SHARES
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on June 26 2021 that they are making a series of changes to their COVID-19 vaccines factsheet and this time, they are warning people about the increased risks of myocarditis and pericarditis – the inflammation of the heart muscle and surrounding heart tissues.
In this article, we spoke to an Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Julian Tan, from the Cardiology Practice at Farrer Park Hospital, to learn more about heart inflammation and the possible health effects the COVID-19 vaccines on the heart.
The Link between Myocarditis and COVID-19 Vaccines
When asked what myocarditis is, Dr. Tan shared that the condition refers to the inflammation of the heart muscle.
“There are many causes for myocarditis but it is usually idiopathic (unknown cause); it can occur without any specific reasons or causes. With that said, 70-80% of myocarditis may also occur because of viral infection, and COVID-19 infection is one example,” Dr. Tan explained.
With young men around the world and in Singapore reportedly experiencing myocarditis after their COVID-19 vaccination, it has also created a stir in the community with some fearing that they would contract the condition.
Touching on this, Dr. Tan said: “FDA issued an advisory about the increase in risk of myocarditis. It is of concern, but not worrisome. We (medical professionals) are more worried about COVID-19 infections causing heart-related problems, stroke and even myocarditis.”
“There are calculated risks in promoting any forms of medical therapy. We are aware that there are certain risks in mass vaccinations but clearly, the benefits of vaccinations in controlling the pandemic far outweighs the potential adverse reactions from vaccinations,” Dr. Tan emphasised.
Effects of Vaccine on the Heart
While Dr. Tan understands the concerns the public have on the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, he highlighted rare adverse effect affecting the heart is not a new phenomenon.
In fact, there are many existing vaccines and other forms of medications which can also cause similar side effects.
Signs and Treatments for Myocarditis
“Common signs of myocarditis include chest pain. Fever will usually follow, and some patients may also present with breathlessness. If you have these symptoms, consult a doctor and get yourself checked immediately,” Dr. Tan shared.
“There are tests that can be carried out to check for myocarditis. Blood tests are especially important as it helps to measure heart enzymes to see if the heart muscles are inflamed,” Dr. Tan revealed.
As to how dangerous myocarditis is, Dr. Tan shared that the majority of patients will recover within one to two weeks. It only gets dangerous when the inflammation overwhelms the heart muscle.
“When this happens, it can compromise the heart muscle and reduce the strength of the heart beat. In this case, patients may then require an external heart pump. But again, this is a very rare occurrence,” Dr. Tan added.
According to Dr. Tan, myocarditis treatment is usually conservative. This means cardiologists would just provide medication to lower the blood pressure and if necessary, painkillers to relieve pain.
The inflammation usually goes away after one to two weeks and is able to recover on its own.
Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccination Outweigh Risks
Referencing an infographic shared by the Ministry of Health, Singapore, Dr. Tan shared that vaccines effectively reduce one’s risk of developing severe heart problems.
In the chart depicting data from May 2021 shows that for every million second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, there were about 10 cases of myocarditis in females 12 to 17 years, and about 70 cases in males of the same age group.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Health Singapore
“If we put this into context with the handful of cases of COVID-19 vaccines with side effects such as heart inflammation, the benefits definitely outweigh the risks,” Dr. Tan concluded.
Dr. Julian Tan from the Cardiology Practice contributed this article in collaboration with Farrer Park Hospital. Read the original article here.
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by Joanne Lee
Multipotentialite. Loves creating and seeing ideas come alive. View all articles by Joanne Lee.
