There is much unknown about COVID-19, but what is known, are the health implications of the virus. COVID-19 can have a higher risk of severity in patients with preexisting health conditions such as diabetes, auto-immune disease, asthma and obesity. One of the most common health implications that has been observed involves weak lung function and inflammation in the chest.

Due to research behind red light therapy which has shown benefits like inflammation relief and lung healing, doctors in Massachusetts paired conventional COVID-19 treatment with red light therapy sessions. The results of this treatment showed significant improvement in the high-risk patient’s lungs, which were observed by multiple health markers. Red light therapy is also referred to as low level light therapy (LLLT) and photobiomodulation (PBMT). Red light therapy  is noninvasive, natural and poses no known health risks.

Treatment  Details 

Treatment 

Once daily, the patient received four consecutive sessions of pulsed light (808nm and 905nm) administered over the posterior chest for 28 minutes. Evaluation metrics such as x-rays and blood markers were taken before and after the sessions. (x-ray pictured above)

Patient 

A morbidly obese female, age 32 was diagnosed with severe COVID-19 which resulted in pneumonia. The patient was presented to the ER after seven days of increasing symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough and diarrhea. The patient had a health history involving asthma and brain tumor removal.  

Results

The results suggest that COVID-19 treatment in adjunct with LLLT can potentially negate the need for ventilator support and ICU admission, which was initially expected in this specific patient. “Following LLLT our patient showed improvement over a few days in respiratory indices, radiological findings, inflammatory markers, and patient outcomes.” This treatment plan has the potential to significantly reduce length of stay, severity of disease, and the clinical burden in our hospitals.

The Relationship Between COVID-19 and Inflammation

What is inflammation? 

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to fighting off harmful viruses and bacteria in the body. When inflammation occurs, a signal is sent to the immune system which releases white blood cells, proteins and increases blood flow to the compromised area of the body. 

There are two types of inflammation, acute and chronic. Acute inflammation typically lasts a few hours but chronic inflammation can last anywhere from months to years. According to Understanding and Managing Chronic Inflammation, an article published by Healthline,  “When you have chronic inflammation, your body’s inflammatory response can eventually start damaging healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Over time, this can lead to DNA damage, tissue death, and internal scarring.” Chronic inflammation left untreated can result in damaged tissue, pain and commonly overlooked symptoms like fatigue, rashes and fever etc.

Inflammation x COVID

In terms of COVID-19, symptoms can vary in every person infected. However, in the most severe cases, a common symptom is shortness of breath due to inflammation in the lungs and cytokine storms. 

“A common feature for many patients that get severe COVID is serious lung damage caused by an overly vigorous immune response. This is characterised by the creation of lots of inflammatory products called cytokines – the so-called cytokine storm. 

Cytokines can be really powerful tools in the immune response: they can stop viruses reproducing, for example. However, some cytokine actions – such as helping bring in other immune cells to fight an infection or enhancing the ability of these recruited cells to get across blood vessels – can cause real damage if they are not controlled. This is exactly what happens in a cytokine storm,” according to Sheena Cruickshank, professor in biomedical sciences at the University of Manchester. An excess in the production of cytokines can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and tissue damage which can result in organ failure and death. 

Targeting cytokines in COVID-19 patients has the potential to improve survival rates. The article published in The Candian Journal of Respiratory Therapy stated in its findings that red light therapy did show conclusive evidence to inflammation relief in the lungs, which consequently  averted cytokine storms and ARDS.

The Difference with Prism Light Pod

Full Body vs. Handheld Red Light Therapy

The body is made up of approximately 70 trillion cells. These cells are found in every crevice of the body, interconnected to help the body function properly. Red light therapy accelerates the regeneration of healthy cells within the body to promote and regulate optimal bodily functions.

Traditionally, red light therapy has been administered via handheld devices by a professional for single or targeted areas. When directed at targeted areas of the body, handheld lasers are effective in reducing inflammation, healing damaged tissue, injuries and relieving chronic pain. Single-area sessions can average $65 per session with a licensed professional. (client paying for the therapy itself and the practitioner’s time)

Though handheld devices are effective, full-body red light therapy systems like Prism Light Pod can efficiently administer red light unto the entire body thus, maximizing the healing potential throughout the entire body rather than just one area. Prism Light Pod sessions are private, safe, noninvasive and do not require a doctor or certified medical professional to administer the therapy. The average cost per Prism Light Pod session ranges from $30-40 to initiate healing in every area of the body. With the entire body being targeted, not only can Prism Light Pod reduce inflammation, but it can also eliminate oxidative stress and free radicals in the bloodstream.

For more information on the health benefits of red light therapy related to the current pandemic, check out our blogs, Navigating Mental Health Amid the Covid-19 Global Pandemic and With the Coronavirus Situation, Here are 10 Reasons to Offer Red Light Therapy. 

Contact us at: infoprismlightpod@gmail.com to find out where you can try Prism Light Pod near you.

Sources:

1. Adjunct low level laser therapy (LLLT) in a morbidly obese patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: A case report
2. Doctors in Lowell, Mass., Report Positive Outcomes for Second COVID-19 Patient Treated with Laser Therapy
3. Whole Body Cold Laser Light Pods vs. Hand-held Devices
4. Understanding and Managing Chronic Inflammation
5. What is Inflammation?
6. Inflammation: the key factor that explains vulnerability to severe COVID