Recent research has found that the COVID-19 virus can directly infect cardiac arteries, increasing the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke, and even leading to persistent long COVID symptoms. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in individuals who already have cardiovascular diseases, as the virus tends to accumulate within atherosclerotic plaques.
In addition to causing respiratory symptoms, COVID-19 infection also elevates the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have found that the likelihood of stroke in COVID-19 patients is more than seven times higher than in those with influenza.
