New Zealand Herald posted an article on February 27, 2022 that comes across as significant for COVID aftercare. Moreover it cites Professor Harvey White, who heads cardiovascular research at Auckland City Hospital and is expert in his field. He fears we face a ‘tsunami of long COVID’ after the Omicron outbreak subsides. Could Long COVID lead to heart disease on that scale despite the quality of treatment?
What is Professor Harvey White Worried About?
Prof White believes New Zealanders are ‘too blasé about the risk of Omicron infection’ because the symptoms are mild. This appears to be the case in many other countries too, so his opinions may have broader relevance.
To the contrary, the Prof says ‘even mild initial infections can lead to serious long COVID symptoms. And Long COVID could lead to heart disease and stroke’ in turn.
This after-effect plays a major role in his research because there is a ‘distinct chance of major stress on our health system’. Symptoms may include brain fog, impaired thinking, memory loss, anxiety and fatigue, and heart disease and stroke too. Although we can help avoid this with boosters.
How Can Long COVID Lead to Heart Disease
Prof Harvey White says bluntly ‘Omicron can acutely attack the heart. But long-term after recovery, blood pressure may go up and heart rhythms may become abnormal. These can result in decreased pumping function of the heart, and heart failure and shortness of breath may occur.’
However, he does concede this could also be due to patients deferring medical care, and stress over the pandemic. None the less, it is a fact people with past COVID infections have ‘63 per cent increased risk of heart attacks, and 52 per cent increased stroke risk’.
People who avoid vaccinations and boosters are particularly at risk, he continues. Especially if they attend mass gatherings without face masks and so on. ‘To see this explosion of COVID and to keep telling people that it’s mild, I think that’s wrong,’ he argues. ‘Individually, we have to really avoid it.’
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