August 10, 2020

COVID-19 Can Also Damage Your Heart (Not Just Your Lungs)

Study points to possible long-term effects of the heart, even in the young & healthy

Coronavirus attacking heart

Although coronavirus (COVID-19) is largely an illness of the lungs and respiratory system, research is now suggesting that the virus can cause quite a bit of damage to the heart and cardiovascular system.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

From the beginning of the pandemic, experts acknowledged that older adults and people with underlying health conditions, like heart disease, were at higher risk for developing COVID-19 (and all of the complications that come along with it). But now, early evidence suggests that heart abnormalities may be present in patients who didn’t experience a severe case of COVID-19 or who didn’t have any preexisting conditions.

About the data

The study examined and compared the hearts of 100 patients – some who had previously recovered from COVID-19 and others who never had the virus. Experts performed a heart MRI on each patient, which is a type of test that examines the structure and function of the cardiovascular system. It’s often used to assess the heart after a heart attack or stroke and can identify abnormalities, damage or inflammation.

The findings were sobering, as 78% of patients who previously had the virus showed structural changes or damage to their hearts, including inflammation and scarring.

Some of the COVID-19 patients had previously existing heart conditions, but even more mystifying was the fact that some patients with heart damage were relatively young, healthy and had no history of underlying risk factors.

Advertisement

“We should think of this cross-sectional study as a single snap shot in time, so we don’t know if any of these abnormalities were present before COVID-19,” says cardiologist Paul Cremer, MD, who did not take part in the study. “This research is certainly impactful and hints at possible damage to the heart, even when cardiac function is normal, but it primarily highlights the need for more research on the long-term effects of COVID-19.”

How could a respiratory infection cause so much damage to the heart?

We know that COVID-19 can cause extreme inflammation throughout the body, particularly in the heart. As a consequence of the high inflammation, oxygen and blood flow to the heart muscle can be decreased. This stress makes the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body as it’s trying to fight the infection.

Massive levels of inflammation can trigger your body into something that doctors call a “cytokine storm,” in which the immune system basically overreacts and your immune cells start injuring healthy cells, further spurring the inflammation.

Some research suggest that COVID-19 can also directly infect and invade the cells in the cardiovascular system.

Advertisement

What can you do to protect yourself and your heart from COVID-19?

Maintaining a heart-healthy diet and exercise program is now more important than ever, says Dr. Cremer. Just because we’re in a pandemic does not mean we can lose sight of taking care of ourselves, especially our hearts. This also means not smoking, controlling our weight and stress levels and seeking medical care if we have a personal or family history of heart disease.

And when it comes to protecting yourself against COVID-19, it bears repeating what you’ve been hearing over the past several months: wash your hands, don’t touch your face, practice social distancing, wear a face mask and stay home when you’re sick.

Together we can slow the spread of the virus and help protect each other.

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

aerial view over crowd of commuters
March 18, 2024
How Does COVID Immunity Work?

The short answer: It’s complicated, but the basic care precautions still prevail, like washing your hands and isolating if you’re sick

Person experiencing COVID headache, with calendar months floating in background
March 11, 2024
What To Know About COVID Headaches

They can feel like a typical headache or a migraine headache, but the pain can last for weeks to months

crowd of people at music concert
February 5, 2024
What Constitutes a ‘Superspreader Event’?

Any large social gathering — from a family birthday party to an indoor music concert — has the potential to spread serious infection

Female wrapped in blanket laying on sofa looking fatigued or unwell
January 23, 2024
How To Manage COVID Fatigue and Regain Your Energy

It’s important to connect with a healthcare provider, get quality sleep and balance your activities with your energy levels

Sick person on couch using tissue on nose with medication bottles on coffee table
January 19, 2024
How To Know if It’s COVID-19, a Cold or Allergies

Symptoms can overlap and be hard to distinguish, but there are some telltale differences

Close-up of hands in lab gloves sorting vials and covid-19 blood sample
January 17, 2024
Everything You Need To Know About COVID-19 Variants

Just like the flu, COVID-19 will continue to evolve every year

Adult female on couch, coughing into crook of arm, holding thermometer
January 15, 2024
Prepping for Flurona: When COVID-19 and the Flu Strike at the Same Time

It’s best to treat flu-like symptoms as if you have COVID-19

positive COVID test with COVID virus molecules floating around it
December 20, 2023
How Long Does COVID-19 Last if You’re Vaccinated?

The duration varies, but symptoms can linger for a few days up to a couple weeks or more

Trending Topics

Person in yellow tshirt and blue jeans relaxing on green couch in living room reading texts on their phone.
Here’s How Many Calories You Naturally Burn in a Day

Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity

person getting a sinus massage between brows
5 Sinus Massage Techniques To Relieve Pressure and Promote Drainage

A gentle touch in all the right places may help drain your sinuses

woman snacking on raisins and nuts
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Ad