PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, Mar 25: The data on heart attacks following COVID is absent in India. However, cardiologists, who have taken care of post-COVID cardiac issues in patients this past year, suggest that people should avoid very severe exercise or unaccustomed extreme physical exertion for three-four months after recovery from COVID.
Moderation and continuing prescribed medication and contacting your doctor in case of an emergency are important, according to the doctors, who add that lifestyle changes protect persons against heart attacks in the long run.
“COVID is a mystery and we are still learning,” said Dr Rakesh Kumar Choudhary of the CTVS department at Rajendra Institute of Medical Science, Ranchi.
He said that Coronavirus causes inflammation in the arteries supplying blood to heart muscle along with an increase in blood clotting leading to sudden blocking of these arteries and heart attack.
“Furthermore, inflammation and infection of the heart muscle called myocarditis lead to the weakening of heart pumping and heart failure. The virus can also affect the conduction system of the heart making the heartbeat very fast or very slow, all these conditions can continue for many weeks after recovery from COVID and can be life-threatening,” he said.
“Many of the recovered patients are experiencing cardiac issues. The symptoms can range from chest tightness, breathing difficulties, pain and sudden palpitations,” said Dr. Rakesh.
“Complications like heart attack, myocarditis, swelling of the heart, low pumping capacity, heart failure, blood clotting, and arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) are commonly seen in post-Covid patients,” added the doctor.
Stating that COVID infection does increase the blood clotting tendency which increases the risk of all diseases such as heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis etc, Dr. Rakesh said that this risk is not life-long.
“This risk is there primarily during COVID infection and for some period (1-2 months) after the infection. That is why blood thinners are given during that period to reduce the risk,” he added.
The way out he suggests is an aggressive modification of lifestyle including choosing the right type of food (increasing fruit and vegetable intake and reducing fatty food intake, especially the fried food and bakery products), doing regular (30-40 minutes daily) exercises, quitting smoking and learning to manage mental stress by yoga and meditation.
“We should judiciously use the mask as in the post-Covid era it is the need of the hour to provide fresh and natural air to our lungs and avoid using a triple-layered mask. It is better that we should use the proper hygiene methods and whenever we go into the crowd we should use the mask,” he added.
Stating the reasons for the heart damage he said that Covid patients with comorbidities like diabetes and high blood pressure and the ones on steroids may also encounter heart problems. Heart damage can be seen due to high levels of inflammation in one’s body. As the body’s immune system tackles the virus, the inflammatory process tends to destroy some healthy tissues, including the heart.
“The Covid infection causes inflammation of the blood vessels as it tends to impact the inner surfaces of one’s veins and arteries compromising blood flow to the heart. Once you spot signs like dizziness, light-headedness, sudden palpitation, hypertension, vomiting, sweating, and shortness of breath you must immediately call your doctor. If there is plaque build-up in the arteries then the virus can even invite a heart attack. That is why people who have recovered from Covid are at a higher risk of a heart attack,” Dr Choudhary added.
