Long-term Covid-19 and the effects on
HEART HEALTH
VIWE NDONGENI-NTLEBI
MEDICAL professionals have been studying the long-term effects of Covid-19 on the heart. | ASHKAN FOROUZANI Unsplash
MEDIA mogul Shona Ferguson’s death left the nation shocked but also sparked a conversation on the long-term effects of Covid-19. When news broke that Shona had died from Covid-19-related complications, some social media users who had been affected by the effects of Covid-19 months after they had tested negative spoke out. Politician Mbali Ntuli is one of the people who sparked the conversation. “Last year I had a very bad case of Covid. It affected my heart. Went for a check-up this week and the doctor says my heart has gotten worse as an after-effect of Covid and may require a pacemaker. Going to see another specialist for more tests but I have to say I’m quite numb,” she tweeted. Many people responded to Ntuli with well-wishes while others shared how Covid left them with similar effects. “Thinking of you. I am in the same boat. Had a defibrillator implanted in June after Covid messed up my heart in January. I battle with a 19% ejection fraction as a result. Good luck to you… hope you get all the help you need,” one responded. Another said: “I had Covid last year and I had a heart attack. I no longer sweat way I’m used too and I always having abdominal pains but when I go to the doctors they see nothing.” What was evident in the conversation on social media was
