It may answer your query about Covid-19 and heart disease.
Also if you are a healthcare provider, I invite you to add to this explanation if you wish.
The novel coronavirus enters into human cells and causes cell damage. Its primary site of action is the lining of the respiratory tract and the lung tissues. But it can act at other sites also and cause cell damage.
You might have heard of the non-respiratory symptoms of Covid-19. It is known to cause diarrhea, vomitting and even purple rashes on the toes of some patients. Newer evidence suggests that the novel coronavirus causes heart problems too. Several explanations are available for the heart ailments seen in Covid-19 patients or those who recover from Covid-19.
1. The virus may cause direct injury to the heart cells leading to heart problems.
2. The severe inflammation caused by the virus can cause rupture of the atherosclerotic plaques (fatty deposits) in coronary arteries (arteries that supply the heart). These can move within the blood vessels and block smaller blood vessels leading to a heart attack.
3. Lung injury by the virus puts extra load on the heart too. Because of the lung injury, the circulating blood has lower oxygen levels than under normal conditions. To fulfill the demand for extra oxygen in different parts of the body, the heart needs to pump more blood. As the heart starts working harder, it also starts getting fatigued.
4. The acute inflammation can worsen the functions of both the heart and the kidneys. When kidneys do not function well, heart has to work harder to pump adequate amount of blood into the kidneys. This can increase the risk of heart failure.
5. The mental and physical stress of a Covid-19 infection can also put added stress on the heart...hence, heart diseases may surface in those who already had a weak heart. In patients with hypertension and/or diabetes, heart disease can surface after a Covid-19 infection.
6. Drugs used in the management of Covid-19 such as hydroxychloroquine (HCQS) are known to cause heart problems as complications.
Heart disease is mostly due to the acute and severe inflammation (cell injury) caused by Covid-19. However, at the moment, there does not seem to be much one can do about it.
The best you could do is to prevent becoming infected. Follow the recommendations of SMS for Covid-19.
S ---Safe distancing from others
M---Masking up every time you go out of home
S ---Sterilizing the hands frequently either by using an alcohol-based sterilizer or by washing hands with soap and water.
Stay safe!
