COVID-19 IS HAVING a lasting impact on many people’s health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 41 percent of people who get sick from the virus end up with long Covid, which can include respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, and other symptoms that persist for weeks, months, and years.
Research shows that people who have more severe cases of Covid are at an increased risk for heart problems. But, doctors say anyone who’s had a Covid infection is at risk for a heart issue.
“The hypothesis is that the virus itself is causing a severe immune response in the body, leading to intense inflammation of the heart muscle and vessels as well as muscle cell death,” says Karishma Patwa, M.D., a cardiologist with Manhattan Cardiology and contributor to LabFinder.
This disrupts the heart’s normal physiology, which can lead to calcium deposits, blood clots, and artery blockages, Dr. Patwa says. “Multiple studies are revealing that people who suffered from the Covid-19 infection have higher risks of heart disease.”
While there is a link between Covid and heart problems, Mintu Turakhia, M.D., a cardiologist and chief medical and scientific officer at iRhythm Technologies, says any severe illness can put stress on your organs.
“This can lead to issues in the heart, which may include altered pump function or electrical disturbances, like atrial fibrillation or arrhythmias,” he says. Covid also impacted immune system problems, which can cause heart problems.
Here’s a closer look at the link between Covid and heart conditions, who’s most at risk, and the role of getting vaccinated.
Is Covid Linked to Heart Disease?
Covid is a respiratory disease, and lung problems can cause temporary or long-term heart problems, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Covid causes inflammation and fluid buildup in the lungs, which decreases oxygen in the bloodstream. So the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the body. In some cases, this extra work can cause the heart to fail or get damaged.
Covid can also damage the heart directly via the body’s immune system response, which causes inflammation. When the heart muscle is inflamed, this is a condition known as myocarditis, Dr. Patwa says.
Viruses can also cause cardiomyopathy, which is a heart muscle disorder that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood, according to Johns Hopkins. In some cases, the heart can recover once the infection improves.
“We’re also seeing a higher incidence of stroke and blood clots,” Dr. Patwa says.
Has There Been an Increase in Heart Attacks Since Covid?
Covid infections, even mild ones, can increase your chance of a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure for up to a year after your recovery, according to Harvard Medical School.
Deaths from heart attacks increased during Covid surges, according to research published in the Journal of Medical Virology in 2022.
The study showed that between the year before the pandemic and the first year of the pandemic, heart attack deaths increased by 14 percent. Heart attack death rates in the second year of the pandemic increased the most for adults aged 25 to 44, at 29.9 percent.
Who’s Most Affected?
People with existing cardiac conditions and who are at a higher risk for cardiac conditions are most likely to be affected by Covid-related heart problems, Dr. Patwa says.
That includes people with diabetes, higher BMIs, and kidney disease, and those who smoke, she explains.
“Just getting Covid, if your heart is not at 100 percent, it’s going to tax your heart,” Dr. Turakhia says. “It just puts more stress on the system, even if the virus is not directly targeting those organs specifically.”
But, Dr. Patwa says even people without pre-existing conditions or in high-risk groups could be at risk for heart problems if they get a Covid infection—especially compared to people who haven’t had Covid.
Can Vaccines Minimize Covid Heart Problems?
Everyone, but especially people who are immunocompromised or have other risk factors for Covid, should take steps to avoid getting the virus, Dr. Turakhia says.
One of the best ways to reduce your risk is by getting vaccinated, Dr. Patwa adds.
“Both complete or partial vaccination have been shown to decrease major adverse cardiac events within 180 days of the Covid-19 infection,” she explains. This includes reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
There have been rare reports of the Covid vaccine causing mild heart muscle inflammation, but it’s likely due to the body’s immune response, Dr. Patwa says.
“In general, the vaccine is extremely safe and effective in preventing the cardiac complications of the Covid-19 infection,” she says.
Erica Sweeney
Erica Sweeney is a writer who mostly covers health, wellness and careers. She has written for The New York Times, HuffPost, Teen Vogue, Parade, Money, Business Insider and many more.
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