STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — During the recent surge in influenza, COVID-19, norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses, it’s critical to pay close attention to your heart and symptoms, cardiology experts warn.
“Some patients may think that symptoms such as being short of breath, weak, cold, or feverish, or having dizziness or chest pain may be solely a result of these winter viruses, but these symptoms could also be associated with, and masking, dangerous cardiovascular complications, such as heart attack, pulmonary embolism, viral myocarditis, pericarditis, or even heart failure,‘’ an announcement from Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital stated.
Some patients have been missing serious heart complication symptoms, thinking they have the flu, the doctors warned.
“For example, some patients have shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, swelling, and palpitations, and assume their symptoms are linked to a cold, when in fact they were actually in heart failure,‘’ said Dr. Johanna Contreras, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. ”Other patients who have had persistent chest pain and palpitations after acute viral illness may need to consider that, in fact, this could be myocarditis.”
Don’t ignore these symptoms, thinking they are just a long-lasting viral infection, especially if you’re at high risk of heart disease, the doctor said.
“Make sure to consult your doctor or call 911 if you have worsening chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath — a serious cardiac condition can progress quickly and it’s key to catch complications early, before they become life-threatening,‘’ Contreras said.
Inflammation can trigger heart attacks in people with coronary artery disease. It can also exacerbate heart failure symptoms and irregular or rapid heartbeats, leading to hospitalization, the hospital announcement said.
“While the immune system’s primary job is to eliminate the virus, the inflammatory response can inadvertently harm cardiac tissue,‘’ said Dr. Anuradha Lala, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. ”Thus, if you have a known heart condition, viral infections can bring on exacerbations — or a worsening of the underlying issue — whether it is atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, or heart failure.”
Doctors have seen post-viral myocarditis — inflammation around the heart that can progress to complications such as heart failure and cardiogenic shock — in otherwise healthy patients, a hospital announcement said.
“In fact, anyone is susceptible, even health-care providers themselves are susceptible, and anyone who is not paying attention to their symptoms may get sick with potentially life-threatening complications,” said Dr. Icilma Fergus, director of cardiovascular disparities for the Mount Sinai Health System.
It is often difficult to differentiate between viral symptoms and symptoms of a heart attack, doctors report, Fergus said.
“A recent patient had severe shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations and fatigue, fearing they had heart failure,‘’ the doctor said. ”After the patient had bloodwork taken, there was a frantic moment when we could not reach them to share results that revealed a significantly elevated troponin level, which can be linked to a heart attack. Although we suspected the worst, we eventually reached the patient, and they were hospitalized with Influenza A and severe viral myocarditis. They were treated appropriately, and luckily there was a good outcome.”
Heart disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One person in the United States dies of cardiovascular disease every 33 seconds, more than 700,000 people die of heart disease annually and 80% of these cases are preventable.
Anyone can get heart disease, but people are more susceptible if they have cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, are overweight or use tobacco.
Age is also a factor, specifically for menopausal women (between 45 and 55) and men older than 55.
Certain groups, including African American and Hispanic/Latino people as well as new immigrants, may also be at higher risk of complications from untreated viral illnesses. However, risk for cardiovascular disease in any population can be decreased by taking simple steps toward a healthier lifestyle.
