Long COVID is not the only opportunity for the virus to cause more harm than expected.
Even a mild case of COVID can increase the risk of heart problems like heart failure and stroke for at least a year, according to a March study by Department of Veterans Affairs researchers. Deaths from heart attacks are rising during the pandemic surge—especially among those aged 25-44, a population typically at low risk, Cedars-Sinai researchers announced last fall. And growing data continue to support these and similar findings.
In an effort to determine why and how COVID can affect the heart, Dr. Andrew Marks, a professor of cardiology and biophysics at Columbia University, and Steven Reiken, a research scientist in the laboratory, studied heart tissue from people who died of COVID, in addition to the hearts of mice infected with COVID.
Among the findings, which will be presented Monday at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society in San Diego:
- Heart tissue from humans shows increased levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, and changes in calcium levels due to damage to the heart’s regulatory system. These changes can lead to arrhythmias or heart failure, according to the researchers.
- Chest pain and tachycardia, or an unusually fast heartbeat, are common long-term among COVID survivors.
- The heart tissue from the mice showed an increased percentage of fibrosis and dilatation of fibers—common signs of early cardiomyopathy, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood and can lead to heart failure.
- Cardiac cell death and blood clots in the hearts of mice infected with COVID-19 were also observed.
“Physicians should be aware of cardiac changes associated with COVID-19 infection and should be on the lookout for them,” Marks said. He hopes the research will raise awareness among medical providers about the virus’s potentially stealthy heart attacks — and, ultimately, treatment for those whose hearts have been damaged by the pathogen.
How to keep your heart healthy in the age of COVID
With COVID here to stay, what can the average person do to protect their hearts?
Maintaining heart health pre-COVID appears to be generally the same during COVID, Dr. Michelle Albert, president of the American Heart Association, said fortune
“Maintaining optimal cardiovascular health is important at every stage of life and can help you enjoy a longer, healthier life,” he says. “Improved cardiovascular health has been associated with reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, dementia, and other major health problems.”
Maintaining good heart health can prevent the risk of COVID, he added, because conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID outcomes, such as obesity and high blood pressure, often overlap with poor heart health.
Albert and the AHA recommend the following:
- Control blood pressure
- Eat healthy
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Do not smoke or vape
- exercise
- Get enough sleep
- Maintain healthy cholesterol and lipid levels
- Maintain healthy blood sugar levels
The AHA also recommends that people be aware of the COVID vaccinations and boosters, and call 911 if they, or someone else, are experiencing signs of a heart attack or stroke.
Additionally, Marks recommends continued masking in public. “There’s still a lot we don’t know,” he said. “The public needs to understand the risks.”
Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter that examines what leaders need to succeed. Log in here.