Several COVID-19 survivors have complained about long term health effects, mostly related to the heart. Studies say, after recovering from COVID, a large number of people have experienced some type of heart damage even if they never faced any heart issues previously.
Nearly one-fourth of patients who were hospitalized after testing COVID positive were diagnosed with cardiovascular problems which proved to be fatal for many. Some patients who recovered from the initial infection may still be left with cardiovascular damage and related complications including inflammation of the heart muscle, a major cause leading to heart failure.
Know the common heart issues after recovery from COVID
It is true that COVID-19 can lead to heart problems but the risk is higher if you have other health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity or high cholesterol.
● Myocardial injury is a condition in which the cells in your heart muscle die. Sometimes people suffering from this condition may not show any symptoms and a diagnosis is required through blood tests or cardiac imaging. It is common in people with COVID-19 who needed care in the ICU.
● Inflammation can trigger COVID-19 heart damage. Our body’s immune system attacks viruses during an infection, this leads to the production of inflammatory cells and cytokines which activate immune response. If you have COVID-19 it can cause excess inflammation which harms your cardiovascular system in many ways, including
– Arrhythmia which interrupts the heart’s electrical signals. As a result, your heart rhythm becomes abnormal.
– The lining of your blood vessels becomes inflamed and causes a greater risk of blood clots, heart attack or stroke.
– Myocarditis is another condition of the heart in which the heart muscles are inflamed. People with COVID-19 may be affected with myocarditis.
– Similarly, Pedicarditis is an inflammation of the heart membrane and causes chest pain when the heart is filled with a lot of fluid.
– COVID-19 is a respiratory or lung disease, but largely affects the heart. The virus causes inflammation and the air sacs in the lungs get filled with fluid which makes it difficult for oxygen to reach the bloodstream. Heart failure is caused due to this reason. To determine if a patient has heart failure, doctors measure the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, which if noticed to be high in COVID-19 patients, potentially means there is a heart injury and heart failure.
Symptoms experienced after COVID-19 recovery:
● A feeling of exhaustion.
● Not feeling as active as before.
● Palpitations or an irregular heartbeat.
● Swelling of the ankles.
● They experience shortness of breath with exertion.
● Chest pain.
● Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
A heart screening can detect cardiovascular damage. You must go for routine checkups and focus on follow-up care after suffering from COVID-19. Heart treatment in Delhi can be considered, you have the scope to consult some of the most experienced doctors.
Researchers continue to look at more COVID-19 patient cases, learn more about how COVID-19 affects the heart and what are the long-term effects. While some patients may recover from COVID-19 earlier than other COVID-19 patients, some may even experience heart problems due to COVID-19 in the near future, earlier than other patients. However, you must remember that heart attacks can happen to anyone, even the ones who are not COVID-19 positive. It is a common health concern and as soon as you notice any symptoms, you must consult a doctor.
During the pandemic, many people avoided in-clinic doctor’s visits. You can consult a doctor online if you want to stay home and are worried about getting infected. Tell your healthcare personnel regarding your medical history as well as the new symptoms you are experiencing.
People at an increased risk of COVID-19 related heart illness:
People who are aged 65 and more are at a higher risk of having heart problems. People who have chronic medical conditions are more likely to get heart diseases as well. In case someone has health problems like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease you may not be able to tackle the infection well.
Cardiologists in Jammu
With the Bajaj Finserv Health app, you can connect with practicing cardiologists in Jammu. Some of them are:
● Dr. Chandra Meena
● Dr. Sowmya Dath
● Dr. Tandra Pramod Kumar Rao
● Dr. Varun Nivargi
● Dr. Wagh Rajesh Kirtikant
● Dr. Anand Chopda
