Are you experiencing heart palpitations due to COVID-19? If yes, you’re not alone because many people also experience it even when their infection is healed. Learn the connection between COVID-19 and heart palpitations and when you should visit a doctor. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.
What’s the reason behind heart palpitations after COVID?
Many patients with COVID-19 experience heart palpitations since the start of the pandemic. Palpitations can occur due to many factors such as anxiety, stress, or caffeine, but when COVID-19 raises the risk of heart palpitations it becomes a matter of concern.
According to one study, around 12% of people with mild to moderate cases of COVID experience palpitations and chest pain. These symptoms can occur at onset of your COVID symptoms or after your COVID infection has cleared, showing more lasting damage.
While the exact cause is still unknown there are certain possible reason behind these symptoms:
- Overactive immune response: This occurs when the virus enters the body, and your immune system starts to attack the virus which it believes to be an invader. To mount a defense, your blood floods with a type of protein called cytokine. These cytokines can also communicate with one another and work together to kill the virus. However, in some people, when the immune system releases cytokines, it releases too much which causes a dangerous surge of inflammation that overwhelms your body. This is called a cytokine storm. This type of inflammation not only attacks the virus but also hurts good cells and tissues and damages your organs including the heart which may cause your heart’s regular rhythm to go haywire and may lead to arrhythmias, which can be dangerous for your health.
- Reduced oxygen supply: COVID-19 can cause hypoxia or a lack of oxygen in the body’s tissues which forces your heart to beat faster to supply oxygen to the necessary organs, tissues, and cells to compensate.
- Blood clots: COVID-19 can cause hypercoagulability, which can increase the risk of blood clots. It also makes your heartbeat faster as your heart has to work harder to pump blood through those blockages in the arteries. It increases the risk of other severe cardiovascular complications as well including heart attacks and strokes.
Other common reason of heat rate changes include:
- Anxiety
- Dehydration
- Medication
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Fever
While palpitations are not a matter of concern, getting medical attention earlier is a good idea if you’re worried about them. And if your palpitations last a long time, and do not improve or get worse, then you may have a heart problem.
These COVID-related heart palpitations generally last in between a few days to several weeks depending on factors like infection’s severity or any pre-existing medical conditions. High heart rate is also linked as a symptom of long COVID.
Some studies found that 25 to 50% of patients report palpitations that persist for 12 weeks (about 3 months) or longer, and 9% still have palpitations even after 6 months.
This shows that COVID-19 can cause heart palpitations, but it is not a sign of a medical condition in most cases, getting a medical check is a better idea to identify any heart-related problem.
Management
If you’re experiencing heart palpitation or a high heart rate during or after COVID infection, then visit your health practitioner. They go through your medical history, perform a physical exam, and order some tests. They may even refer you to a cardiologist as well to provide you with the necessary heart treatment.
Some of tests that may be recommended including:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): In this test, doctors pass electrical signals in your heart to check how fast or slow your heart is beating.
- Holter monitoring: This portable ECG device can record your heart’s activity during your daily activities. It can also detect irregular heartbeats that may not be found during a standard ECG exam.
- Echocardiogram: In this test, sound waves are passed through your body to generate detailed images of the heart in motion, and to check blood flows through the heart and heart valves to find if any valve is narrowed or leaking.
- Exercise or stress tests: These tests include walking on a treadmill or cycling on a stationary bike while your heart is being monitored. This reveals your heart’s response to physical activity and whether you have any heart disease symptoms during exercise or not. If exercise is not possible, then medications are used.
- Cardiac catheterization: This test is used to check blockages in the heart’s arteries. A thin and flexible tube is inserted into a blood vessel usually from your groin or wrist and guided to the heart. A dye then pumped through the catheter to the heart’s arteries, making them visible on X-ray images taken during the test.
- Cardiac CT scan: In this test, multiple images of your heart and chest are obtained to check for diseases.
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: This test uses a magnetic field, and a machine passes radio waves inside your body to generate detailed heart images on the monitor.
If your doctor finds a frequent high heart rate from COVID based on your test results, then, these treatment options may be prescribed:
- Medications: Certain drugs may be prescribed to normalize your heart beats.
- Catheter ablation: In this procedure, a doctor uses a thread of a catheter through the blood vessels to the heart to scar a small spot of heart tissue and block the pathway causing the arrhythmia.
- Pacemaker: It is a small device that connects to your body which can lower a fast heartbeat.
Additionally, it’s essential you take all necessary steps to support your overall health and manage any existing cardiovascular risk factors to prevent heart issues. You can follow these lifestyle changes to protect your overall heart health, including:
- Quit smoking.
- Eat healthy, well-balanced foods.
- Avoid or limit your alcohol intake.
- Reduce your caffeine intake.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage your stress by using stress-relieving techniques.
- Practice good sleep habits.
When to see a doctor?
If you experience frequent palpitations especially when you recently dealing or dealt with COVID-19, then you should see a doctor. Doctors and researchers are still looking into why these cardiac symptoms are occurring and they have a lot of tools and treatment options that can help you manage those symptoms.
The link between COVID-19 and heart palpitations is not clear. There can be many reasons you experience heart palpitations during and after COVID-19. But the good news is you’re not alone. The healthcare provider has many treatment options that can help you manage cardiological symptoms.
For more tips or treatment suggestions for COVID 19, call us to get a consultation from our medical professionals. Our infectious disease doctors make sure your condition gets diagnosed and treated properly. For more information or to make an appointment, call us to get a consultation. Call us on +1-347-384-5690. If you need any information on infections, log on to www.doralhw.org get a consultation. We have the best doctors that can help you and improve your quality of life!