Canadian Journal of Medicine

Uncertainty about the future, fear of losing a loved one, and countless lockdowns and social distancing restrictions have created great stress for almost everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the wellbeing of individuals has been negatively impacted. Maintaining stable wellbeing is important as is an avoidance of excessive alcohol use, as both factors can potentially harm individual health and lead to death. However, an increase in alcohol purchases and alcohol consumption has been noted globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this article explores the possible connections between affected wellbeing and alcohol usage during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Myocarditis, or inflammation of the muscle layer in the heart wall, is caused by several factors including viral infection. Although the literature briefly alludes to a method of viral entry into cardiomyocytes, this work provides further detail into subsequent novel mechanisms leading to the development of myocarditis following infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The keywords "COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “Myocarditis”, “viruses”, and “human” were used to run searches on OVID Medline, as well as Google Scholar. Resulting papers were subject to further analysis. SARS-CoV-2 binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor which is found on type 2 pneumocytes and cardiomyocytes. Infection of cardiomyocytes can overregulate the immune response resulting in a cytokine storm: an uncontrolled increase of proinflammatory cytokines, as is commonly seen in respiratory infections. Cytokines can enter established biological pathways, creating positive feedback, which causes increased inflammation leading to myocarditis. SARS-CoV-2 viral envelope (E) proteins present an alternate association with myocarditis. Less severe myocarditis manifests common symptoms, and detecting it before it worsens may be difficult. Understanding the pathogenesis of myocarditis in COVID-19 could help find and implement preventative measures during future treatment.

As life expectancy continues to increase, it is critical to investigate ways to age successfully physically, mentally, and socially. Senior citizens (65 years and older) tend to struggle with lower mental health and wellbeing and suffer higher incidences of loneliness compared to the younger population. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has put them at higher risk, not only of contracting the virus, but also of experiencing feelings of loneliness and depression. Music participation, specifically music therapy, has been known to be an effective tool to promote wellbeing and mental health, especially among the elderly. Thus, this article investigates the changes in mental health and wellbeing among elderly people when participating in music to explore the importance of conducting virtual music participation programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.