June 23, 2026
Raad about this class:
When discussing Long COVID and vaccine injury, laboratory testing often becomes the focus. Blood work, immune markers, antibodies, and viral reactivation all play important roles in helping clinicians understand what may be happening beneath the surface.
But during this GoldCare Grand Rounds, Dr. Ryan Cole took the conversation in an unexpected direction.
After briefly reviewing laboratory evaluation and immune function, he explained that he wanted to shift gears and discuss what he believes is one of the most overlooked therapeutic tools in modern medicine: light.
The presentation began with a discussion of laboratory findings that may help clinicians evaluate patients experiencing persistent symptoms after COVID-19 infection or vaccination.
Rather than relying only on routine blood counts, attention was given to immune cell function. Dr. Cole emphasized that normal numbers of T cells do not necessarily mean those cells are functioning normally, suggesting that evaluating immune cell activity may provide additional insight.
He also highlighted autoimmune antibodies as an area worth considering, noting that immune dysregulation has become an increasingly important topic in patients experiencing ongoing symptoms.
Another laboratory consideration involved the possible reactivation of latent viruses, particularly Epstein-Barr virus and several herpes viruses, which may contribute to persistent illness in some individuals.
While antibody testing continues to receive significant attention, Dr. Cole expressed caution about relying too heavily on antibody levels alone, suggesting they may serve as secondary markers rather than definitive measures of ongoing disease.
Rather than continuing exclusively with laboratory evaluation, the discussion moved toward a broader question.
What if supporting the body's ability to produce energy is just as important as measuring disease?
According to Dr. Cole, many chronic conditions—including Long COVID, vaccine injury, neurodegenerative disorders, and even cancer—share one common feature: impaired mitochondrial function.
Mitochondria are widely recognized as the body's energy producers, but he described them as far more than simple power plants. They also function as batteries, signaling systems, and communicators that influence countless biological processes throughout the body.
When mitochondrial function declines, cellular energy production declines as well. That loss of energy may contribute to fatigue, slower recovery, inflammation, and reduced resilience across multiple organ systems.
One of the central themes of the presentation was the role natural light plays in human biology.
Modern life has dramatically changed the amount and type of light people receive. Spending most of the day indoors, working under artificial lighting, and extending daylight hours with electronic devices has altered the natural rhythms that once governed daily life.
According to Dr. Cole, morning sunlight helps regulate circadian rhythms by signaling the brain's internal clock. Those signals influence hormone production, metabolism, immune activity, sleep quality, and many other physiological processes.
Rather than viewing sunlight simply as a source of vitamin D, he described it as a biological regulator capable of affecting nearly every system in the body.
The message was straightforward: human biology evolved under natural light, yet modern lifestyles increasingly limit that exposure.
The conversation then turned to photobiomodulation, commonly known as red light therapy.
Unlike ultraviolet light, therapeutic red and near-infrared wavelengths are being studied for their ability to interact with mitochondria and influence cellular function.
Research in this growing field suggests these wavelengths may support energy production, reduce oxidative stress, influence inflammatory pathways, and promote tissue repair.
Applications currently being explored include wound healing, chronic pain, neurological disorders, eye disease, muscle recovery, and metabolic health.
While the field continues to evolve, Dr. Cole noted that thousands of scientific papers have examined various aspects of photobiomodulation, making it an increasingly active area of medical research.
One of the most practical sections of the presentation focused on simple daily habits.
Morning sunlight received particular emphasis as a way to help establish healthy circadian rhythms. Additional daylight exposure later in the day was also discussed as part of maintaining normal biological signaling.
Artificial lighting after sunset, especially blue light emitted from many modern devices and LED lighting, was presented as another factor that may interfere with these natural processes.
Rather than relying entirely on specialized equipment, the broader recommendation centered on restoring more natural patterns of light exposure whenever possible.
These changes, according to Dr. Cole, represent lifestyle interventions that may complement—not replace—other aspects of medical care.
Although the session began with laboratory evaluation for Long COVID and vaccine injury, it ultimately expanded into a much broader conversation about health.
Understanding laboratory findings remains important. Immune function, viral reactivation, and autoimmune markers may all contribute valuable information when evaluating complex conditions.
At the same time, the presentation encouraged a wider view of recovery—one that considers not only laboratory values but also the biological systems that allow cells to function efficiently.
The discussion concluded with a reminder that medicine often focuses on pharmaceuticals and advanced diagnostics while overlooking fundamental elements of human biology.
Among those, Dr. Cole suggested, natural light may be one of the most underappreciated.
Whether considering persistent symptoms, chronic illness, or overall wellness, the presentation offered a perspective that extended beyond laboratory testing and invited participants to think about health at the cellular level, beginning with one of nature's most familiar resources: sunlight.
