Today is 29th September, World Heart Day, I am writing about the cardiac issues of Long COVID.

COVID 19 is like a bad nightmare. Rather like a mass nightmare. It’s like a series of problems, not just one. I talked about how long does Long COVID lasts and potential kidney disorders in a previous post.

With more data being available about the nature of COVID, it’s not surprising that the tail end risk of an asymptomatic COVID 19 infection is also significant. Since the COVID 19 pandemic started and data was collected about acute, chronic symptoms of this, doctors all over the world are even more sure that prevention is still your best friend.

So who can have long COVID?

• The risk of long COVID is two times higher in women compared to men.
• Increasing age (50 -69 years most common).
• The presence of more than 5 symptoms in the acute infection is associated with an increased risk of developing long COVID.
• Associated Comorbidities increase the risk of Long COVID.
• Asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic people also may develop long COVID.

What are the Symptoms of Long COVID?

In people with “Long COVID,” one or more symptoms may be present even after 12 weeks.

• Extreme fatigue,headache, joint pain, myalgia and weakness, insomnia, pins and needles
• Breathlessness, cough, hoarseness,vocal fatigue,chest pain, palpitations.
• Diarrhea, rash or hair loss,
• Neurocognitive problems like memory issues, concentration problems, and worsened quality of life.
• Impaired balance, gait.

5 Most common Long COVID symptoms are

Fatigue, headache, dyspnea, hoarse voice, and myalgia.

Long COVID is now classified into 3 different categories depending on the most troublesome and persistent symptoms.They are:

• Post COVID cardio-respiratory syndrome
• Post-COVID fatigue syndrome
• Post COVID neuro-psychiatric syndrome.

Common Cardiac symptoms in Patients with suspected long COVID are:

• Labile heart rate and blood pressure responses
• Myocarditis
• Pericarditis
• Myocardial fibrosis,
• Myocardial infarction,
• Cardiac failure,
• Arrhythmias,
• Sudden cardiac death.
• Coronary artery aneurysm, aortic aneurysm, accelerated atherosclerosis, venous and arterial thromboembolic disease, including life-threatening pulmonary embolism, can also occur.The problems may appear singly or together.

The tests required will depend on symptoms and signs but can include:

• Serial clinical monitoring of Blood pressure and pulse
• Electrocardiogram
• Echocardiogram
• Cardiac MRI
• HRCT Chest for suspected respiratory pathology
• Pulmonary function test

Wear a mask, get vaccinated, and stay healthy.

• World Heart Day: How can you save someone during a cardiac arrest? #SaveHeartSaveLife
• World Heart Day: Happiness and Heart Health
• Chronic Stress:32 Quick Ways to Relax
• How Long does COVID last and Risk of Kidney Disease
• Chronic Kidney Disease(CKD):What Can You Do in India?

FIGHTING COVID 19:8 Steps

India is fighting COVID 19 with all its resources.As a citizen these 8 steps will help you stay safe

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS)

On May 8, 2021

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References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8056514/
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/technicalarticleupdatedestimatesoftheprevalenceofpostacutesymptomsamongpeoplewithcoronaviruscovid19intheuk/26april2020to1august2021?s=03