Scientists have found that lockdowns lead to much higher levels of inflammation in people’s bodies.
It’s thought that the lack of exposure to common germs weakened our immune systems, leaving us more vulnerable to infections and diseases.
Researchers in the Netherlands tracked 1,800 people before, during and after the draconian measures, which also included school closures and mask mandates, were imposed.
Lab tests showed that before the lockdowns, patients exposed to a variety of bacteria and viruses generally had low levels of inflammation in their bodies.
But after the measures were imposed and people were forced to stay home, lab tests showed that exposure to bacteria or viruses lead to ‘hyperinflammation’.
Experts said the high levels of inflammation could lead to people suffering from more severe symptoms in response to common infections.
Dr Mihai Netea, the physician who led the study, said: ‘In our daily lives, we are constantly exposed to various mico-organisms. This helps train our immune system, teaching it to recognize which micro-organisms are dangerous and which are harmless.
‘During the lockdown, we missed that interaction because everyone stayed home and avoided each other. As a result, during and immediately after the lockdown periods, immune cells exposed to micro-organisms displayed a less well-regulated response, predisposing to hyperinflammation.’
The researchers linked their results to the hygiene hypothesis, or the idea that reduced exposure to pathogens may raise the risk of problems with the immune system.
In the paper, the scientists said the impact of this surge in inflammation levels was not clear.
But previous studies have suggested that high levels of inflammation can rasie the risk of plaque being deposited into artery walls, narrowing them and raising the risk for heart disease.
Scientists have also suggested that over the long term, high levels of inflammation may raise the risk of cancer, dementia and other health conditions.
In the study — published today in the journal Frontiers — researchers recruited participants between October 2019 and October 2021.
Overall, 368 participants were recruited before the pandemic, while 851 were recruited after lockdown but before a Covid infection or vaccination.
Almost all the participants had HIV, with these individuals being used because their blood is regularly tested for HIV and inflammation levels.
HIV patients may have chronic low-grade inflammation levels because of the infection, raising their risk of many diseases including heart disease. It may be monitored as part of caring for patients with the infection.
The study also included 175 people who had caught a Covid infection and 404 people who were vaccinated against the disease.
Scientists isolated immune cells from the volunteers’ blood and examined how they interacted with viruses and bacteria.
Pathogens tested included E.coli, pneumonia, tuberculosis and the common fungus C. albicans.
The results from these tests in HIV patients were compared to 30 individuals who did not have the disease and whose blood was also tested before and after lockdowns.
Dr Netea added: ‘Lockdowns were necessary during the pandemic, especially at the beginning.
‘However, it is important that we gain more insight into how social interactions affect and activate our immune system, so we can better manage the consequences.
‘This way, we can apply such drastic social measures effectively and safely in a future pandemic.’
Like parts of the US, the Netherlands also imposed a lockdown at the start of the Covid pandemic.
The Netherlands had its first lockdown from March 23 until June 1, 2020. Another lockdown was declared from December 2020 to February 2021, and a third in December 2021.
The second lockdown led to protests in the country, with local law enforcement even using water cannons to force people to follow the restrictions.
In the US, lockdowns were decided by state, with Democrat states like New York and California heading into the restrictions much faster than their Republican counterparts.
While the study did not look at face masks, mandates to wear the coverings were imposed around the same time in the Netherlands.
Other research has shown masks made ‘little to no difference’ as to whether someone might suffer from a Covid infection.
There is a risk that continuing to wear the same mask for long periods would lead to a significant amount of bacteria and viruses building up on it and then being breathed in by the wearer, prompting high levels of inflammation.
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