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COVID-19 is a respiratory disease. But it actually attacks many systems and organs in our body. Recent research, however, indicates that it is focusing on one of them. More and more patients suffer from cardiovascular complications. – Abnormal sinus tachycardia is reported by every fourth patient – writes Dr. Michał Chudzik, cardiologist and initiator of the STOP-COVID program.
- In more than two years of the pandemic, the course of the coronavirus disease has changed significantly
- There are no pulmonary forms now, patients mainly go to internal departments due to cardiovascular complications – said Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski, an expert of the Supreme Medical Council for combating COVID-19 recently.
- At the moment, most often patients report because of a very fast heartbeat, which they describe as palpitations, cardiac arrhythmia – noted cardiologist Dr. Michał Chudzik
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
COVID-19 mainly affects the heart
COVID-19 is an infectious disease of the respiratory system. The complaints that patients reported during more than two years of the coronavirus pandemic concerned both the lower (in the initial period) and the upper respiratory tract (in later variants). However, now, after the virus has mutated multiple times and more variants have emerged, complications from SARS-CoV-2 infection mainly hit the cardiovascular system.
A recent British study based on the analysis of medical records of 400 patients suffering from COVID-19, shows that the disease affects – in addition to diabetes – a greater risk of cardiovascular problems, lasting up to several weeks.
The risk of diseases such as irregular heartbeat or pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 patients it was almost six times higher than in people of the same age and sex who were not infected.
Among some of the examined patients, the symptoms subsided after about seven weeks after obtaining a positive test for the presence of coronavirus.
Doctors emphasize, however, that the results of these tests can be influenced by many factors. Patients who contracted COVID-19 were more likely to be overweight and had various chronic conditions than those who avoided infection, which predisposed them to further ailments. Some of the infected also had previously undiagnosed diabetes or heart problems, which only came to light after catching the coronavirus.
Tachycardia in Poland is reported by every fourth patient
It is similar in Poland. Patients with a history of coronavirus infection mainly complain of heart problems. Dr. Michał Chudzik, a cardiologist and creator of the STOP COVID application, mentioned it on Twitter.
«Abnormal sinus tachycardia – according to our STOP-COVID observations, this is the most common arrhythmia after home COVID-19. It is reported by every fourth patient (more often women) »- wrote the doctor.
In an interview with ABCzdrowie, Dr. Chudzik emphasizes that recently, cardiac arrhythmias have come to the fore.
– Right now, most patients report very fast heartbeat, which they describe as palpitations, cardiac arrhythmias. Patients also complain of various types of chest pain, but the feeling of a rapid heartbeat dominates. It is tachycardia, i.e. fast heartbeat – it is not an arrhythmia, but a normal heart rhythm, but very fast, over 100 per minute. The problem persists for these patients all the time, day and night. It is not related to physical activity – explains Chudzik.
The doctor adds that previously the problem was reported relatively rarely by patients, now even every fourth person reporting to his facility says it..
However, Dr. Chudzik emphasizes, as was the case with the British studies discussed above, that tachycardia may have a different basis than just a coronavirus infection. It may be, among others anemia or hyperthyroidism. Then you have to deal with the underlying disease first.
Heart problems sometimes pass over time, but if they last too long, a doctor’s consultation is necessary.
– Even if we are completely healthy people, but we feel this fast heart beat for more than a month after undergoing COVID, we should see a doctor. He says he has palpitations, but we need to find out what exactly is going on in that heart. In such situations, the patient needs to undergo Holter ECG tests to check whether there are any additional cardiac arrhythmias – explains Dr. Chudzik.
Myocarditis – a complication after COVID-19
Dr. Chudzik recently spoke to Medonet about another heart-related ailment, which is a complication after a recent coronavirus infection. It’s about inflammation of the heart muscle.
Myocarditis affects one to 10 people in 100. generally in the population, so it is not very common. Most often, viral infections, such as the flu, are the starting point. With COVID-19, the risk of developing the disease is already 150 per 100. people. Which is 15 times greater after the coronavirus than after the flu. It is dangerous that myocarditis can affect completely healthy people – emphasized Chudzik.
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– According to estimates based on a very large group of people who were ill only at home, we see post-inflammatory changes without damage in 15-20 percent. It’s a lot. And we see damage to the heart at the level of 1 percent. It can be said that 1 percent. it’s not a lot, but when we multiply it by the millions of people who have passed COVID-19 at home, it already gives a very large group. It is customary to suffer from the disease in Poland about 20 people a year – he added.
Therefore, we cannot ignore any signals that our heart works differently than before. Especially since heart problems caused by COVID-19 can persist even several months after infection.
– If someone, six months, a year after COVID-19, experiences arrhythmias, unusual chest pain, and gets tired more often, it is necessary to check if it is not due to inflammatory changes in the heart. Such signals are disturbing – noted the cardiologist.
What other symptoms should draw our attention to? A greater feeling of fatigue, a sense of uneven heartbeat, heart arrhythmia in people who have not previously suffered from a heart disease or reduced physical capacity – mentioned Dr. Chudzik.
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