A COVID 19 infection can increase your risk of heart and blood clot problems during the year after recovery, even if you did not have to be hospitalized. It is not certain why this occurs but it is thought it may be due to a hyperactivated immune system which is out of control.

So, during the year after a COVID 19 infection you want to take extra care of your immune and cardiovascular health.

Things that have an increased risk include –

  • Heart arrythmia
  • Heart attacks
  • Heart failure
  • Myocarditis
  • Pericarditis
  • Strokes
  • Blood clots and embolism

Things that you can do to reduce your risk-

Do regular exercise and avoid sitting for prolonged periods

If you do long distance travel, take low dose aspirin

Avoid dehydration – increase intake of water and low sugar fluids and control alcohol intake

Take a magnesium supplement which can reduce heart arrythmias

Take a selenium supplement which can reduce some forms of myocarditis

Vitamin C has evidence for reducing risk of heart disease

Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables

Keep your blood thinner with foods like garlic, onions, radishes, citrus and fish or fish oil and consider low dose aspirin with your doctor

Keep your weight in the healthy range

Control high blood pressure

If you have persistent inflammation which may be evidenced by a high CRP level in your blood use natural anti-inflammatories such as turmeric, selenium and N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC)

 

Reference

Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19

Yan Xie, et al. Nature Medicine (2022) published February 7th 2022

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

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