What is the link between COVID-19 and heart problems?

It's been more than three years since the world first faced the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact is still being felt.

One of the concerns that has emerged is the connection between COVID-19 and heart problems.

What

• Health minister's warning: Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently revealed how there have been frequent cases of heart attacks during the Navratri dance in Gujarat, called 'garba'.
• He was concerned and mentioned a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• The study says that people who had COVID-19 should avoid overexertion, and overwork out, running or over-exercising for at least a year or two, to avoid heart attacks.
• If you had a bad case of COVID-19, you should take it easy for 1 to 2 years. Don't do really tough exercises or too much work because it might make your heart suddenly stop.

What is the relation?

In India, people are already at a higher risk of heart problems because of things like what they eat, diabetes, high blood pressure, genetics, being overweight, not moving around much, and smoking.

• Inflammatory impact: COVID-19 can cause problems for your heart by making the blood vessels and veins inflamed and hurting the lining inside them. This swelling, combined with the body trying to fight off the virus, can lead to heart issues.
• Avoiding hospital visits: When COVID-19 was really bad, people were scared to go to the hospital. So, some folks with heart issues didn't get the help they needed in time, and their problems got worse.
• Stress and heart health: Being really sick with COVID-19 can put a lot of stress on your body, including your heart. Stress can make your heart act up and cause heart problems.
• Medical findings: A study from the National Institutes of Health found that the virus can mess with the walls of your arteries and some special cells called macrophages. When these get infected, they can cause problems like inflammation in your arteries' plaque.

These concerns come after 10 people had heart attacks in just one day during the Navratri celebrations. Even a 13-year-old had one.

This got the state health minister thinking, and he called a meeting with experts, especially heart doctors.