Sanford physician says lasting heart damage, from COVID-19, is not likely

 

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says that, even though someone may be asymptomatic and have COVID-19, the possibility is there that the virus could cause lasting heart damage. A local infectious disease specialist at Sanford Health in Fargo calls it "extremely unusual."

Avish Nagpal tells Flag Family Media's Steve Hallstrom that severe infections cause more stress on the heart, brain and kidneys -- and could lead to increase risk of heart attack, kidney failure or stroke. But, it's something that comes with all viruses.

"That's not unique to this virus (COVID-19," he says. "It happens even in influenza."

According to Forbes, the study was done on 100 patients, who had an average age of 49, that had recently recovered from the COVID-19 virus and were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms. The study found that 78 percent had ongoing heart abormalities, while 60 percent had a condition called myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle.