inHealthy YoungAdults OC V I D19andCardiovascularD i s e a es

BY KAREN JENSEN, ND

Data from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai found that deaths from heart attacks rose significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, reversing a downward pre-pandemic trend. The age group hit the hardest was people between 25 and 44, who saw a 29.9% increase in heart attack deaths over the first two years – 30% higher than the predicted number. Adults between 45 and 64 saw a 19.6% relative increase, and adults 65 and older saw a 13.7% relative increase.

Demi Washington, a Vanderbilt University School of Medicine basketball player, got COVID-19 in late 2020, prevaccine. Demi’s symptoms were mild, and she felt no indications or signs that her heart was inflamed, nor did she have a genetic predisposition. Before she could resume playing, the university required her to undergo an MRI, which showed she had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) that a virus can trigger. It usually resolves as the infection wanes but sometimes can cause arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiac arrest, and sudden death. Unfortunately, similar stories of young people, particularly healthy athletes experiencing stroke or heart attacks, have become more common since the pandemic. Demi has since recovered and is back to playing ball. However, this experience sheds light on the thousands of young adults infected with COVID-19 whose health did not rebound as successfully. journal published the results of a meta-analysis of the scientific literature on COVID-19, which showed immunity from a past SARS-CoV-2 infection is as protective as vaccination against severe illness and death. More on this groundbreaking review in the next volume of Women’sVoice.

2023