Introduction:
Coronavirus disease (COVID) 2019 is typically caused by a viral agent called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS COV-2). COVID-19 has significant impacts on health and various systems. It primarily affects the respiratory system, causing symptoms ranging from mild respiratory issues to severe pneumonia. Additionally, it can lead to long-term complications, known as “long COVID,” affecting various organs. Since 2019, the coronavirus has mutated to manifest as multiple and distinct variants that have markedly increased the rate and severity of the infection.
What Are the Potential Symptoms That Occur After COVID-19 Exposure?
The phase persisting beyond the acute state of infection is usually termed COVID-19 syndrome. The exact mechanism and duration of the symptoms might vary.
The individuals might experience the following symptoms.
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Fever.
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Fatigue.
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Certain symptoms worsen following an effort or physical activity.
COVID-19 chiefly affects the respiratory passage and the affiliated system. However, it could have a widespread influence on the various organ systems. Hence, COVID-19 might affect the neurological, gastrointestinal, cardiological, and immune systems. The marked complications of this contagious outbreak include blood clotting problems, myocarditis, neurological symptoms, and its predominant effect on lung function.
Other significant symptoms corresponding to various systems in the body are as follows.
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Respiratory or lung-related symptoms like shortness of breath, cough, and difficulty breathing.
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Heart-related symptoms include chest discomfort, pain, and a rapid and pounding heartbeat.
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Digestive concerns like stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea.
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Neurological and cognitive-related health problems such as headaches, distorted sleep patterns, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, distorted thoughts, loss of specialized sensations, anxiety, and depression.
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Pain and stiffness in muscles.
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Vascular (blood health) problems include pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is a severe condition in which a blood clot, typically originating in the legs (deep vein thrombosis), travels to the lungs and impedes a pulmonary artery. This obstruction could eventually disrupt blood flow to the lungs, resulting in potentially life-threatening consequences.
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Skin rashes and other skin concerns.
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Changes in the menstrual cycle.
What Is the Impact of COVID-19 on Cardiovascular System?
The pandemic has afflicted the heart’s health. Nevertheless, the virus has negative effects on cardiovascular health. The clinical findings signify that COVID-19 could have a long-term impact on the cardiovascular system. The virus could cause inflammation in the heart muscle and blood clot formation, resulting in potentially life-threatening complications like strokes and heart attacks. Moreover, the pandemic and outbreak have disturbed the equilibrium of lifestyle, sleep, and routines, leading to stress, anxiety, and diminished physical activity. To compensate for the distorted routine, people tend to rely on overeating and alcoholism. These determinants are further attributable to heart health problems.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 on the Cardiovascular System?
The coronavirus could influence the heart's structure and function, leading to certain distressing cardiovascular symptoms that show long-lasting effects even after completely recovering from COVID-19 infection.
The cardiovascular symptoms include;
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Fatigue.
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Shortness of breath.
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Chest pain.
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Heart palpitations.
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Arrhythmias.
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Rapid heartbeat.
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Cough.
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Decreased blood pressure or hypotension.
These symptoms associated with the post-COVID-19 time, despite the recovery, might persist due to myocardial injury, systemic damage, and cardiac inflammation that have occurred during the time of infection. The long-term consequences of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system are as follows.
Myocarditis:
COVID-19 is known to cause a dangerous form of inflammation in the heart called myocarditis. Myocarditis refers to the inflammation of the heart muscle. It can be caused by any infection, including viral infections associated with COVID-19. Symptoms might include chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and an irregular heartbeat. Severe cases of myocarditis could lead to heart failure. Hence, myocarditis prevents the heart from implementing its function effectively. Hence, the COVID-19 infection could directly damage the cardiovascular system, causing further complications like arrhythmia and heart failure, regardless of their actual mechanisms.
Hence, it is considered a pivotal risk factor in monitoring hospitalized people. If myocarditis is suspected, medical evaluation, including imaging and laboratory tests, is important for diagnosis and determining the appropriate treatment, which might include medications and lifestyle modifications. The brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are measured to determine whether an individual is experiencing heart failure. This is based on the physiologic mechanism by which this BNP protein gets distributed into the bloodstream when the cardiac muscle stretches.
Heart Failure:
The inflammatory process from myocarditis could damage the muscle tissue, making it thicker and less elastic, thereby imperiling the heart’s efficiency in pumping blood. As a result, the heart faces difficulties meeting the body’s demands for adequate oxygen and nutrients, leading to heart failure.
In post-COVID-19 cases where myocarditis progresses to heart failure, people tend to encounter symptoms such as persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, and difficulty exercising. The severity of heart failure could vary, ranging from mild to severe, and prompt medical attention is considered crucial.
Increased Blood Clots:
An increased blood clot from a coronavirus infection is obvious. Blood clots tend to occur when there is a gel-like clump formation. However, an increased number of blood clots in the body can lead to life-threatening consequences like stroke and heart attack. The impact of coronavirus on the clotting system is more similar to the effects of other infectious diseases like bacterial illnesses and sepsis on blood health.
Conclusion:
COVID-19 has emerged as a significant concern, extending beyond the initial respiratory symptoms associated with the virus. Many studies have indicated a link between COVID-19 and cardiovascular complications, including myocarditis, blood clot formation, and long-lasting damage to the heart muscle. Such findings suggest that the virus could have enduring effects on cardiac health, potentially leading to increased risks of heart-related issues even after the acute phase of infection has passed.
As it is crucial to navigate the life aftermath of the pandemic, it becomes more crucial for healthcare systems to prioritize monitoring and addressing the cardiovascular implications of COVID-19 survivors. This generally involves immediate medical attention during the active infection and ongoing cardiac assessments and interventions for recovered patients. Recognizing and mitigating the long-term impact on heart health will be pivotal in developing comprehensive strategies for managing the broader health consequences of COVID-19.
