why they aren’t favorable.
Overall, this review taught me a lot of meaningful information about the coronavirus. One part of the review that I found particularly interesting was the quote, “And among more than 44,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in China, the case fatality rate for people with underlying conditions was highest for those with cardiovascular disease, at 10.5 percent compared with the overall fatality rate of 2.3 percent,” (review). Although it would make sense that those with an underlying respiratory or heart condition would be more likely to contract COVID, it was crazy to see the difference between the two fatality rates. 8.2% may not sound like a lot but considering the overall fatality is low that is a huge gap. When thinking about the coronavirus, it is important to understand that some people are more affected by it depending on their overall health. In the future, I will make sure to consider this when looking at fatality rates and other data related to illnesses.
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