Heart Association warns of this ‘devastating’ COVID symptom


In the last 7 months, the crystal has become clear that some people are not making a complete recovery from COVID-19. While the majority of those infected with the virus experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever and chills, dry cough, skin rash, and loss of smell and taste for a period of a few weeks or even months, others seem to have sustained damage in the long run. term. And, according to the nation’s top organization, the heart is one of the organs that sustains “destructive” and long-lasting damage.

Related: Sure Signs You Already Have Coronavirus.

The lungs are not the only target

In a report released on Friday, the AHA points out that the respiratory virus, once thought to be most harmful to the lungs, causes serious damage to the heart. They refer to previous studies that find that inflammation of the vascular system and injury to the heart are apparently common features of this new coronavirus, seen in 20% to 30% of patients who are in the hospital and contributed to 40% of the dead. They add that COVID-19-related heart damage affects the death rate for the virus, just like no other risk factors – age, diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease or previous history of cardiovascular disease.

“Much remains to be learned about COVID-19 infection and the heart. Although we think of the lungs as the primary target, there are often biomarker increases observed in infected patients that are normally associated with acute heartbeat. several devastating complications of COVID-19 are cardiac in nature and can result in prolonged cardiac dysfunction beyond the course of the viral disease itself, “Mitchell SV Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA, FAAN, President of the American Heart Association and attended neurologist at NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explains. “The need for additional research remains critical. We simply do not have enough information to provide the definitive answers that people want and need.”

One quarter of those in the hospital have heart problems

Research that proves the link between COVID and heart damage is overwhelming. Per the AHA, nearly one quarter (23%) of all people were hospitalized for COVID-19 serious cardiovascular complications. They point to studies showing that 8% to 12% of all COVID-19 patients have acute cardiac injury, as well as case studies indicating that COVID-19 can lead to heart attacks, acute coronary syndromes, stroke, abnormalities in blood pressure, clotting problems, diffuse myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and fatal arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat). They also point to two recent studies that found abnormalities in patients months after they recovered from the virus.

“While the incidence of these complications is not fully known, and it remains unclear how much cardiac injury is associated with direct COVID-19 infection of the heart muscle as a result of immunized mediated cardiac dysfunction following a deep viral disease, the virus has however, a critical impact on the cardiovascular system, “they write in the report. “There is concern 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 this pandemic on your healthiest, do not miss this one 37 places you are most likely to catch Coronavirus.