Long Covid: Chest pain is a symptom of Covid-19 as well as Long Covid
Chest discomfort is a potential sign of a number of illnesses, some of which can be fatal. It is best for anyone having chest discomfort to get medical attention for this reason. Covid-19 might be one of the reasons for chest pain if you are experiencing that.
Patients with Long Covid have reported a surge of symptoms that are continuously increasing. Chronic cardiac problems such as poor exercise tolerance, palpitations, or chest discomfort are among the wide variety of symptoms that are present. Despite the Covid infection being moderate, these complaints have increased.
"Long Covid Syndrome as classically described can last from 12 weeks to 6 months and even upto a year. Nearly 21.7% of Post Covid recovery patients suffer from Chest pain, as per a recent study. The main causes of chest pain in Post Covid Recovery patients are:
1) Post respiratory problems like ARDS and interstitial pneumonia specially after a prolonged critical illness period.
2) Post cardiovascular sequelae leading to myocarditis, percarditis or chronic pulmonary embolism.
3) Post musculoskeletal inflammatory syndrome consequent to prolonged respiratory illness. PICS ( Persistent inflammatory, immunosuppression and catabolic syndrome ) plays a vital role in persistence of similar chronic pain." explains Dr. Sanchayan Roy, Senior Consultant Internal Medicine and Critical Care, National Heart Institute, Apollo Royal Cradle.
Chest discomfort can occasionally accompany a SARS-CoV-2 infection, despite not being the most common sign. There are several causes for chest pain being a symptom of covid-19 as well as long covid-19. First, Covid-19 might cause sore muscles. The discomfort in this case is not a result of a cardiac condition. Instead, the person experiences discomfort in this part of the body as a result of soreness in the respiratory muscles and chest muscles.
Second, some Covid-19 patients later might get pneumonia. Chest discomfort is one of the typical signs of pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs. These factors can be some of the reasons behind your experiencing chest pain post-recovery.
Long Covid may potentially cause chest discomfort. While most people who contract Covid-19 recover, some people experience signs that may last for many weeks or months. After the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, the post-covid symptoms last for more than 4 weeks.
Long covid symptoms, in addition to chest discomfort, may include:
- Headaches
- Inability to concentrate
- Exhaustion
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Cough
- Joint stiffness & pain
Specialists are unsure of the exact cause of some patients' protracted covid symptoms. However, researchers are still looking at long covid and finding potential remedies.
An autoimmune process caused by covid can be the cause of chest congestion. The differential diagnosis is more comparable to what is seen in autoimmune diseases and chronic diffuse inflammatory disorders. Compared to traditional viral myocarditis, the tachycardia condition is very different.
The methods of treatment depend on the origin of the chest discomfort. The primary cause of chest discomfort will likely be treated by doctors. Chest discomfort frequently gets better or goes away if the underlying health conditions are treated. The use of painkillers may also be part of the therapy, regardless of the reason.
According to Dr. Sanchayan Roy, "Treatment of Long Covid Syndrome of chest pain usually involves :
a) Assessing the various pulmonary and cardiovascular issues to determine and clinically significant cause of chest pain and treating the root cause.
b) Symptomatic treatment with pain killers and neuro muscular rehabilitation will help.
c) Regular follow up and assessment of cardio pulmonary sequelae helps in resolution of primary cause and resolves secondary symptoms like chest pain."
Chest discomfort may sometimes be a sign of a potentially fatal ailment. If you experience significant chest discomfort suddenly, especially if it spreads to your arms, back, or jaw, it's essential to get medical help right once.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.