New Delhi, 19 September, 2025: The COVID-19 pandemic may have eased in intensity, but the aftershocks of the infection continue to haunt millions worldwide. While most people recover from COVID-19 within a few weeks, a significant number experience lingering symptoms that stretch on for months. This condition, widely referred to as Long COVID, has now become a major public health concern.
Doctors are raising alarms about one particular risk: the effect of Long COVID on the heart. From chest pain and palpitations to severe complications such as heart failure and even cardiac arrest, Long COVID has proven to be more than just “fatigue and cough.”
This article explores how COVID infection increases your chances of developing cardiovascular problems, the early warning signs you should never ignore, and what you can do to protect your heart.
How COVID Affects the Heart
COVID-19 is not just a respiratory illness. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can affect blood vessels, trigger abnormal clotting, and cause inflammation in different organs, including the heart.
Some mechanisms that link COVID with heart complications include:
- Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis): The virus can directly inflame heart tissues, weakening pumping ability.
- Blood clots: COVID increases clotting tendency, leading to blocked arteries and higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- Persistent stress response: The body’s overactive immune system and stress hormones may damage heart cells.
- Reduced oxygen supply: Severe lung involvement reduces oxygen in blood, straining the heart further.
What Is Long COVID?
Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), refers to symptoms that persist or newly appear four weeks or more after the initial infection.
Common Long COVID symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness, brain fog, muscle weakness, and sleep disturbances. But one of the most concerning long-term effects is its impact on cardiovascular health.
Heart Symptoms Seen in Long COVID Patients
Doctors worldwide have reported a surge in cardiac complaints among COVID survivors. Some of the most frequent heart-related symptoms include:
- Chest pain or tightness – often mistaken for muscular pain but could indicate inflammation or restricted blood flow.
- Shortness of breath – even during light activity or at rest.
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) – palpitations, racing heart, or skipped beats.
- Dizziness or fainting spells – due to blood pressure instability.
- Extreme fatigue – not relieved by rest, hinting at reduced heart efficiency.
Long COVID and Increased Risk of Cardiac Arrest
Recent medical research has highlighted an alarming fact: COVID survivors are at higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
- A large study from the U.S. Veterans Health Administration found that individuals with prior COVID infections had a 63% higher risk of heart attack and 52% higher risk of stroke within a year of recovery.
- Even people who experienced mild or moderate COVID are not entirely safe—heart complications have been reported in previously healthy individuals.
- Women, non-smokers, and young adults are also being diagnosed with Long COVID-related cardiac issues, challenging the myth that only the elderly or those with pre-existing heart disease are vulnerable.
10 Warning Signs Your Heart May Be Affected After COVID
If you have recovered from COVID but continue to experience the following, consult a doctor immediately:
- Chest pain that doesn’t go away
- Shortness of breath during rest or light activity
- Palpitations or irregular heartbeat
- Sudden dizziness or fainting
- Extreme fatigue despite adequate rest
- Swelling in ankles, feet, or legs
- Unexplained weight gain (fluid retention)
- Persistent cough or wheezing
- Cold sweats at night
- Sharp pain spreading to arm, jaw, or back
These may indicate that your heart is under strain, possibly due to Long COVID complications.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
While anyone recovering from COVID can face heart problems, some groups are more vulnerable:
- People with pre-existing heart disease or hypertension
- Patients with diabetes or obesity
- Older adults (above 60 years)
- Individuals with weakened immune systems
- Smokers and those with poor lifestyle habits
However, doctors stress that even young and otherwise healthy people should not ignore symptoms after COVID.
How Doctors Diagnose Long COVID Heart Issues
If you report heart-related symptoms after COVID, doctors may recommend the following tests:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): Detects irregular heartbeat patterns.
- Echocardiogram (Echo): Checks pumping ability and heart structure.
- Blood tests (Troponin, CRP, D-dimer): Reveal inflammation or damage.
- MRI scan of the heart: Identifies myocarditis or scarring.
- Stress tests: Assess how the heart responds to exertion.
Early diagnosis is key to preventing life-threatening complications.
Everyday Habits That Make Long COVID Worse for the Heart
Certain lifestyle choices can worsen heart risks post-COVID. These include:
- Skipping follow-up care after recovery
- Ignoring mild chest pain or palpitations
- Resuming intense workouts too soon
- High-stress lifestyles and poor sleep patterns
- Eating processed, high-salt, and high-sugar diets
- Continuing smoking or excessive drinking
How to Protect Your Heart After COVID
Doctors recommend the following steps for COVID survivors to keep their heart safe:
1. Regular Health Check-Ups
Schedule follow-up appointments for at least 6–12 months post-infection. Early detection of heart changes can prevent complications.
2. Monitor Your Symptoms
Keep track of chest pain, breathlessness, or palpitations. Maintain a symptom diary to share with your doctor.
3. Adopt a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
- Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Limit junk food, alcohol, and processed sugar.
- Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet.
4. Gradual Return to Exercise
Avoid jumping back into intense workouts. Start with light walking, yoga, or stretching before progressing to higher intensity.
5. Manage Stress
Stress worsens both Long COVID and heart problems. Meditation, deep breathing, or mindfulness practices can help.
6. Get Vaccinated and Boosted
Vaccination reduces the severity of infection and may lower the risk of Long COVID.
Expert View
Cardiologists caution that Long COVID is not something to be brushed aside as “just tiredness.” It is a systemic condition that can permanently weaken the heart if ignored. Doctors emphasize the importance of listening to your body and not dismissing persistent symptoms as stress or aging.
COVID-19 may have begun as a respiratory pandemic, but its impact on the heart is one of the most serious long-term health challenges we now face. Long COVID can silently damage the heart, leading to chest pain, heart failure, and in severe cases, cardiac arrest.
The key to staying safe lies in awareness, timely diagnosis, and proactive lifestyle changes. Whether you are young or old, fit or unfit, if you’ve had COVID, your heart deserves extra attention.
Protect it—because ignoring the warning signs could cost you your life.
