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Here’s What’s Known About Coronavirus and Heart Health
Data provides insights for people with cardiovascular conditions
The more that’s learned about Covid-19, the more it’s clear the virus wreaks havoc on all organs in the body, the heart included. Some data has shown that people with severe Covid-19 infections experienced heart-related health problems as a result of the infection.
This could be happening for a few reasons. For one, cells in the heart and lungs are covered with ACE-2 receptors that work as the doorway for the coronavirus to enter cells and replicate. There’s also a potential risk for oxygen loss, which can put a strain on the heart. Viruses can cause inflammation, which prevents oxygen from reaching the bloodstream, making the heart work harder. Viruses are also known to cause cardiomyopathy, which is a heart muscle disorder that can interfere with the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.
While pre-existing cardiovascular disease doesn’t seem to make people any more likely to contract Covid-19, it does look like having a heart condition can make the course of infection worse. Data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in June showed that people with Covid-19 who had underlying conditions like cardiovascular disease were six times more likely to be…
