What is AFib?
HOUSTON – It affects millions of people worldwide!
It’s a type of irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, and other heart-related issues.
What’s the connection?
You probably already know that COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs, but electrophysiologist with Vital Heart & Vein Dr. Sam Sharma says most people aren’t paying enough attention to how seriously it can also impact the heart. He said COVID can trigger AFib in anyone, no matter if they’re young, old, healthy or have previous health conditions.
“We think that atrial fibrillation is a disease that is triggered by certain types of stresses, sometimes stressors like surgeries, sources like alcohol. But COVID happens to be one of those major stresses that do induce atrial fibrillation,” Sharma said. “Even after our COVID resolves, the AFib can continue afterwards. So, we see many patients six months to a year later whose COVID symptoms are gone, but now they continue to have atrial fibrillation.”
Symptoms can be mild to extreme and include:
Fatigue
Irregular heartbeat
Heart palpitations
A feeling of butterflies in your chest
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting
Shortness of breath
Prevention is key
“As long as you do your standard precautions, take care of yourself, get yourself vaccinated. That’s the best we can do,” Sharma said.
According to the City of Houston, COVID cases are low but rising as of early January.