Avoid cardio, intense activity for 3 months after Covid: Doctors

Kolkata: Several cases of deaths due to sudden cardiac arrest and complaints of lingering chest pain in patients who have recovered from Covid infection have led experts as well as the state health department to advise against cardiovascular exercises or intense physical activities for at least three months after recovery.

While sudden aggravation of heart condition post-Covid has mostly been seen in patients who already had underlying cardiac issues there have been many cases of younger patients getting detected with similar problems. Doctors say intense physical exercise might worsen the situation.

The latest advisory by the health department says Covid-19 can leave a long-term impact on the heart of about 20%-30% of patients who have severe infection and in those who had cardiovascular involvement during the disease. Fatigue, chest pain, tightening of chest, shortness of breath and palpitation are the common symptoms of the lingering impact of Covid on the heart.

Instead of intensive workout, the state's Covid advisory recommends light exercise, healthy eating, meditation for mind relaxation and yoga.

"The virus leaves the heart and lung inflamed, which takes time to dissipate. So, patients who had severe Covid should avoid heavy physical workout for a few months. While elderly patients with pre-existing cardiac conditions are more at risk, this post-Covid complication has not spared younger patients either," said AMRI Dhakuria interventional cardiologist PK Hazra.

Recovered patients should stick to light exercise: Doctors

According to experts, the SARS-CoV 2 virus enters the cells of the heart's muscles and inner lining of the blood vessels, damaging both. Also, cytokine storm during the infection can lead to clotting in blood vessel. These conditions turn the heart frail and putting pressure on the weakened heart could prove fatal.

"If one puts extra pressure or burden on the heart's muscles that are already weak by getting into cardio exercise, it could lead to heart failure. Forget about cardiovascular exercise, patients who recover from Covid should avoid any form of intense exercise before the heart recovers," said Amitabaha Chattopadhyay, paediatric cardiologist at Narayana Superspecialty Hospital.

Doctors say while they came across more such complications during second wave, such cases continued to come in even after the third wave. With a rising number of severe patients in hospital ICUs during the current surge, experts fear rise in cases of post-Covid complications.

"The current wave is mostly affecting upper respiratory tract but many under intensive care have comorbidities, including heart conditions. And we are also getting reports of cases where the lung is involved," said a health official. "Recovered patents should stick to exercise like light walk. If symptoms of heart issues persist, they must see a doctor," said AMRI Dhakuria interventional cardiologist PK Hazra.