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Over the past 7 months, it has become clear that some people are not fully recovering from COVID-19. While the majority of people infected with the virus experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever and chills, a dry cough, rash, and loss of smell and taste for a few weeks or even months , others appear to have suffered long-term damage. And, according to the nation’s leading heart health organization, the heart is one organ that suffers “devastating” and lasting damage.
Related: Sure Signs You’ve Had Coronavirus Before.
The lungs aren’t the only target
In a report released Friday, the AHA points out that the respiratory virus, once thought to be the most damaging to the lungs, causes severe damage to the heart. They refer to previous studies concluding that inflammation of the vascular system and heart damage are apparently common features of this new coronavirus, seen in 20% to 30% of hospitalized patients and contributing to 40% of deaths. They add that heart damage from COVID-19 has an impact on the risk of death from the virus as much if not more than other risk factors – age, diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease or a history of cardiovascular disease – included.
“There is still a lot to learn about COVID-19 infection and the heart. Although we believe the lungs are the primary target, frequent increases in biomarkers in infected patients are generally associated with acute heart damage. Additionally, several devastating complications of COVID-19 are cardiac in nature and can lead to cardiac dysfunction that persists beyond the course of the viral disease itself, ”Mitchell SV Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA, FAAN, president of the American Heart Association and assistant neurologist at NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explains. “The need for further research remains critical. We just don’t have enough information to provide the definitive answers people want and need. “
A quarter of people hospitalized have heart problems
The research proving the link between COVID and heart damage is overwhelming. According to the AHA, nearly a quarter (23%) of all people hospitalized for COVID-19 have experienced serious cardiovascular complications. They point to studies showing that 8% to 12% of all patients with COVID-19 have acute heart damage, as well as case studies indicating that COVID-19 can lead to heart attacks, acute coronary syndromes, strokes, blood pressure abnormalities, clotting problems, diffuse myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and fatal arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat). They also point to two recent studies that revealed heart abnormalities in patients several months after recovery from the virus.
“Although the incidence of these complications is not fully known and it is still unclear to what extent the heart damage is due to direct COVID-19 infection of the heart muscle or immune-mediated cardiac dysfunction following a deep viral illness, the virus has a critical influence on the cardiovascular system, ”they write in the report. “There are concerns that SARS-CoV-2 may have lasting or even delayed effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems, a possibility that needs further investigation.” As for you, to get through this pandemic to the best of your health, do not miss these 37 places where you are most likely to catch the coronavirus.
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