FORT WAYNE Although commonly thought of as a respiratory illness, COVID-19 can affect multiple organs, including the heart and vascular system, explains cardiologist Dr. Matthew Bilodeau, with Lutheran Health Network.
Mild COVID-19 illness is typically recognized by upper respiratory tract symptoms, loss of taste and smell and gastrointestinal symptoms. Moderate illness occurs in about 15% of people who may have fever, shortness of breath, cough and lower respiratory tract infection. Severe illness occurs in about 5% of people who develop severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, sepsis and shock.
COVID-19 does cause severe illness and death in younger and otherwise healthy people; however, advanced age, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, are major risk factors for the worst outcomes, says Bilodeau.
Roughly one third of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 are diagnosed with heart and vascular complications. The most frequent problem is heart muscle inflammation and injury. Other serious problems include abnormal blood clotting, heart rhythm abnormalities, cardiomyopathy and heart failure, pericarditis and pericardial effusion, heart attack and stroke.
Children and young adults infected with SARS-CoV-2 can develop a rare illness 4-6 weeks after the infection called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Resembling Kawasaki disease, MIS-C is characterized by hyperinflammation in the body and severe heart and vascular problems including hypotension and shock, cardiomyopathy and heart failure, coronary artery abnormalities and heart rhythm abnormalities.
Heart involvement and myocardial inflammation can be demonstrated by cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging months after acute COVID-19 resolves, says Bilodeau. Chronic or long COVID-19 is defined as symptoms persisting more than 12 weeks. It is estimated that 10-30% infected people including those with asymptomatic or mild symptoms experience chronic COVID-19.
Common persistent symptoms include profound fatigue, loss of taste and smell, shortness of breath, palpitations, lightheadedness and chest pain. Blood work may identify persistent inflammation, abnormal lipid levels and disordered glucose metabolism. Chronic heart failure and development of orthostatic intolerance syndromes resting or postural low blood pressure and/or rapid heart rates can become severely disabling conditions.
Those recovering from COVID-19 should watch for symptoms that could suggest heart and vascular problems. Bilodeau recommends patients should consult their primary care provider or cardiologist if they experience symptoms or have concerns. You can learn more about cardiac and vascular services at Lutheran Heart Center by visiting https://www.lutheranhospital.com/heart-center.
References
Read more from the original source:
Coronavirus and how it affects a person's heart - Goshen News
- Frequency of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities in a Half ... - July 11th, 2018 [July 11th, 2018]
- Heart Arrhythmia - Arizona Heart Rhythm Center - November 20th, 2018 [November 20th, 2018]
- Cardiac Abnormalities Associated With Charcot-Marie-Tooth ... - December 8th, 2018 [December 8th, 2018]
- Troponin - Wikipedia - December 20th, 2018 [December 20th, 2018]
- Heart - Wikipedia - December 20th, 2018 [December 20th, 2018]
- Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (Implantable ... - January 23rd, 2019 [January 23rd, 2019]
- Cardiac Rhythm - Coverage | Medtronic - January 23rd, 2019 [January 23rd, 2019]
- Overview of Abnormal Heart Rhythms - Heart and Blood ... - March 2nd, 2019 [March 2nd, 2019]
- Inherited Heart Rhythm Clinic | LHSC - March 8th, 2019 [March 8th, 2019]
- Procedures - Arizona Heart Rhythm Center - April 24th, 2019 [April 24th, 2019]
- Sudden death in young people: Heart problems often blamed ... - April 29th, 2019 [April 29th, 2019]
- abnormalities of cardiac conduction and cardiac rhythm ... - September 11th, 2019 [September 11th, 2019]
- Who is at risk for atrial fibrillation, or AFib, and why does it matter? - Yahoo Lifestyle - October 9th, 2019 [October 9th, 2019]
- Sanders Said He Had a Common Heart Procedure. So Why the Mystery? - The New York Times - October 9th, 2019 [October 9th, 2019]
- Media Advisory - Canadian Cardiovascular Congress gathers leading heart experts in Montreal to discuss latest research innovations - Canada NewsWire - October 24th, 2019 [October 24th, 2019]
- Why Did the Young Mother Have Searing Head Pain and a Racing Heart? - The New York Times - November 2nd, 2019 [November 2nd, 2019]
- Student Heart check scheduled for Dec. 14 at Fordson High School - Dearborn Press and Guide - November 22nd, 2019 [November 22nd, 2019]
- Neurometrix (NASDAQ:NURO) and Boston Scientific (NASDAQ:BSX) Head to Head Contrast - Riverton Roll - December 22nd, 2019 [December 22nd, 2019]
- Ask the Expert: What is ventricular tachycardia, and what treatment options are available? - The Daily Progress - December 22nd, 2019 [December 22nd, 2019]
- Beyond the Byline: Who really did steal the kishka? - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader - December 31st, 2019 [December 31st, 2019]
- Local leaders offer their Happy New Year wishes - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader - December 31st, 2019 [December 31st, 2019]
- Cardiologs raises $15m in Aleven-led Series A funding round - Medical Device Network - January 10th, 2020 [January 10th, 2020]
- Marion County Schools working to be "Heart Safe" certified - WDTV - January 10th, 2020 [January 10th, 2020]
- The Dangers of Weight Loss Supplements and Why You Should Avoid Them - One Green Planet - February 15th, 2020 [February 15th, 2020]
- Amish kids were dying mysteriously. Mayo scientists solved it. But can they treat it? - Minnesota Public Radio News - February 20th, 2020 [February 20th, 2020]
- UI doctors discover new genetic mutation that causes fatal heart arrhythmias - UI The Daily Iowan - February 22nd, 2020 [February 22nd, 2020]
- Here's Why You Shouldn't Worry About Apple Watch AFib Detection - The Mac Observer - February 27th, 2020 [February 27th, 2020]
- Team deciphers how myotonic dystrophy generates lethal heart dysfunctions - University of Illinois News - February 27th, 2020 [February 27th, 2020]
- Cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients linked with higher death rate - Cardiac Rhythm News - March 26th, 2020 [March 26th, 2020]
- Electrophysiology Market: Global Industry Valuation 2020| In Depth Analysis, Solution, Industry Influence By 2028 - Cole of Duty - May 23rd, 2020 [May 23rd, 2020]
- What you need to know about hydroxychloroquine - WTSP.com - May 23rd, 2020 [May 23rd, 2020]
- Malaria Drug Taken by Trump Is Tied to Increased Risk of Heart Problems and Death in New Study - The New York Times - May 23rd, 2020 [May 23rd, 2020]
- Research by Huami Shows Smart Wearable Device Big Data could assist with alerting new trends related to COVID-19 - Devdiscourse - May 24th, 2020 [May 24th, 2020]
- Dealing With Electrolyte Imbalances Including The Use Of Sports Drinks - Teton Gravity Research - May 28th, 2020 [May 28th, 2020]
- Abnormal EKG: What It Means and Treatment Options - May 28th, 2020 [May 28th, 2020]
- Abnormal Heart Rhythms: Types, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment - May 28th, 2020 [May 28th, 2020]
- FDA pulls emergency use of hydroxychloroquine hyped by Trump for treating Covid-19, says it could pose risks - MEAWW - June 18th, 2020 [June 18th, 2020]
- Electrophysiology Market: Global Industry Valuation 2020| In Depth Analysis, Solution, Industry Influence By 2028 - 3rd Watch News - June 18th, 2020 [June 18th, 2020]
- Critically ill patients with COVID-19 at risk to develop heart rhythm disorders - Penn: Office of University Communications - June 29th, 2020 [June 29th, 2020]
- COVID-19 Patients in ICU 10 Times More Likely to Experience Heart Rhythm Disorders, Finds Study - HospiMedica - July 5th, 2020 [July 5th, 2020]
- Doctors Seeing Heart Inflammation In Young People With Coronavirus: Are These People At Risk? - CBS Pittsburgh - August 14th, 2020 [August 14th, 2020]
- EMS Treatment of Hyperkalemia - EMSWorld - September 7th, 2020 [September 7th, 2020]
- The virus and other diseases - The Indian Express - September 8th, 2020 [September 8th, 2020]
- Cardiac arrhythmia and COVID-19: Here are answers to some frequently-asked questions - The Indian Express - September 8th, 2020 [September 8th, 2020]
- COVID-19 and its effects on heart disease: How to create a system to safeguard patients during pandemic - Times Now - September 8th, 2020 [September 8th, 2020]
- The Wireless Ambulatory Telemetry Monitors market to ramify in unexplored territories in the next decade - KYT24 - October 23rd, 2020 [October 23rd, 2020]
- Health Pro: Cardiologist passionate about keeping your heart ticking - Florida Today - October 23rd, 2020 [October 23rd, 2020]
- What We Know About COVID-19 and Long-Term Heart Damage - Healthline - October 23rd, 2020 [October 23rd, 2020]
- COVID-19 can affect the heart - Science Magazine - October 23rd, 2020 [October 23rd, 2020]
- Researchers discover more effective treatment option for heart condition - OSU - The Lantern - October 23rd, 2020 [October 23rd, 2020]
- From breathlessness to brain fog, Indian doctors are now up against effects of long COVID - Firstpost - November 1st, 2020 [November 1st, 2020]
- Heart of the issue - The New Indian Express - December 8th, 2020 [December 8th, 2020]
- CB Scientific, Inc. (CBSC), Distributor Mango Wellness and My Cardia Thailand Well Positioned for Growth in 2021 - GlobeNewswire - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- [Full text] Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Mutations, Testing, and Clinical Relevance | TACG - Dove Medical Press - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- Temporary Cardiac Pacing Wires & Leads Market Promising Growth Opportunities and Forecast 2018-2028 NeighborWebSJ - NeighborWebSJ - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- Temporary Cardiac Pacing Leads Market Incredible Possibilities, Growth Analysis and Forecast To 2025 NeighborWebSJ - NeighborWebSJ - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- COVID-19 Impact: Wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems - Free Press Journal - July 4th, 2021 [July 4th, 2021]
- Post-recovery, many COVID-19 patients report breathlessness, rapid heartbeats or palpitations, says expert - The Hindu - October 5th, 2021 [October 5th, 2021]
- Hackensack University Medical Center Cardiac Researcher Presented New Data about the Heart and COVID-19 and Other Key Topics at Heart Rhythm Society... - October 5th, 2021 [October 5th, 2021]
- New $17M Heart Rhythm Center will be added to Baptist Heart Hospital - Ponte Vedra Recorder - October 13th, 2021 [October 13th, 2021]
- My healthy wife died as I lay next to her I was making a cup of tea when my daughter realised... - The Sun - October 13th, 2021 [October 13th, 2021]
- What We Know About Cardiac Long-COVID Two Years Into the Pandemic - Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology - January 26th, 2022 [January 26th, 2022]
- Monkeypox and the Heart: Acute Myocarditis Rare, With Good Outlook - TCTMD - September 4th, 2022 [September 4th, 2022]
- A Broken Heart After Witnessing a Dying Heart: A Case of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy - Cureus - September 4th, 2022 [September 4th, 2022]