While concerns about the long-term impact of COVID-19 on lungs are known, doctors now warn that people with lung disease should also get a cardiac evaluation.
“The lungs and the heart are located next to each other and both have to work in tandem. When one organ gets affected, there are disturbances in the other,” said C.N. Manjunath, Director of the State-run Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research.
“Breathing difficulty is not always related to the lungs. When the left heart fails, either due to heart muscle disease, valvular heart disease, delay in treating heart attack or long-standing uncontrolled high blood pressure, the patient will develop shortness of breath, fatigue and tiredness and edema in the feet,” he told The Hindu on Thursday. Every year, September 29 is observed as World Heart Day.
