HEALTH
Medical studies highlight long Covid risks to heart
February 27, 2024 - Studies show that the risk of having a heart attack in the year after a Covid-19 infection can be double the normal rate, with chances of heart inflammation around five times higher.
Three recent studies of “Long Covid”, an often poorly defined umbrella term for ailments following an initial Covid-19 infection, show that conditions may not be apparent until something catastrophic happens – particularly to cardiovascular health.
According to a 2023 JAMA Health Forum study, and two 2022 reports from EClinicalMedicine and Nature Medicine, Covid-19 is tied to an increased risk of dangerous blood clots, micro clots and blood vessel damage.
The chances of having a heart attack (blood flow to the heart is blocked) or cardiac arrest (the heart stops beating) in the year following a Covid-19 infection are about double the norm, with chances of myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) around five times higher.