Heart symptoms after COVID-19 Gdańsk

Palpitations, breathlessness and reduced exercise tolerance after COVID-19 may need medical assessment. The cause is not always a heart condition: similar symptoms can relate to lung disease, anaemia, thyroid problems or the recovery period.

At Tartaczna 2 Medical Centre in Gdańsk, Dr Andrzej Pecka provides cardiology consultations after COVID-19. Investigations depend on your symptoms and the course of the illness. Having had the infection does not automatically mean that you need a full set of heart tests.

Which symptoms after COVID-19 should be assessed?

New or persistent symptoms that merit assessment include:

• a pounding, irregular or unusually fast heartbeat,
• breathlessness and a noticeable reduction in tolerance of everyday activity,
• chest discomfort,
• dizziness, near-fainting or fainting,
• swelling of the lower limbs,
• abnormal blood pressure readings.

Also tell the doctor about palpitations or dizziness that become worse on standing. These may require assessment of changes in heart rate and blood pressure with posture. Not every such episode is an arrhythmia.

When is urgent medical help needed?

Severe or worsening chest pain, sudden breathlessness, loss of consciousness or signs of a stroke require urgent help. Call 112 or 999 in Poland. Do not wait for a routine appointment or a Holter test. Breathlessness accompanied by pain or swelling in one leg also needs urgent assessment.

You do not need to wait several weeks after the infection to report concerning symptoms. Their nature and severity determine how quickly you should be assessed.

Can COVID-19 cause heart disease?

Complications associated with the infection can include inflammation of the heart muscle or its surrounding sac, rhythm disturbances, blood clots and worsening of an existing heart condition. Diagnosing a particular complication requires appropriate investigations.

Some people have persistent symptoms even when initial tests show no detectable heart damage. Normal findings do not mean that the symptoms are unimportant. They may indicate a need to investigate other causes and adapt the management plan.

Which heart tests may be useful after COVID-19?

The first steps are a medical history, physical examination and review of your records. Depending on the findings, the cardiologist may recommend:

• a resting ECG to assess heart rhythm and electrical activity,
• an echocardiogram to assess heart structure and function,
• Holter ECG monitoring when an intermittent rhythm problem is suspected,
• ambulatory blood pressure monitoring when a 24-hour blood pressure assessment is needed,
• blood tests selected according to your symptoms and the suspected cause.

Troponin and D-dimer blood tests, lung imaging and cardiac MRI have specific indications. They are not a compulsory package for everyone after COVID-19. Genetic testing for inherited thrombophilia is not a routine part of this assessment either.

How to prepare for your appointment

• Bring your hospital discharge summary if you were admitted, together with previous test results.
• Prepare a list of medicines and supplements, including those taken before the infection.
• Note when you had COVID-19, when symptoms started and how they affect everyday activities.
• If you measure blood pressure or heart rate at home, bring the readings with their dates, times and associated symptoms.

This information helps plan your assessment and avoid unnecessarily repeating investigations.

Treatment and returning to activity after COVID-19

Management depends on the diagnosis. It may involve treating a specific condition, addressing cardiovascular risk factors, monitoring or rehabilitation adapted to your health. There is no single medicine or identical treatment plan for all post-COVID symptoms.

Return to activity according to how you feel and the advice you receive. If exertion causes a marked or delayed worsening of symptoms, do not push through it; discuss a suitable plan with your doctor. If myocarditis or another serious complication is suspected, a specialist should advise when it is safe to resume sport.

Cardiology after COVID-19 in Gdańsk – Dr Andrzej Pecka

At Tartaczna 2 Medical Centre, Dr Andrzej Pecka provides cardiology consultations and echocardiography. Holter ECG and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring are also available when appropriate.

Contact our reception team for current fees and appointments, or book through ZnanyLekarz. Call +48 58 719 10 25 or email kontakt@tartaczna2.pl.