How The
COVID-19 VIRUS | (SARS-COV2 OR CORONAVIRUS)
DOES THE HEART AFFECT IN CHILDREN.?
As is known to most of us, the main damage that COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2 or Coronavirus) generates is in the lungs.
Once the virus lodges inside the body, it begins the attack on the lungs that contain millions of cells called (Pneumocytes) in their (Alveoli)
that are responsible for the exchange of gases so that we can breathe.
There may also be neurological symptoms and heart problems caused by potentially dangerous inflammation, which weakens the muscle of this organ,
where the heart will eventually be affected. Although the impact of the coronavirus on heart health has not yet been fully measured, as we could
argue that its discovery is very recent, today we already know that COVID-19 also directly affects the heart.
There are many reasons why viruses, such as the Flu-Virus or SARS-CoV-2, can become deadly.
THE THREE COMMON REASONS ARE
1.- Co-infection with Another Germ,
2.- Respiratory failure when the lungs are weakened by disease, and
3.- A "
Cytokine Storm" caused by an overwhelming response of the immune system to infection.
As is known to most of us, the main damage that COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2 or Coronavirus) generates is in the lungs.
Once the virus lodges inside the body, it begins the attack on the lungs that contain millions of cells called (Pneumocytes) in their (Alveoli) that are
responsible for the exchange of gases so that we can breathe.
There may also be neurological symptoms and heart problems caused by potentially dangerous inflammation, which weakens the muscle of this organ, where the
heart will eventually be affected. Although the impact of the Coronavirus on heart health has not yet been fully measured, as we could argue that its discovery
is very recent, today we already know that COVID-19 also directly affects the heart.
What are the main signs symptoms present when
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2 or Coronavirus) Affect the Heart in Children.?
Heart
Eye
Lungs
Brain
Stomach
Kidney
Skin
Fever 24Hrs or +
Some Patients Can Show Other Symptoms
Understanding How ( COVID-19 ) Affects the Heart
We know that COVID-19 generates inflammation, hence the stiffness of any muscle, such as the heart in this case. This type of inflammation
could lead to heart rhythm disturbances and heart muscle damage, as well as interfere with the heart's ability to pump blood optimally.
Imagine for a moment that the heart is like a balloon that has some flexibility that is lost as the balloon inflates.
The same happens with the heart that once inflamed and given the extreme effort that this organ makes, it ends up being exhausted so to speak,
and creates myocarditis, which causes the heart to stop and the patient dies.
Imagine for a moment that the heart is like a balloon which has a certain flexibility, this flexibility is lost as the balloon is inflated,
and given the extreme effort that this organ tries to do, it ends up exhausting so to speak and creates myocarditis, which causes the heart
to stop and the patient dies.
During infection, the biochemical reaction produced by inflammation can cause the liver to increase its production of proteins, which, although
important because it helps protect the body, also increases the possibility of generating blood clotting and the time that in turn reduces the
natural secretion of substances that dissolve these clots.
The formation of small clots can create an obstruction in small blood vessels of the heart itself and other organs, including the kidneys, depriving
the oxygen and necessary nutrients that ultimately causes a "Multisystemic Failure" after an acute infection occurs.
Infection of the lungs can indirectly cause heart damage even in patients with no history of heart problems.
In some cases, patients who are very ill with the new coronavirus have had an exaggerated immune reaction that causes a dangerous level of inflammation.
This can result in organ damage, especially the heart and liver.
Consequently, all people with a history of heart problems are at increased risk of heart complications from COVID-19
As with the influenza virus, COVID-19 is more likely to cause severe cardiovascular damage among patients who have a pre-existing heart problem,
such as:
- Career
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- High blood pressure (Hypertension)
An important factor to consider is that COVID-19 can generate some abnormalities in the heart, in those patients who have not previously been diagnosed
with any heart disease, this is a consequence of this condition.
When the patient has a high fever and inflammation is generated, the patient may have some blockages in the heart or in the bloodstream, for example,
symptoms produced by the increase in his heart rate, increasing the need for oxygenated blood in his body.
Even when the heart is not directly infected, fever and inflammation can cause these conditions.
These factors can also cause dangerous clots to form in the bloodstream, which, in turn, can lead to deep venous clots, blood clots in the lungs,
and stress on the right side of the heart.
Considering that once the lungs are affected by COVID-19 and they demand a greater amount of oxygen, the heart tries to supply the demand that they
require, for which the infection of the lungs can affect the ability of the respiratory system to process oxygen. This increased demand that decrease
supply can starve the heart of oxygen, which could lead to damage similar to that of a heart attack (Type 2 Myocardial Infarction).
How to prevent heart complications from
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2 or Coronavirus)
The rules are basically those already established
- Social Distancing,
- Handwashing,
- Wear masks and continue taking the necessary medications.
However, if you have been diagnosed with the new Coronavirus, and have one or more conditions that make your heart more vulnerable, there are preventive
steps you can take to reduce your risk of harmful complications.
HOW TO PREVENT HEART COMPLICATIONS FROM
COVID-19 (SARS-COV2 OR CORONAVIRUS)
For patients with low blood pressure, it is important to monitor the health of their intestines, avoid
fever that can often dehydrate through sweating and loss of appetite. It is important to maintain your diet and drink enough
fluids to offset the effects of fever and infection. If you are unable to control it at home, we suggest seeking medical help
at the hospital for further treatment.
If your (COVID-19) infection is severe, your treating doctor will likely ask you to "temporarily" not take your
medications to control your blood pressure while the infection clears. If you have high blood pressure and have tested positive for
Coronavirus, the best thing to do is inform your cardiologist or primary care physician and come up with a personal treatment plan.
Those patients should take the same precautions as people with cardiovascular disease. In case they are also
diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus, people with (PAD) should continue taking their medications, especially their statins, and schedule
a visit with their Cardiologist to review their medications and make any changes in treatment that may be necessary during infection.
COVID-19 can further increase the incidence and occurrence of atrial fibrillation, due to the inflammation generated
by this infection and which regulates certain immune proteins and hormones that can cause the heart to increase its rate faster and
stronger. This effect is often beneficial, as a faster beating heart circulates more blood to help fight infection. If you have tested
positive for the COVID-19 virus, it is important that you notify your cardiologist and schedule a visit.
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2 or Coronavirus)
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2)
“Additional experiments focused on the different genes expressed by heart cells before and after the virus infected them. These studies showed activation of the innate immune
response and antiviral clearance pathways to help fight the virus.
However, how does the virus get into the heart in the first place? The researchers suggest that one way in which it gains access maybe by using Angiotensin-Converting
Enzyme 2 (ACE2). This is the same receptor the virus uses to infect cells in the lungs.
Importantly, studies have shown that treatment with an ACE2 antibody can help stop SARS-CoV-2 from replicating and save cells in the heart.
The importance of these findings The researchers suggest that scientists could use stem cell-derived heart cells to screen new drugs and find compounds able to stop the infection of heart cells.
“This key experimental system could be useful to understand the differences in disease processes of related coronaviral pathogens SARS and MERS,” adds study author
Dr. Vaithilingaraja Arumugaswami, an associate professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.
There are some limitations to this approach, however. These include the fact that stem cell-derived heart cells are not exactly the same as the real thing.
The researchers also studied the cells in a dish, an isolated system lacking the immune interactions that would occur in the human body.”
Nevertheless, the experiments clearly showed that the cells became infected with SARS-CoV-2, which is in line with some clinical data showing the virus in the hearts
of people who died from COVID-19.
Original Source
CARDIOPEDVAL
Pediatric Cardiology Center Valencia
(Centro Cardiológico Pediátrico Valencia)
( Contact Us )
News Studies and
More Information
COVID-19 | Study Shows
Virus Can Infect
Heart Cells in Lab Dish
June 30, 2020 —
A new study shows that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus), can infect heart cells in a lab
dish, indicating it may be possible for heart cells in COVID-19 patients to be directly infected by the virus. The discovery, published
today in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, was made using heart muscle cells that were produced by stem cell technology.
Although many COVID-19 patients experience heart problems, the reasons are not entirely clear. Pre-existing cardiac conditions or
inflammation and oxygen deprivation that...
From:
Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology
Original Source
Potential Effects of
Coronaviruses on the
Cardiovascular System
...Acute cardiac injury determined by elevated high-sensitivity troponin levels is commonly observed in severe cases and is
strongly associated with mortality. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is also strongly associated with mortality.
Conclusions and Relevance Coronavirus disease 2019 is associated with a high inflammatory burden that can induce vascular inflammation,
myocarditis, and cardiac arrhythmias. Extensive efforts are underway to find specific vaccines and antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. Meanwhile,
cardiovascular risk factors and conditions should be judiciously controlled per...
From:
JAMA Cardiology
Original Source
Diagram Imagen
Human iPSC-Derived
Cardiomyocytes Are
Susceptibleto
SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Although ischemic and inflammatory responses caused by COVID-19 can detrimentally affect cardiac function, the direct impact
of SARS-CoV-2 infection on human cardiomyocytes is not well understood. Here, we utilize human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived
cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) as a model to examine the mechanisms of cardiomyocyte-specific infection by SARS-CoV-2. Microscopy and RNA
sequencing demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 can enter hiPSC-CMs via ACE2. Viral replication and...
From:
National Center for
Biotechnology Information
Original Source
COVID-19 | in Congenital
Heart Disease
(Ten Points to Remember)
This is a compilation of key items discussed in the manuscript "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Pandemic Implications in
Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Disease". This is a rapidly changing field and we hope that you find this summary helpful in
managing patients with congenital heart disease infected with COVID-19...4. Cardiomyocyte injury appears to be due to an acute and
severe inflammatory response akin to a cytokine storm, viral invasion of cardiomyocytes resulting in cellular damage as well as
ischemia from severe hypoxia due to acute lung injury...
From:
American College
Cardiology
Original Source
" A Supercomputer Analyzed COVID-19
and an Interesting New Theory Has Emerged. "
By: Thomas Smith | from: Elemental
[Interesting Article]
Earlier this summer, the Summit supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Lab in
Tennessee set about crunching data on more than 40,000 genes from 17,000 genetic samples in an effort to better understand Covid-19.
Summit is the second-fastest computer in the world, but the process — which involved analyzing 2.5 billion genetic combinations —
still took more than a week....
....But once Covid-19 has established itself in the body, things start to get really interesting. According to Jacobson’s group,
the data Summit analyzed shows that Covid-19 isn’t content to simply infect cells that already express lots of ACE2 receptors. Instead,
it actively hijacks the body’s own systems, tricking it into upregulating ACE2 receptors in places where they’re usually expressed at
low or medium levels, including the lungs...But once Covid-19 has established itself in the body, things start to get really interesting.....
Original Source
Coronavirus (SARS-CoV2 | COVID)
