Heart attack? Don't be afraid to show up at hospital, says expert

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, September 29

A few studies have reported presentation of myocarditis in patients infected with Covid-19. It is a condition in which inflammation happens in the heart muscles, which may result in its abnormal functioning, Punjab Rattan awardee Dr Rajneesh Kapoor said this on Tuesday during an online session on World Heart Day.

“There are chances that patients, who are infected with Covid, may present with heart-related symptoms such as breathing problems, chest pain, changes in ECG, and rise in troponin levels,” he said.

Dr Kapoor, who is working as the vice-chairman of interventional cardiology at Medanta, The Medicity, said: “The coronavirus infection is a disease that causes inflammation by means of the release of interleukins and cytokine storm. It can affect the heart by causing inflammation of heart muscles, known as myocarditis. It may also lead to occlusion in the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack. Hence, patients who are infected with the virus should be treated for heart disease if they show signs.”

The good news is the harmful effects of Covid on heart resolve once the infection subsides. This greatly increases the possibility of patients having normal heart function in later life, he said.

“We appeal to people to continue taking steps towards the prevention of heart disease. Exercise 45 minutes a day, keep BP, sugar, cholesterol, weight in control, sleep for 7 hours a day, quit smoking, drinking, manage stress. And don’t be afraid to show up at the hospital if there are signs of a heart attack. It is an emergency condition and must be treated in the first 8 hours or golden period,” he said.