COVID-19 started off in 2020 and ever since then, experts have been able to study and understand a lot about the virus. The initial days were very unpredictable as there were absolutely no clues as to how the virus behaves and what side effects it could leave on the human body. A preliminary research has found that COVID infection can damage the heart on a cellular level which could lead to problems like irregular heartbeats or even heart failure.
So far there have been a number of evidences about the effect of COVID on the heart, but as per the new study it has also narrated about the microscopic changes. The research was conducted at the Columbia University in New York City, where he researchers had examined an autopsied heart tissue from people who had earlier suffered from COVID. It was found that the infection had damaged the way the cells in the heart had regulated the levels of calcium. It is a mineral that plays a vital role in terms of how the organ contracts and pumps blood throughout the body.
The study also had another part which showed some damage was also seen in mice with COVID infection. The findings on the research were presented at the Biophysical Society Meeting in San Diego on February 20, 2023. A person who is infected with COVID, the immunity system quickly sends an inflammatory response in the body which helps to fight the virus. The calcium ions are like important messengers that help to regulate the heart function.
The damage that is caused by the calcium during a COVID infection allows too much of calcium to be leaked from the cells of the heart and can decrease the heart function and cause fatal arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats. It has been concluded that the new study is small and that more research is needed on a larger scale to determine things accurately.
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