How COVID-19 Increases the Risk for Patients with Heart Disease?

Understand the Risks and Protect Your Heart!

COVID-19, A Systemic Infection

Generally speaking, coronavirus, like other infections, introduces inflammatory responses from the immune system. Inflammation is a response of the immune system, summoning its troops to attack invaders. When inflammation happens, raised heart rate and increased power of cardiac contraction, work together at an accelerated speed for transporting troops and their supplies (such as oxygen and nutrients). That response is typically mediated by cytokines and sympathetic stimulation. The risk of arrhythmia will thus increase.

COVID-19 Can Affect Your Heart Directly

Moreover, several case reports related to COVID-19 suggested a mechanism of the virus directly invading heart cells, a phenomenon called myocarditis. Myocarditis is identified by microscopically examining the damaged cardiac cells, which are surrounded by inflammatory cells. With damaged cardiac cells, the power of cardiac contraction attenuates, and the supply of oxygen and nutrients decreases, which further threatens the heart cells. In addition, electrophysiology of the diseased heart cells will be disturbed, which results in the raise of arrhythmia risk.

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An empathic AI software company. Our goal is making people’s lives happier and healthier, both physically and mentally.