POST COVID HEART ATTACKS IN YOUNG PEOPLE

“Heart attack is not a death sentence; it is a wakeup call”- Richard Harris

The pandemic COVID-19 has stunned the world with the severity of damage it does to the human body. All the organs are affected post COVID but heart is a sensitive organ that may be harmed the most. Shockingly researchers have reported that post COVID heart attacks in young people is more common than in old people. There can be a number of medical conditions leading to heart attack but patients infected with corona virus are more likely to be affected by damages.

How does COVID affect the heart?

COVID- 19 causes inflammation in the body that result in heart damage. When the body is first infected, it activates the immune system and produces cytokines and inflammatory cells. This inflammation process is mandatory to fight the virus but excess of it leads to cytokine storm. According to researchers and best heart care specialist in Eluru, excessive production of cytokine in the body in severe COVID cases harms cardiovascular system. The complications caused by cytokine release syndrome are:

1. Blood clots- When inflammation affects the endothelium or the lining of the blood vessel, it may interrupt the blood flow. This may result in blood clots leading to heart attack or stroke
2. Myocarditis- Inflammation caused by COVID weakens the heart muscle or myocardium. Myocarditis is the condition in which the heart faces difficulties to pump due to weak myocardium.
3. Arrhythmia- Heart beats are rhythmic in nature but inflammation disturbs the electric signals. This results in slow, rapid or irregular rhythmic heart beats. This condition is called Arrhythmia and it can be treated on diagnosis. If someone has cytokine storm and arrhythmia both, it can be very severe and should be treated in emergency heart care treatment in Gudivada.
4. Pericarditis- A thin saclike tissue surrounds the heart called pericardium. Pericarditis is the condition due to which the pericardium swells and causes chest pain. Usually it is a mild pain and does not require any treatment.
5. Heart failure- In extreme cases, it can cause excessive swelling and fluid in the body leading to a heart failure.

Symptoms indicating heart issue

This is true that COVID does damage heart but the severity can be known through the symptoms that the body reflects. Experts at the Geriatric care in Vijayawada have listed a few symptoms that COVID patients should look out for and consult the doctor:

1. Shortness of breath
2. Fatigue
3. Severe chest pain or tightening
4. Heart palpitations
5. Change in heart rate
6. Muscle ache

Medical conditions with higher risk

The symptoms mentioned above may be an indication of an issue with the heart. There are some medical conditions that work as a catalyst to the effects of COVID-19 on heart. You should be consulting heart specialist in Vijayawada if you have any of these medical conditions and have been infected with corona virus as well. Here is the list of the conditions:

1. Diabetes
2. Heart failure
3. Coronary artery disease
4. Past history of a stroke
5. Hypertension
6. Sickle cell disease
7. Thalassemia

Dr. Sandeep Bhargav Gangapatla and his team at Revive Home clinics offer services for diagnosis and treatment of medical heart conditions at your home in Vijayawada, Guntur, Eluru, and Gudivada. You can book an appointment or contact him through the website.