Heart problems on a rise post-Covid recovery. Here’s why ECG is important!

India has been facing the wrath of the second wave of Coronavirus and with that, a significant number of patients have developed cardiac issues during and post-infection.

While the doctors say that the recovery rate of Covid patients has been encouraging, there are some after-effects of the virus that can cause long-term health issues.

A recent study by the Oxford journal has shown nearly 50 per cent of individuals hospitalised with severe COVID-19 have shown evidence of heart damage months after recovering from the disease.

According to the doctors, COVID-19 infection triggers inflammation within the body that may cause weakening of the heart muscle, abnormalities in heart rhythm, and even cause clot formation in blood vessels. Second, the virus may directly invade receptor cells, known as ACE2 receptors, within the myocardial tissue and cause direct viral harm.

The complications such as myocarditis — an inflammation of the heart muscle, could lead to an increase in heart failure over time. For people with pre-existing heart diseases, this can result in advancement in the issue or rise of different heart ailments.

With that, it has become important to know the early signs and symptoms for timely detection.

Heart failure signs and symptoms include:

– Shortness of breath

– Fatigue and weakness

– Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet

– Rapid or irregular heartbeat

– Reduced ability to exercise

– Persistent cough

– Increased need to urinate

– Very rapid weight gain from fluid retention

– Lack of appetite and nausea

If the patient shows any such sign or symptoms, they have to get their heart checked post recovery from the infection. A simple ECG test can reveal if the symptoms are heart-related or not.

With the pandemic going, it has become difficult for people to visit their cardiologist or hospitals to get an ECG test done. However, the advancement of technology has given us the power of getting things done in the comfort of our home. With AliveCor’s KardiaMobile 6L, a portable ECG monitoring device that detects the most common heart arrhythmia including Atrial Fibrillation, you can record your ECG, anywhere and anytime. The US-FDA cleared device can let you take an ECG in just 30 seconds without any hassle of wires and gels.

Click here for more information related to KardiaMobile 6L.

Most of the heart-related diseases are completely treatable, provided medical attention is given on time.