Page 20 - Seniorstoday April 2022 Issue
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heart disease, diabetes may develop more indicates that there is still a lot to learn
serious symptoms. about long lasting heart effects on people
who have had Covid-19.
Covid-19 and your nerves —
If 2020 highlighted anything for us it’s
that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can affect
the Olfactory Nerve, causing anosmia
colloquially known as the loss of smell.
Long Covid sufferers that have survived
Covid-19 also have a chance of developing
Peripheral Neuropathy, a condition that
COVID-19 and your heart — causes damage to the nerves connecting
While you think you may have escaped the the brain and spinal cord, approximately
shackles of Covid-19, it’s still important ninety days post recovery. The peripheral
to watch out for long-term complications, nervous system plays a vital role in
especially when it comes to your heart. sending information from the brain and
People with acute cases of coronavirus spinal cord to the rest of your body. In
disease are at risk of type 2 heart attacks, the case of Peripheral Neuropathy, the
but it is less common in those who are peripheral nerves located on the outer side
unscathed Covid-19 warriors. of the brain and spinal cord get damaged,
- Type 2 heart attacks are more common causing numbness, weakness and pain
with Covid-19. This heart attack is the usually in extremities like the hands and
cause of increased stress on the heart, such feet, and some cases of digestion, urination
as a rapid heartbeat, low blood oxygen and circulation issues. When the virus
levels or anaemia caused by inadequate increases in count after recovery from
oxygen to the heart muscle. Covid-19, and the immune system cannot
- Covid-19 can also affect the strength of keep up with the attack, it triggers and
the heart, especially after severe cases accelerates inflammation and pre-existing
of Covid-19. This is more pronounced in autoimmune conditions, connecting the
patients with heart disease. effects of post Covid-19 and your nerves.
- Heart failure after Covid-19 is quite rare
but if you do experience shortness of Covid-19 and older adults —
breath, tightness in your chest or swelling While the Omicron variant has been
in your lower extremities you should alert termed as relatively milder than previous
your doctor who may recommend a cardiac variants like Delta, some of the Long Covid
evaluation. A blood tests showing elevated symptoms are worrisome, especially when
troponin levels with an abnormal EKG they last for weeks or longer. This has been
and chest pain can increase your chances observed among all age groups especially
of mortality, elevated troponin levels are a among older people and people with lower
sign of damaged heart tissue which can be immunity levels.
the result of a heart attack. However, this is Research has shown that numerous
not very common after Covid-19. Research older adults have been diagnosed with
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