Heart Attack and stroke Riskโ Extends Beyond Flu and COVID-19, New Research Shows
Recent researchโฃ indicates that a range of common viral infections, โฃincluding RSV, Coxsackie โBโฃ viruses, and CMV, may โelevate the risk of acute cardiovascular events like โคheart attacks and strokes. While influenza and COVID-19 have beenโค strongly linked to increased cardiovascular โฃrisk in the month โคfollowing infection,this study broadens the scope,suggesting โa widerโค range of respiratory viruses warrant increased vigilance.
The findings,published in Cardiovascular Research (DOI 10.1093/cvr/cvaf092), highlight the need โขfor larger, more โคcomprehensive โขstudies to accurately โassess the risks posed by these viruses.โ Researchers emphasize that โขpreventative measures, such as vaccinations whereโข available, can mitigate risk, and increased awareness of potential โcardiovascular complications in the weeks following any viral illness isโ crucial. Theโ data available for influenza was significantly moreโ robust โthan for other viruses examined.โฃ
The study confirmed aโข heightened riskโ of both heart โattacks and strokes following COVID-19 infection, though inconsistent data collection hindered precise calculations. CMV infectionsโ were also associated โwith a higher incidence of stroke. Importantly, the research suggests RSV and Coxsackie B viruses may alsoโค be capable โof triggering acute heart attacks, but further inquiry is needed โto quantify the danger.
Researchers recommend increased vigilance after โviral infections,โ noting that some are preventable through โฃvaccination. This underscoresโฃ the importance of proactive โhealthcare and awareness of potential cardiovascular consequences beyond the well-established risks associated with influenza and โCOVID-19.
