Viruses like a cold or flu are common, especially as we head into the winter months. They can make us feel pretty miserable for a few days. Unfortunately, that’s not always the worst of it. Viral infections have the potential to wreak havoc on your cardiovascular system. They can cause heart damage, as well as increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. In this article, we explain how viruses can affect the heart and what steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.
How Viruses Affect The Heart
Viruses can negatively affect the heart in numerous ways. Some viruses (like influenza and COVID-19) have the potential to directly attack the heart. This damages heart cells and causes a condition called myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). In other cases, an overactive immune response can cause inflammation in the heart even after the virus is gone.
More commonly, it’s the indirect ways a virus affects the body that can lead to heart damage. Many viruses cause systemic inflammation, which can harm blood vessels and increase the risk for blood clot formation. Fighting off a viral infection also puts extra strain on the heart, elevating heart rate and blood pressure.
Regardless of whether a virus causes inflammation to the heart directly or indirectly, many of the risks are the same. The damage caused by the viral infection can lead to heart attack, stroke, abnormal heart rhythms or heart failure.
Warning Signs
It isn’t always easy to differentiate heart inflammation from the viral infection, as symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue can overlap. It’s also important to note that symptoms of heart conditions may not occur until weeks or months after the virus and inflammation have passed.
Regardless of when they occur, you should seek health advice if you experience the following symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Fast or irregular heart rhythm
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue or weakness
- Swelling in the legs
If you have severe chest pain or pressure, difficulty breathing, extreme fatigue or weakness, or any other symptoms of heart attack or stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty), call 911 immediately.
Ways To Protect Your Health
Viruses can’t always be avoided. However, there is a lot that you can do to prevent them and their potential long-term complications from affecting you and your loved ones.
- Ensure that everyone in your family has had all childhood vaccinations.
- Stay up to date with vaccinations recommended by your physician.
- Wash your hands frequently using the proper technique. (Clean the palms, between fingers, under nails and back of hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.)
- Wear a mask in public, especially indoors or when traveling.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Eat a healthy diet focused on fruits, vegetables, whole-grains and lean proteins.
- Ensure that you’re properly hydrated.
- Stay active with plenty of physical activity.
- Get enough sleep.
- Reduce stress.
- Don’t ignore symptoms of potential heart problems like dizziness, shortness of breath or chest pain. See your healthcare provider if you have concerning symptoms. Call 911 immediately if you experience symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.
The team at Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists consists of North Louisiana’s leading experts in cardiovascular care. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (318) 798-9400.