Study proves: Corona increases the risk of heart attack - expert talks about worrying detail
Created: 03/31/2022, 04:51
By: Anika Zuschke
According to a recent US study, a corona infection increases the risk of a heart attack enormously - even in people without a previous illness.
An expert is concerned.
Munich – A corona infection can have serious consequences even after the symptoms have subsided.
Many people who have recovered complain about long-term symptoms from “Long Covid” – which can also occur with a mild course.
In addition, the lungs are considered a particularly vulnerable organ after a corona disease.
A study from the USA has now shown that an infection with Covid-19 can also attack the heart.
According to this, the risk of a heart attack increases by a whopping 50 to 60 percent in the year after a corona infection.
This worries heart experts.
Corona study shows: Covid infection increases risk of heart attack and stroke
The US study was published in the journal "Nature Medicine" in February 2022 and shows a higher probability of cardiovascular disease after infection with Covid-19.
The increased risk of stroke and heart attack primarily affects patients who have had to be hospitalized for their corona disease.
But people with a mild course are also at risk.
Cardiologist Thomas Nordt, medical director of the Clinic for Cardiovascular Diseases at the Klinikum Stuttgart, considers the US study to be well done.
This is based on a large pool of data and can be "transferred one to one to Germany," he explains to
Welt
.
Cardiologist comments: People with and without previous illnesses have a higher risk of heart attack
According to Professor Nordt, the increased risk of a heart attack primarily affects people who have already suffered a heart attack in their lifetime or who have been diabetic and have high blood pressure for many years.
But the bad thing about Covid-19, according to him, “is that it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease even in people who have not been burdened so far,” said the cardiologist in an interview with
Welt
.
For one, the lower risk increases to "more" and for the other, the already increased risk increases to "even more".
According to Thomas Nordt, the study once again confirmed that originally healthy people can also develop cardiovascular diseases as a result of the infection.
"This is worrying and we don't know where it's coming from," the cardiologist told
Welt
.
The news from an Austrian biologist is also worrying: He warns of the next virus problem - before the corona pandemic has even remotely come to an end.
A corona infection increases the risk of a heart attack enormously.
(Iconic image) © Science Photo Library/Imago
For fear of Corona: People with heart problems come to the hospital less often
According to Professor Nordt, the increased risk of heart disease is compounded by the fact that people in Germany with a heart attack or stroke are less likely to be hospitalized than before Corona - for fear of infection.
This way more heart attacks go undiagnosed.
"It is assumed that around a third of heart attacks are silent," explains Professor
Welt
.
It is often the case that when the patient is specifically asked about it, he remembers a time when he felt pressure on his chest and was short of breath - but did not go to the doctor because the symptoms went away on their own.
According to Nordt, however, this represents a major problem because silent heart attacks are also dangerous.
A heart attack that is discovered late is also difficult to treat, according to the heart expert.
Danger of a heart attack: Patients should be observed more closely after corona infection
The Heart Center Leipzig can also confirm that in clinics during the corona waves, there was a demonstrable sharp decline in inpatient admissions for heart failure, high blood pressure or cardiac arrhythmias.
This is a potentially fatal development.
Because a heart that is already weakened can struggle against a Covid infection and recover from it.
Professor Doctor Holger Thiele from the Heart Center therefore warns
helios-gesundheit.de
: "Infection with the corona virus increases the risk of a heart attack and severe courses, especially in heart patients." According to him, people who complain of heart problems should be independent from the pandemic situation, always consult a doctor.
The authors of the US study also advise monitoring the cardiovascular system of patients who have recovered from Covid 19 infection more closely than usual. However, the corona situation in the hospital seems to be changing slowly: new data show that The ratio of people who are in the hospital with or because of Corona is turning.
The reason for the increased risk of a heart attack remains unclear
According to Professor Nordt, the authors of the study leave it open why exactly a respiratory virus can have such a massive impact on the heart and circulatory system.
"This has not yet been finally clarified and will also be difficult to clarify," the cardiologist states to
Welt
.
But the fact is that the corona incidence in Germany is increasing again.
On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, the 7-day incidence was 1703.3, higher than the previous day.
The corona forecast continues to look bitter until Easter - with three number trends giving hope.
Nevertheless, all rules should expire in Bavaria on April 2nd – Söder even announced the “Corona Freedom Day” with gnashing of teeth.
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