If you feel these symptoms, Kotak advises you to seek medical attention. Though symptoms of arrhythmias vary, the most common include: heart racing, fluttering, palpitations, skipped beats, fatigue, dizziness, or even loss of consciousness. Anyone can develop arrhythmia problems upon contracting a COVID-19 infection, he says, especially people with pre-existing heart disease or other chronic illneses. What to look for if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19Ģ0-30% of patients hospitalized with a COVID-19 infection display cardiac issues, and arrhythmias have been associated with poor outcomes, Kotak says. Recognization and treatment are important since they can bear significant impacts on quality of life. The imbalance can manifest as dizziness, palpitations, heart racing, and lightheadedness with posture change - standing up from sitting or lying down. These can be life-threatening and require a physician’s further evaluation and treatment.Īnother cardiac syndrome that often arises after COVID infection is called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), caused by an imbalance of the autonomic (or involuntary) nervous system. Medications and minimally invasive procedures such as ablation can further improve quality of life.ĬOVID-19 is also known to weaken heart function, precipitating abnormal rhythms from the lower parts of the heart known as premature ventricular contractions (PVC) and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Diagnosing and treating AFib with blood-thinners can prevent this risk of stroke. People with AFib are at higher risk of experiencing a stroke, Kotak says. The most common fast rhythm is called atrial fibrillation (AFib) and causes an irregular, chaotic rhythm in the upper part of the heart called the atrium. On the other hand, fast heart rhythms cause rapid heartbeat, palpitations, heart racing, fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath.Kotak says some patients do end up needing a pacemaker if their heart rate is too low. Such blockages may resolve on their own, though. Slow rhythms occur when the electricity flow in the heart is slowed or blocked altogether.Heart rhythm disorders or arrhythmias fall primarily into two subgroups: fast rhythms and slow rhythms. COVID-19 can cause these cells to generate abnormal electricity, as well as create short circuits that lead to irregular heart rhythms, also known as arrhythmias, says Kotak. Heart muscle cells can also create electricity independently of this cardiac conduction system in diseased states. The system works like your own natural pacemaker. Electricity starts from the top of the heart flowing to both the right ventricle that pumps blood to the lungs and the left ventricle pumping blood to the rest of the body. Your heart is a four-chambered muscular pump that runs on its own electrical system, known as the cardiac conduction system. Kotak, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Loma Linda University International Heart Institute, outlines the "why," "how," and "now what" for abnormal heart rhythms associated with COVID-19 infection. Nearly two years since the COVID-19 pandemic settled in the United States, the medical community continues to analyze the impacts of COVID-19 on various bodily organs - notably the heart.Īs such investigations ensue, one fact is becoming increasingly clear: the virus does affect the heart and especially its electrical system, thus disrupting the rhythm of the heart.
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