Long COVID and Heart Rhythm Changes

If you had COVID, and have never felt quite the same since, you need to know that many people continue to suffer from long-lasting effects. The term “long COVID” is being used to cover multiple conditions and symptoms in post-COVID patients, and these include cardiovascular complaints like changes to heartbeat (arrhythmias).

At West Houston Heart Center in Houston, Texas, Dr. Humayun Naqvi and his team offer heart health screenings and diagnostics for people experiencing arrhythmias. If you suspect you may have a long COVID-related heartbeat abnormality, we can help.

Normal heart rhythms

There’s not exactly a “normal” resting heart rate range for a healthy adult, but a rough average would be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A maximum heart rate is usually estimated by  subtracting your age in years from the number 220 (for example, a 40-year-old shouldn’t go above 180 during strenuous exercise, and a 70-year-old should stay below 150).

Of course, your individual heart rate can vary depending on your age, health, and any medications you’re on. Most people’s resting and maximum heart rates slow a bit as they get older, too. You might also notice an occasional extra or skipped beat, or a fluttering sensation. These small arrhythmias can be normal with aging.

However, if you have frequent arrhythmias now that you didn’t before, you should get a heart screening to rule out a greater cardiovascular issue. If your pulse regularly runs over 90, or if you’re experiencing arrhythmia and are under the age of 50, you should also see a doctor for a heart health check — particularly if you ever had COVID.

Long COVID and your heart

COVID causes extreme inflammation, which can do damage to your body’s tissues. This includes heart tissue. If you’ve had COVID, even if you had a very mild case, were asymptomatic, or didn’t know you had it all, there’s a risk of cardiovascular impact.

Around one in ten people with confirmed COVID infections have reported cardiovascular complaints, starting during or after their illness and continuing for months or years. Arrhythmias are one of the most commonly reported heart health issues.

For most illnesses and conditions, risk is greater for one group of people than another. Your ethnicity, age, gender, and existing health conditions can affect how high your risk level is. However, when it comes to heart problems after COVID, anyone can be affected regardless of these factors and even whether or not they had heart issues before.

Are you at risk for long COVID-related heart arrhythmia? Schedule an appointment at West Houston Heart Center. Call us at 832-400-3957, or request an appointment online.