Can COVID-19 Cause Heart Attacks?
The COVID-19 virus can cause a variety of heart issues, including
heart attacks.
“COVID induces a strong inflammatory response in the body. That inflammatory response in people who have heart disease can cause a blood clot to form within a blockage (plaque) causing the classic heart attack. People who experience this must go to the cath lab (catheterization laboratory) to get a stent or similar procedure to get the blockage open,” Dr. Langager says.
Due to all the inflammation, COVID can also cause heart damage without necessarily leading to a heart attack. This damage may be temporary or permanent.
Can COVID-19 Cause Heart Inflammation (Myocarditis)?
The heart inflammation caused by COVID-19 can directly cause myocarditis. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle that can impact a heart’s ability to pump, leading to hazardous heart rhythms. When someone has this condition, it can be very dangerous to exercise.
“That’s why there’s so much concern about athletes who contract COVID-19. The exertion put into their sport, with a damaged heart from myocarditis, can cause dangerous heart rhythms, which is known to lead to sudden death,” Dr. Langager says.