LU professor invited to share COVID-19 experience at TEDx event
March 05, 2021 | by Daniel Houston
Lamar University’s Dr. Margot Gage Witvliet, assistant professor of sociology, will be a speaker at TEDxMileHigh’s ‘Uncharted’ event on March 20, 2021, discussing her experience with COVID-19.
“The TEDx opportunity came out of my work with COVID-19,” Gage. “I was one of the first people in Texas
to speak out about my symptoms lasting for months on 'ABC News Houston'.”
Gage suffers from post-COVID syndrome, also known as long-haul COVID or ‘long COVID’ for short. Her story, as well as the advocacy work she does for women with post-COVID syndrome has been featured on NPR, PBS and CBS This Morning. Health.com has recognized her as one of the seven unsung heroes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the aftermath of her COVID-19 affliction, Gage considers herself lucky to have survived several life-threatening situations, but her daily life remains an uphill battle. Prior to March 2020, Gage was an avid runner and tennis player, fit and healthy with no prior health conditions and no autoimmune diseases.
“If I did either of those activities right now, it might cause severe damage to my body. Rigorous exercise and long COVID-19 don’t mix,” said Gage. “COVID-19 can cause damage to your heart and a number of other organs, even when considered ‘fully recovered’.”
As a social epidemiologist, Gage believes the pandemic has helped shine a spotlight on what public health researchers and patients have been reporting for decades – Individuals with chronic diseases or more inexplicable illnesses like fibromyalgia are suffering unnecessarily due to negligence on the behalf of medical professionals, particularly female patients and patients of color.
“COVID-19 opens the door of opportunity to make changes to the healthcare system and to improve how doctors interact with patients,” said Gage. “Research for mysterious illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome is underfunded, and this is terrible.”
According to Gage, health education and advancing public health deserves high priority instead of politicization; the main idea of her TEDx speech revolves around this notion.
"TEDxMileHigh: Uncharted" is a free virtual event, and anybody can take part in the opening night festivities by getting a free ticket in advance online at https://www.tedxmilehigh.com/uncharted/.
“It’s been a great experience working with the TEDx team,” said Gage. “I think it’s important to keep in mind that I’m no different as compared to the 133 million Americans who have been struggling with a chronic disease before COVID-19.”
Texas ranks at the near bottom in terms of vaccine distribution, and with COVID-19 protections being rolled back, Gage advises students to take COVID-19 seriously, now more than ever.
“Get vaccinated if you are eligible and continue to avoid the 3 C’s: closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings,” said Gage. “Tests are not always accurate, so don’t let the regular COVID-19 tests you might be taking to participate in a school program give you a false sense of comfort.”
(Relevant Links: https://www.health.com/mind-body/health-diversity-inclusion/these-7-black-women-are-the-unsung-heroes-of-the-covid-pandemic)
“The TEDx opportunity came out of my work with COVID-19,” Gage. “I was one of the first people in Texas
to speak out about my symptoms lasting for months on 'ABC News Houston'.”Gage suffers from post-COVID syndrome, also known as long-haul COVID or ‘long COVID’ for short. Her story, as well as the advocacy work she does for women with post-COVID syndrome has been featured on NPR, PBS and CBS This Morning. Health.com has recognized her as one of the seven unsung heroes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the aftermath of her COVID-19 affliction, Gage considers herself lucky to have survived several life-threatening situations, but her daily life remains an uphill battle. Prior to March 2020, Gage was an avid runner and tennis player, fit and healthy with no prior health conditions and no autoimmune diseases.
“If I did either of those activities right now, it might cause severe damage to my body. Rigorous exercise and long COVID-19 don’t mix,” said Gage. “COVID-19 can cause damage to your heart and a number of other organs, even when considered ‘fully recovered’.”
As a social epidemiologist, Gage believes the pandemic has helped shine a spotlight on what public health researchers and patients have been reporting for decades – Individuals with chronic diseases or more inexplicable illnesses like fibromyalgia are suffering unnecessarily due to negligence on the behalf of medical professionals, particularly female patients and patients of color.
“COVID-19 opens the door of opportunity to make changes to the healthcare system and to improve how doctors interact with patients,” said Gage. “Research for mysterious illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome is underfunded, and this is terrible.”
According to Gage, health education and advancing public health deserves high priority instead of politicization; the main idea of her TEDx speech revolves around this notion.
"TEDxMileHigh: Uncharted" is a free virtual event, and anybody can take part in the opening night festivities by getting a free ticket in advance online at https://www.tedxmilehigh.com/uncharted/.
“It’s been a great experience working with the TEDx team,” said Gage. “I think it’s important to keep in mind that I’m no different as compared to the 133 million Americans who have been struggling with a chronic disease before COVID-19.”
Texas ranks at the near bottom in terms of vaccine distribution, and with COVID-19 protections being rolled back, Gage advises students to take COVID-19 seriously, now more than ever.
“Get vaccinated if you are eligible and continue to avoid the 3 C’s: closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings,” said Gage. “Tests are not always accurate, so don’t let the regular COVID-19 tests you might be taking to participate in a school program give you a false sense of comfort.”
(Relevant Links: https://www.health.com/mind-body/health-diversity-inclusion/these-7-black-women-are-the-unsung-heroes-of-the-covid-pandemic)