Cardiovascular Health with the Rise of COVID-19
How does COVID-19 cause heart damage? The SARS-CoV-2 virus can damage the heart in many ways. For example, the virus may directly attack or burn the heart muscle, and it may indirectly damage the heart by disrupting the balance between oxygen supply and demand. Heart damage, not measured by high levels of the enzyme troponin in the blood, was found in about one-third of hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19. In these patients, about one-third have pre-existing CVD. Inflammation of the heart muscle Most people with COVID-19 will have mild symptoms and fully recover. However, about 20 percent will develop pneumonia, and about 5% will have a serious illness. In the severe form of COVID-19, the immune system overreacts to the virus, releasing inflammatory molecules called cytokines into the bloodstream. Increased demand for oxygen and a decrease in oxygen supply leads to heart damage Fever and infection cause rapid heartbeat, which increases hear...