
As per the American Heart Association, COVID-19 may have a long-term effect on the heart. Having a heart condition doesn't make a person more likely to catch COVID-19, but an individual with heart disease or a serious heart condition is more likely to become severely ill from COVID-19 and has a higher risk of death. Research showed that heart damage may persist even after the patient recovers, and in some cases, that damage may be long-lasting. As per the ongoing survey, people who are dying with SARS-CoV-2 virus are often dying of heart problems rather than respiratory problems. 19% or roughly one in five patients hospitalized with COVID-19 showed signs of heart damage. The disease was more fatal for those who suffered heart damage. Those with pre-existing heart conditions were likely to show heart damage due to COVID-19, but there were also patients with no history of heart disease showed heart damage from COVID-19. People may develop the following heart conditions once exposed to COVID-19:
- Myocarditis and heart failure: People who are exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus may develop acute swelling of the heart muscle called myocarditis. In this condition, the virus may infect the cells of the heart causing the muscle tissue to undergo severe swelling. This may alter the electrical conduction in the heart, affecting its ability to pump blood around the body. So, less oxygen is reaching to various organs in the body including the lungs (heart failure).
- Cardiogenic shock and heart attack: A condition in which the heart suddenly can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, which is usually caused by a severe heart attack.
- Pericarditis: Infection of the heart lining or covering, which may cause chest pain and abnormal heart rhythms.
- Other conditions: Heart may sustain an injury due to swelling triggered by the immune system's response to the virus. Patients with severe COVID-19 infection also appear to have a higher tendency to have blood clots within the blood vessels. This can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Doctors may be able to monitor the severity of heart injury measuring the levels of various substances in the blood, such as troponin. This protein is usually found in the heart. It is released into the bloodstream when there is a significant heart injury, such as during a heart attack.
Mechanism:
COVID-19 virus is considered cardiotropic because of its affinity to attack the heart. The virus connects with cells through an enzyme called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, which is a spike-shaped enzyme. The enzyme is found on cell surfaces throughout the body. In patients with underlying heart disease, there are a greater number of these receptors on the cell surface, which may result in a greater number of virus particles entering the cell causing significantly more heart-swelling than in people without heart disease.
What are the common organs that are affected by COVID-19?
COVID-19 virus may infect multiple organs. The virus enters the cells by binding to receptors, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. These receptors act as the site of entry and are found in the cells of multiple organs, making it easy for the virus to enter. The most commonly affected organs include:
- The lungs are the most common organs affected
- Heart and blood vessels, which may turn fatal
- Kidneys
- Liver
- Gut
- Brain
What are the signs and symptoms of COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which is recognized as the third human pathogen causing a severe respiratory syndrome after SARS-CoV and Middle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV1.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Loss of taste and smell
Less frequent symptoms of the illness include:
- Headaches
- Body aches and pains
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea
Serious symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- High recurrent fever
- Severe shortness of breath
- Low blood pressure
- Elevated heart rate (above 100 bpm)
- Dehydration
- Severe weakness
What are the treatment options for COIVD-19?
There are currently no approved treatments for COIVD-19. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is being used in mild cases and as a prophylactic drug, however, multiple large clinical trials show HCQS does not show benefits in the treatment. Below are a few other potential drugs and treatments that are being researched:
- Antibiotics: Ivermectin, Doxycycline, and Azithromycin
- Antiviral: Favipiravir and Remdesivir
- Steroids: Dexamethasone and Methylprednisone
- Convalescent plasma therapy: An off-label therapy and may work best when given early in the treatment cycle.
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Top Does COVID-19 Affect My Heart? Related Articles
Can Diarrhea Be an Initial Symptom of COVID-19?
COVID-19 has become a common illness that affects many people. Learn the signs of COVID-19, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and what you can do to treat it.What Is a Coronary Angiogram?
Coronary angiogram is an angiogram (an X-ray image of blood vessels filled with contrast material) used to diagnose coronary artery disease responsible for heart attacks, strokes, angina, and other coronary artery diseases. Coronary angiogram assists the physician in diagnosing and recommending treatment for coronary artery disease.Coronavirus COVID-19 Prevention: Test Your Medical IQ
What's really the best way to prevent the spread of new coronavirus COVID-19? Should wear a mask or not? Take this quiz to find out!Coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2): The Latest News, Updates, and Information
See the latest news, updates, and information on the Coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak. Learn about symptoms, prevention, face masks, vaccines, Delta and Omicron variants, possible treatments, quarantine, isolation, social distancing, self-isolation and more.Can I Have COVID-19 and Fungal Infection at the Same Time?
One of those challenges is that bacterial and fungal infections can occur alongside COVID-19, especially in people whose cases are severe enough to put them in the ICU or who have existing comorbidities like diabetes or HIV.COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Prevention Tips
COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that spreads from person to person via infected respiratory droplets. The main symptoms of COVID-19 infection include cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Occasionally, people infected with COVID-19 may experience diarrhea, a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, or aches and pains. Avoiding contact with infected people, social distancing, not touching your face, frequent hand washing, cleaning, and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces can help to reduce your risk of contracting the 2019 novel coronavirus.COVID-19 vs. Allergies
Though there is some overlap in allergy and COVID-19 signs and symptoms there are also significant differences. Symptoms that they have in common include headache, fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, wheezing, and sore throat. Fever does not occur with allergies but is one of the defining symptoms of COVID-19 infections.COVID-19 vs. Flu vs. Cold
When you're feeling sick, it can be difficult to distinguish the symptoms of a COVID-19 infection from the symptoms of the common cold or the flu (influenza). While fever is common with the flu and COVID-19, sneezing is typically only associated with colds. Though sore throats are typical with colds, they are uncommon with COVID-19 infections and the flu.What Is Endotracheal Intubation?
Doctors perform endotracheal intubation when a patient cannot breathe on their own, whether it is due to surgery, disease, or an emergency. Endotracheal intubation is the safest way of providing breathing support to COVID-19 coronavirus disease patients who have severe lung symptoms.What Is Kawasaki Disease?
Kawasaki disease is a rare children's disease characterized by a fever that lasts more than five days and at least four of the following five symptoms are present: rash, swollen neck lymph gland, red tongue, swelling or redness of the hands or feet, and conjunctivitis. High doses of aspirin are used to treat Kawasaki disease. Cortisone and anti-inflammatory drugs may also be used during treatment.Skin Problems: Rosacea, Acne, Shingles, Covid-19 Rashes
Learn to spot and treat skin conditions commonly found in adults such as acne, Covid-19 rashes, eczema, shingles, psoriasis, rosacea, hives, cold sores, razor bumps, athlete's foot, and more dermatology details.What Drugs May Fight COVID-19? Drug Trials, Treatments, Vaccines
What drugs could help fight coronavirus COVID-19? Clinical studies are ongoing for antiviral drugs like hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine remdesivir, lopinavir and favipiravir, as well as COVID-19 vaccines. Learn why anti-flu respiratory drugs and home remedies may prove useful to treat or prevent serious coronavirus infections.What Should a Pregnant Woman Do If She Has COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus. If you are pregnant and you think you have COVID-19, get professional medical help as soon as possible to reduce the risk of medical complications.COVID-19 (Coronavirus, 2019-nCoV)
Infection with COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV) causes respiratory problems in humans. Transmission of COVID-19 occurs mainly through contact with respiratory sections from an infected person, however, fecal contamination may also spread the virus. Symptoms start off flu-like and progress to coughing, fever, shortness of breath, shaking chills, headache, loss of sense of taste and/or smell, muscle pain, and sore throat. Treatment focuses on supportive care and symptom relief. COVID-19 vaccines are available.Coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic Outbreak: What You Need to Know
A new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2) was reported from Wuhan, China in December, 2019. This outbreak of respiratory flu-like symptoms has quickly spread resulting in a worldwide pandemic. Learn about symptoms, treatment, prevention and vaccine efforts.Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention Quiz
Why is coronavirus considered dangerous? What are the symptoms you should look for? Take this COVID-19 prevention quiz to learn how to protect yourself.