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While most discussion about the harmful effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus has revolved around the damage it can do to your lungs, research has indicated that the virus can also cause potentially dangerous swelling and muscle weakness of the heart. While the impact of the coronavirus on heart health has not yet been fully gauged, some things are clear about COVID and your heart.

COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory infection, but it may also invade other organs as it circulates in the bloodstream. If the virus directly affects the heart (myocarditis) it can cause chest pain abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. Infection of the heart lining (pericarditis), can also cause chest pain and abnormal heart rhythms.

In some cases, patients who are very sick with the novel coronavirus have had an immune overreaction which causes a dangerous level of inflammation. This may result in organ damage, especially to the heart and liver.

As is also true of the influenza virus, COVID-19 has a higher likelihood of causing severe cardiovascular damage among patients who have a pre-existing cardiac issue such as:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Obesity

COVID-19 may also cause problems to emerge for patients who have undiagnosed heart disease. Fever and inflammation can exacerbate blockages in the heart or bloodstream which had previously not shown any symptoms. The same factors may also cause the formation of dangerous clots in the bloodstream.

According to research, observed patients with COVID experienced persistent tachycardia syndrome (high heart rate compensated by low blood pressure) with fatigue, muscle aches, and pains. It is also worth noting that symptoms such as fever and inflammation can cause an increased heart rate and metabolic demand on the heart, as well as other organs. The stress on the body further compounds if the lungs are working extra hard to exchange oxygen adequately when infected with a virus.

If you’re a smoker, maybe you’ve even tried to quit in the past but weren’t able to stay off of nicotine in the long term. The thing to remember is that when it comes to giving up smoking, it’s always the right time. It’s important to be fully aware of the ways that smoking can harm your heart and bloodstream, as well as how big a positive difference kicking the habit can make.

When you breathe in cigarette smoke, you’re taking in a lot of chemicals that are carried throughout the bloodstream. Nicotine is a proven contributor to high blood pressure and the narrowing of the arteries. Cigarette smoke also contains tar, carbon monoxide, and other chemicals which can damage your heart and blood vessels. This can eventually lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, and coronary heart disease.

Inhaling cigarette smoke causes an immediate spike in your heart rate and blood pressure. Smoking over a longer period of time can cause several cardiovascular complications, including:

• Atherosclerosis: Smoking causes plaque buildup in the bloodstream which results in the narrowing and stiffening of the blood vessels.
• Blood clots: Cigarettes contain chemicals that cause the blood to thicken, increasing your risk of blood clots. These can cause a heart attack or stroke.
• Peripheral arterial disease: Narrowed blood vessels can cause reduced blood flow to the extremities, increasing the risk of serious wounds and infections.
• Abdominal aortic aneurysms: Weakened areas of the abdominal aorta, a major blood vessel that carries blood throughout your body. When the aorta’s wall is weakened, the vessel is more susceptible to ruptures which can cause potentially fatal bleeding.

The benefits of quitting smoking begin almost the moment you start. Smoking cessation is associated with immediate improvements to health and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Smoking cessation reduces the risk of heart disease, the risk of an additional heart attack, and death from heart disease by half. Smoking cessation will also reduce your risk of developing throat and lung cancers, asthma, and COPD.

Strategies for smoking cessation can include nicotine replacement products such as patches or lozenges, non-nicotine medications, and support groups. Your primary care doctor can help you determine which options are best for you.

You can protect your kidneys by preventing or managing health conditions that cause kidney damage, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The steps described below may help keep your whole body healthy, including your kidneys. Early kidney disease may not have any symptoms, so getting tested may be the only way to know your kidneys are healthy. Your doctor will help decide how often you should be tested.

See a doctor right away if you develop a urinary tract infection (UTI), which can cause kidney damage if left untreated.

Choose foods that are healthy for your heart and your entire body: fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Eat healthy meals, and cut back on salt and added sugars.

Tips for making healthy food choices

• Cook with a mix of spices instead of salt.
• Choose vegetarian food.
• Serve foods without gravy or added fats.
• Try to choose foods with little or no added sugar.

Be active for 30 minutes or more on most days. If you are not active now, ask your doctor about the types and amounts of physical activity that are right for you.

If you are overweight or have obesity, work with your doctor or dietitian to create a realistic weight-loss plan. View more weight control and physical activity resources to help you get and stay motivated.

Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. If you have trouble in sleeping take help of your doctor.

If you smoke or use other tobacco products, stop. Ask for help so you don’t have to do it alone.

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your blood pressure and add extra calories, which can lead to weight gain. If you drink alcohol limit yourself to one drink per day if you are a woman and two drinks per day if you are a man.

Learning how to manage stress and cope with problems can improve emotional and physical health. Physical activity can help reduce stress, as can mind and body practices such as meditation and Yoga.

Irregular periods aren’t always a sign of a problem. We break down what you should know about how to identify irregular periods, what causes them and when to see a doctor.

During a normal menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one of your ovaries during ovulation. If the egg is not fertilized by a sperm, then changing hormone levels send your body a signal to shed the blood and tissues that line your uterus. This bleeding typically lasts about five days. Then, the monthly cycle repeats itself.

But some women have what is called abnormal uterine bleeding — another term for irregular periods — which can happen for a variety of reasons, from stress and lifestyle factors, to more serious underlying medical conditions.

An irregular period is when the length of your menstrual cycle unexpectedly falls outside of your regular range. Irregular periods can include abnormal uterine bleeding, such as:

• Bleeding or spotting between periods
• Bleeding after sexual intercourse
• Heavy bleeding during your period
• Menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than normal
• Bleeding after you’ve reached menopause

There are a number of reasons why you may have an irregular, missed or late period, ranging from stress to more serious medical conditions.

Common causes of irregular periods include:

• Uncontrolled diabetes: If you have uncontrolled diabetes, you may have irregular periods because the interaction between your blood sugar levels and hormones can disrupt your menstrual cycle.
• Eating disorders: If you have an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia, you may have irregular or missed periods. This is because your body is not producing and circulating enough hormones to control your menstrual cycle.
• Hyperprolactinemia: Women who have too much of a protein hormone called prolactin in their blood can have irregular periods.
• Medications: Certain medications, including anti-epileptics and antipsychotics, can cause irregular periods.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome: PCOS is caused by imbalanced sex hormones, which can disrupt regular menstruation.
• Stress: Stress hormones can affect menstruation and prolonged stress can cause your period to be delayed or for you to skip it entirely.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, it may be time to talk to your doctor:

• You haven’t had a period for 90 days
• Your period suddenly becomes irregular
• You have a period more often than every 21 days
• You have a period less often than every 35 days
• Your period lasts for more than a week
• Your period becomes unusually heavy
• You bleed between periods
• Your periods are extremely painful