Viruses associated with the respiratory tract cause complications on the heart

14:02, 1 March

Photo: pixabay.com

Viruses associated with the respiratory tract cause complications on the heart. According to a 2018 study, the probability of a heart attack in the first week of flu infection increases by 6 times. However, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus turned out to be more dangerous. It negatively affects the heart from different sides.

First of all, the virus affects the endothelium of small vessels — their inner lining. As a result, inflammation occurs in the vessels and blood clots begin to form. Small vessels clogged with blood clots cause tissue death and scarring - fibrosis. Therefore, the heart receives insufficient oxygen, and because of this occur a violation of the frequency of the heart.

Cells are damaged by cytokines - our immune system's own proteins that destroy infected cells. When there are too many of them, a dangerous "cytokine storm" occurs. And because of any inflammation, blood clotting increases, which can also be the cause of blood clots.

There are many other mechanisms that are not fully understood.

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