Heart attack cases have been on an unprecedented upswing since the onset of the COVID pandemic. While the medical community has been debating on the probable cause behind this trend, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister, Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare, Government of India suggested on Sunday, that the cause may be COVID itself.
COVID And Heart Health
The Health Minister stated that overexertion post-COVID can have a debilitating effect on the heart. Citing a study by the Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr Mandaviya advised COVID-19 patients to not overexert themselves for at least one to two years post-infection, to avoid heart attacks.
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He said, "The ICMR has conducted a detailed study. As per this study, those who have suffered from severe COVID-19 infection should not overexert themselves. They should stay away from hard workouts, running and strenuous exercises for a short time, say a year or two, so as to avoid heart attacks.”
This rise in heart attacks has been under the spotlight, even more so, since the recent 'garba' events during Navratri festivities. Post the shocking number of cardiac arrests, Rushikesh Patel, State Health Minister, Gujarat, held a meeting with a bunch of medical experts, especially cardiologists. He prompted the meeting members to collect data on the deaths to figure out what has been causing such a horrific trend.
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Talking about the ICMR study, Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director-General, ICMR, said that the research focuses on people aged 18-45, to understand why these unexplained deaths in otherwise healthy individuals have been occurring.
Nevertheless, these findings of ICMR and the comments of the union health minister shed much-needed light on the importance of mindful recovery post-COVID infection. If you have suffered a COVID infection in the recent past, take it easy, and do not overexert yourself. Keep your energy up and learn to listen to your body’s signals. It might just save you from dire- life-threatening consequences.
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