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How Covid-19 affects Heart

At the beginning of the pandemic, Covid-19 was understood as a respiratory illness. As this virus can certainly cause chaos in an individual’s airways and lungs, it is now clear that Covid-19 can have an impact on other organs of the human body but not just the respiratory system. For some people, Covid-19 is a trifling illness that can be managed at home. 20% of infected people advance with severe symptoms and complications increasing the probability of hospitalization and even death.

In the early pandemic, clinicians saw that people with pre-existing heart disorders were effected with severe covid-19 compared with others. Those set of population at high risk of mortality in Covid-19 infection are people with pre-existing cardiac disorders like

Symptoms of heart failure

  • Heart failure
  • Obesity
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Cardiomyopathy

Severe COVID-19 infection can lead to life threatening cardiovascular complicationseven in normal population with out any premorbid cardiac conditions. Those complications are

  • Myocarditis
  • Acute pulmonary thromboembolism
  • Acute heart attack
  • Heart failure and cardiomyopathy

Let us see in detail how covid-19 can cause damage to the heart!!

Myocarditis

Most of the individuals with COVID-19 will have slight symptoms and recover completely. About 10 % will foster pneumonia, and about 5% will foster serious illness. In the extreme type of Covid-19, the immune system overreacts to the virus, delivering fiery atoms called cytokines into the bloodstream. This cytokine storm can harm various organs, including the heart. Aggravation of the heart muscle known as myocarditis regularly happens just in patients with severe COVID-19 illness.

Myocarditis can happen from a direct heart attack by the virus or aggravation brought about by cytokine storm. At the point when this happens, the heart may get expanded and debilitated, prompting low blood pressure and fluid in the lungs. While this extreme type of myocarditis is uncommon. Recent studies have proposed that a milder type of heart muscle aggravation might be more significant than previously identified.

Acute myocardial infarction (Acute heart attack)

Severe systemic inflammation increases the risk of atherosclerotic plaque rupture causing acute heart attack. It can occur during acute Covid-19 infection or with in first few days after recovery.

Patients with STEMI can considered for Thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention depending on the clinical condition.

So any chest pain or breathing difficulty during or immediately after Covid-19 infection should not be neglected, consult your doctor immediately.

Consult the Best cardiologist in Hyderabad at Best heart hospitals in Madinaguda for heart related issues occurred during covid-19

Venous thromboembolic events (Pulmonary thromboembolism)

Covid-19 infected patients are at increased risk for venous thromboembolic event (VTE). Systemic inflammation, abnormal coagulation status and critical illness are all contributing factors to the increased risk of VTE. D dimer levels, Echocardiography and CT pulmonary angiography aids in the diagnosis of Pulmonary embolism. Anticoagulation and thrombolysis is the main stay of treatment along with other supportive measures

Acute heart failure and cardiomyopathy

Acute heart failure may be primary presentation in 5 to 10% of patients with severe Covid-19 disease according to few studies. They present with breathing difficulty especially on lying down flat and are at high risk of mortality. Severe systemic inflammation and direct myocardial injury caused by virus are the potential mechanisms for heart failure and cardiomyopathy

Lower the risk through a healthy lifestyle

Individuals with CVD who embrace healthy practices can reinforce their defenses against COVID-19 while likewise decreasing the lasting risk from cardiovascular disorders. This implies a lot of actual work and adapting a healthy diet. Cook at home and eat healthy diet like fruits, nuts and vegetable salads when you can, and regular exercise.

Key take away points :

Covid-19 not only effects the lungs, it is systemic disease effecting multiple organs due to severe inflammation and procoagulant nature of the disease

Cardiovascular cause of mortality is very high in Covid-19 effected individuals

People with cardiovascular disorders are at very higher risk for complicated Covid-19 disease, immediate medical care is key in preventing the complications

Seek medical attention from Cardiology specialist in Hyderabad at cardiology hospitals in Kondapur.

And continue to follow the guidelines, wear masks, maintain distance and stay away from the large crowd.

Visit Best interventional cardiology hospitals in Hyderabad for Heart attack treatment in Hyderabad.

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