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Himani Rajyaguru
Class of 2026Sammamish, Washington
About
Hello! My name is Himani, and my Polygence project is on SARS-CoV-2 and the vaccine's global impact on cardiac complications. I decided to pursue this project because it's crucial to understand certain viruses' impacts on heart disease and how the virus leads to severe inflammation within the heart, causing heart disease. Following the completion of my project, I would like to publish my research paper to the Research Archive for Rising Students and be able to present at the Polygence Symposium Conference.Projects
- Investigating SARS-CoV-2 and the Vaccine’s Global Impact on Cardiac Complications with mentor Gabriel (July 16, 2024)
Project Portfolio
Investigating SARS-CoV-2 and the Vaccine’s Global Impact on Cardiac Complications
Started Apr. 9, 2024
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Abstract or project description
The COVID-19 pandemic, initiated by SARS-CoV-2 in early 2020, has profoundly impacted global health, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD). This research paper examines the link between COVID-19 and CVD, highlighting the increase in CVD rates due to the inflammatory response triggered by the virus. Inflammation affects the heart's lining, muscle, and surrounding tissue, potentially leading to atherosclerosis, where plaque buildup can cause blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes (Heart Disease and Stroke). During SARS-CoV-2 infection, the immune system's pro-inflammatory cytokines exacerbate inflammation, impacting heart function and promoting heart disease. Furthermore, an analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website CDC Wonder revealed that CVD rates post-COVID-19 increased in 2019-2021. While Oxford-AstraZeneca's vaccine, Vaxzevria, can trigger blood clotting, other studies show that various vaccinations, such as Johnson-Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna, can reduce cardiovascular complications by decreasing inflammation and infection rates (Paknahad et al. 173).