November 6, 2020 / Modified nov 13, 2020 9:52 a.m.

Episode 257: How COVID-19 spreads by affecting our sensitivity to pain

Research could explain why those who are asymptomatic turn out to be some of the worst spreaders of COVID-19.

AZSCI 257 covid and pain sensitivity
Pixabay

The Research Corporation for Science Advancement
Arizona Science

How COVID-19 spreads by affecting our sensitivity to pain

This episode is supported by the The Research Corporation for Science Advancement.
NPR
Episode 257:: How COVID-19 spreads by affecting our sensitivity to pain

Former coronavirus patients are reporting a decrease in chronic pain at the same time they contracted COVID-19. University of Arizona pharmacologist Rajesh Khanna thinks the coronavirus affects the body's pain receptors and makes people less aware they are getting sick. His research could explain why those who are asymptomatic turn out to be some of the worst spreaders of COVID-19.

Rajesh Khanna spoke with Leslie Tolbert Ph.D Regents professor emerita in Neuroscience at the University of Arizona.

Arizona Science
Catch Arizona Science each Friday during Science Friday on NPR 89.1. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Science.
By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona