Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCardiomyopathy and COVID-19 RiskCardiomyopathy ComplicationsHCM ComplicationsStress ComplicationsTreatmentHow to Stay Safe
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Cardiomyopathy and COVID-19 Risk
Cardiomyopathy Complications
HCM Complications
Stress Complications
Treatment
How to Stay Safe
People withhypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) have a greater risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19. Furthermore, the virus has been found to significantly damage the heart muscle, causing conditions like heart failure even after you’ve recovered from the viral infection.
HCM is a genetic heart condition in which the walls of the heart ventricles become thick and stiff, making it harder for the heart to take in and pump out blood to the rest of the body.Cardiomyopathy is one of the major causes of heart failure. It is both a major risk factor and a serious complication ofCOVID-19.
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Cardiomyopathy refers to any disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. There are many types and causesof cardiomyopathy, and it can affect people of all ages. As cardiomyopathy worsens, the heart is less able to maintain a normalelectrical rhythm, resulting inheart failureand arrhythmia.
One of the reasons people with cardiomyopathy become severely ill with COVID-19 is that the disease causes a flood of inflammatory cells calledcytokinesto be released from the immune system into the blood. These cells can thicken blood, making it harder for the heart to move blood throughout the body and increasing a person’s chance of developing ablood clot.
Many tissues can rehabilitate themselves after illness, but heart tissue does not. Once your heart muscle is damaged, its ability to function is permanently lowered. The goal then is to prevent further tissue loss or damage as the heart works to compensate for its weakness and avoid complications from losing blood flow to other organs.
Even a mild case of COVID-19 can lead to long-term, sometimes permanent, heart damage.Viral infections like COVID-19 can worsen pre-existing cardiomyopathy. Some researchers have even suggested that cardiomyopathy and heart failure may be thenatural result of COVID-19rather than a rare complication.
Nearly one-fourth of those hospitalized with COVID-19 have been diagnosed with cardiovascular complications, which have contributed to roughly 40% of all COVID-19-related deaths.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Complications
Studies show there are serious complications associated with COVID-19 infection in people with HCM. They are at a higher risk of heart complications, needing hospitalization, and dying.
Evidence suggests that emotional or physical stress can cause a rare form of cardiomyopathy calledtakotsubo cardiomyopathy, or stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Sometimes referred to asbroken heart syndrome, it causes weakness on the left side of the heart, which pumps blood out to the body.
Before the pandemic, about 1% to 2% ofacute coronary syndromecases were attributed to stress-induced cardiomyopathy. During the pandemic, this number rose to about 8%. Some of these cases were traced to the havoc that the virus wreaks inside the body, but a large number developed in people who had tested negative for COVID-19.
Certain groups of people are at higher risk of experiencing stress-induced cardiomyopathy, including postmenopausal women and people with existing mental health challenges.
People at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including people with HCM, may be eligible for antiviral medications that can reduce the chances of hospitalization and death. These medications need to be started within days of initial symptoms.
Treatment for cardiomyopathy primarily focuses on:
Some medications frequently prescribed for cardiomyopathy include:
Because these medications will not increase a person’s risk of contracting COVID-19 or of experiencing severe symptoms if they do become sick, they are safe to take. Do not stop or change the dosage of your heart medications without consulting your healthcare provider first.
Some over-the-counter (OTC) medications—especially ones used to treat the symptoms of COVID-19—can be dangerous to people with certain heart conditions or who are taking other medications.For instance, certain decongestants or cold medicines can change your heart rhythm. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about what OTC medications you can take or should avoid if you have cardiomyopathy.
Some over-the-counter (OTC) medications—especially ones used to treat the symptoms of COVID-19—can be dangerous to people with certain heart conditions or who are taking other medications.
For instance, certain decongestants or cold medicines can change your heart rhythm. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about what OTC medications you can take or should avoid if you have cardiomyopathy.
Implantablepacemakersordefibrillatorsalso may be recommended to help the heart function better. However, these forms of treatment are invasive, and these devices, which can be monitored virtually throughtelehealth, can pose complications in people with cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
If you have a pacemaker or defibrillator, you most likely already take a medication that helps prevent blood clots from collecting around the device.Since the risk of blood clots increases during a coronavirus infection, be sure to continue taking the anticoagulant medications your healthcare provider has prescribed.
When to Seek Medical CareIf you are having complications from cardiomyopathy that cause shortness of breath, chest pain, or heart palpitations, you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.Call 911 immediately if you are in immediate danger. If you are experiencing any kind of acute illness or distress, seek medical care right away.
When to Seek Medical Care
If you are having complications from cardiomyopathy that cause shortness of breath, chest pain, or heart palpitations, you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.Call 911 immediately if you are in immediate danger. If you are experiencing any kind of acute illness or distress, seek medical care right away.
If you are having complications from cardiomyopathy that cause shortness of breath, chest pain, or heart palpitations, you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Call 911 immediately if you are in immediate danger. If you are experiencing any kind of acute illness or distress, seek medical care right away.
There are a number of measures you can take to reduce your chances of contracting COVID-19:
Additionally, people with high-risk conditions like cardiomyopathy may want to take some extra precautions, such as:
COVID-19 VaccineGetting the COVID-19 vaccine is highly recommended. The American Heart Association supports the COVID-19vaccinationfor people with a variety of heart conditions, including cardiomyopathy. While there is some risk of side effects or rare reactions, the immunity benefits are viewed as outweighing any vaccination risks.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is highly recommended. The American Heart Association supports the COVID-19vaccinationfor people with a variety of heart conditions, including cardiomyopathy. While there is some risk of side effects or rare reactions, the immunity benefits are viewed as outweighing any vaccination risks.
Summary
HCM is a risk factor for a more severe case of COVID-19, and cardiomyopathy can be a complication of COVID-19 infection. Because of that, people with HCM should take precautions to try to avoid contracting the virus and talk to their healthcare provider about how to manage their condition if they do get COVID-19.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed. As new research becomes available, we’ll update this article. For the latest on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
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