Many may not know that having a cold or influenza in some people may pose a real threat to them, and that the immune system’s resistance to this infection resulting from the virus would raise blood pressure and put additional pressure on the heart. This medical fact cannot be generalized to everyone, but rather remains confined to a certain category of heart patients.
But how can they be protected? How does the virus affect their hearts? What are the complications that the virus may leave in their bodies?
There is no doubt that people who suffer from heart problems are more likely to develop health complications than other people in the event of a cold or flu. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regarding 140,000 to 710 thousand were transferred to the hospital due to influenza between 2010 and 2020, and deaths from infection ranged between 12 thousand and 52 thousand during that period.
People often underestimate the flu as just a common cold, when in fact it is not that simple, and can sometimes be fatal.
In this regard, the head of the Cardiology Department at Belvaux Hospital and Medical Center, Dr. Ghassan Kiwan, explains to “Al-Nahar” that, in general, “every person has heart problems, such as blockages in the arteries, weakness in the heart muscle, problems with valves, bacteria or a virus… His heart can be affected by this, which does not mean that it affects him decisively, but rather that he is exposed to more risks and complications in the heart than anyone else who does not suffer from any heart problems. Weakness in the heart muscle, or facing the problem of water gathering inside the lung, then having to enter the hospital.
Also, if the patient develops a lung infection, we treat him quickly to avoid any complications on the heart, such as a clot or water in the lung…”
So what is the case with the cold virus, which is similar to any other virus, and like Corona can cause death, especially if the cold is strong, and the patient suffers from complications as a result of weakness in the heart muscle or hypertrophy of the heart muscle.
According to Kiwan, “It is not necessary for this to be the case, but we may see some cases that may cause death.”
But what is really going on?
We must know that the immunity becomes weak when infected with any infection or virus, and the body makes an extra effort to resist, which leads to an increase in the heartbeat, and more pressure on the work of the heart to defend itself, so we reach a rise in blood pressure. And if the person suffers from “blotting” in the arteries, or suffers from an increase in the heartbeat, and as a result of complications arising from the immune system, it can lead to a heart attack.”
Kiwan stresses that “every virus causes inflammation in the body that leads to infections throughout the body, especially the arteries. Accordingly, any inflammation in the arteries of the heart can lead to a heart attack or stroke in the event of inflammation of the brain arteries, and can also cause a deterioration in the heart. Myocardial infarction, if the person already suffers from a weakness of the heart muscle.
But in a few rare cases, even if the person does not have problems with the heart muscle, the virus itself can cause inflammation in the heart muscle, which is called Cardiomyopathy. Unfortunately, this condition affects young people more than the elderly. And these people suffer from sudden weakness in the heart muscle, where the work of the heart decreases from 50% to 10-20%, and they need a heart transplant. Among the most important symptoms that the patient suffers from:
* Fever that lasts for several days
* Runny nose
* cold
* Sore throat.
After that, the person feels short of breath and very tired. Therefore, we advise him – if the symptoms of the cold persist for more than 5 days with high temperature without responding to fever-reducing medications – to consult a doctor, conduct the necessary tests and evaluate his health condition. It is normal when the heart muscle is weakened to feel very tired and tired, and to suffer from not sleeping regularly, or unable to sleep except semi-sitting, in addition to swollen feet.
On the other hand, people who suffer from a heart problem, take medications regularly, and contract a severe virus are at risk of developing heart complications. Therefore, we advise people who have heart problems, or who have had strokes in the past, or who have weak heart muscle, to receive a flu or cold vaccine every fall; This helps reduce symptoms, but does not prevent infection.
Despite these risks, according to Kiwan, these cases are much less than they were previously, because we are witnessing an increase in influenza vaccination, in addition to other preventive measures. We may see some cases that suffer from complications as a result of infection with the virus, but they are much fewer than in the past.”
