Has anyone's AF increased with Covid-19? All the adults in my family got covid at our pre-Christmas gathering; the kids were spared. This is my first bout of the disease. (Everyone is fully and recently vaxxed.)
I've had all the regular symptoms -- headache, coughing, fever and chills, and a vexing loss of smell and taste.
From the first day I tested positive I've had crazy AF palpitations and frequent elevated heart rate. (I'm able to get that to a tolerable level by taking an extra 2.5 mg of bisoprolol.)
I'm protected from serious covid by vaccinations. And I'm safe from AF harm through rate control and anticoagulant medications. This is more a question about whether this bout of covid might be the next tipping point in AF management going forward.
Any experience or thoughts?
Written by
Emoryrich
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Covid is known to exacerbate AF in some people. I doubt there will be any permanent changes. Had it three times, most recently late November and pretty much a non event apart from fever related problems. Had worse colds!
A few years ago I was admitted to hospital with pneumonia and on that same day was told I also had Covid. I was transferred to a Covid ward and my heartrate went berserk and they wanted to put me on 10mg of Bisoprolol to calm it. I wasn't keen to have such a high dose and agreed on 7.5mg.
I honestly felt like that Covid ward was being run by trainee doctors as so few patients were in there at that time. I had all the symptoms that you have described but didn't know whether some of them were caused by the pneumonia or Covid. So I'm now guessing mine were Covid related too and just the constant coughing up of phlegm was the pneumonia.
After about a week those symptoms decreased, the bisoprolol that I was taking at that time was reduced to something like 2.5mg. So once over Covid my heart rate went back to it's normal rhythm, even though I felt the effects of pneumonia for a month or more afterwards
Not being able to taste food is a horrible experience and decreases your appetite.
Your recollection is thorough and encouraging, Jean. The food/fragrance phenomenon is weird. My daughter tells me that her taste and smell came back after about a month. That’s good news to hear about the eventual easing of your AF post-Covid Thanks!
Prior to my ablation I had two episodes of Covid and both immediately kicked off AF with more symptoms than usual AF episodes. I’ve had Covid once since ablation and didn’t have AF but the latest Covid was less symptomatic also. I’ve also read that Covid can cause AF in some that don’t normally suffer with AF.
I have had AF for 14 years without many episodes. Last New Year I was taken to hospital with a racing heart I thought I had a chest infection turns out I had Covid . I had developed Atrial Flutter. I have been in and out of hospital 14 times. Got an ablation for the Flutter in August which was successful, couldn’t get one for the AF because of some doubt about heparin. However has now been found to be able to have it so am now on the list for one . I have been in and out of AF since Boxing Day. I have PAF and if I am lucky I get a few days clear . I am now on 100mg of Flecainide twice a day but it’s not helping.
Oh my, what challenges you are having. I hope that this is just a bad spell lately and that you are granted some relief soon. Covid has changed the playing field for so many people.
In your position I would have no more C-jabs or any other of the 'annuals' offered until at least you reach increased heart stability and better still until the full jab facts are out over the next few years.
'They' say the C-jab at least stops you getting serious Covid; the research efficacy on that may be inconclusive?
Others say, the C-jab makes you more prone to catching Covid and de-tox protocols are becoming established.
Here in the UK, our local surgery offers 5 annual shots for various risks including Covid. I have never had any and instead work on building my immune system the old fashioned way whilst avoiding crowded gatherings in winter (excepting Christmas carol services 😁) as far as possible. I have been free of all seasonal illnesses so far 🤞🙏.
I had very infrequent paroxysmal AF for a decade -- from my late 40s, for no obvious reason (active, fit, healthy, non-smoker); it remained infrequent enough that my cardiologist agreed I did not need daily medication, including blood thinners -- until I caught Covid for the first time. Like you, I had also taken all the vaccinations, except the most recent spring booster for which I was ineligible in the UK due to being too young.
In May 23 I had a classic bout of Covid which laid me out flat for a week+. From week 2 I started to recover, including my sense of smell/taste, but I remained in persistent AF from then until I was finally given an ablation in September 2024: nearly 16 months. Was this normal progression of AF over time, or the effect of Covid? I was not yet 60 when I caught Covid.
However...I had my winter shots (Covid + flu, together) six weeks after my ablation, and that may not have been the best idea. I did check with my cardiology team and they said 'go ahead if you feel fine, otherwise wait another couple of weeks'. I felt fine, so I did it -- and promptly plunged back into persistent AF for six weeks. It did finally pass.
I know other people who refuse the vaccination because it has serious adverse effects, but they are all older and/or in much worse general health than I am.
For me, one of the deciding factors in vax/no vax is the incidence of blood clots. I looked this up and saw a proper clinical study stating that around 20% of people hospitalized with Covid developed blood clots, compared to something like 0.02% of people who developed blood clots from the vaccine. For me, with AF, this was a no-brainer.
I can't find the link but I am pretty sure it came from the US National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. This is the gold standard and the information is available to the public, though that may change with the advent of the next US government (God help us all).
Thanks for this. The nature of so many medical choices is a game of odds. Add to this the interplay between whatever conditions we have and whatever else is floating around. We work with the information we are able to assemble. In that regard, I agree with your observation about the potential impact of the next American health care networks.
I’m an example of how covid/ long covid, first infected March 2020 ( and twice afterward and 3 jabs)…. developed high BP and HR that nearly 5 years later is still there, despite trying 6 different hypertensives and left on 5 for 2 years ( till bisoprolol removed by Falls Consultant after Tilt table test showed postural hypotension)…so I would suggest it’s anyone’s guess whether covid may/ may not affect AFIb. Incidentally sense of smell also gone for most of 4 years 9 months too( came back very briefly but then clobbered by getting second dose covid, never to reappear).
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
AF/VT after Covid - My Story
Puzzling over upcoming AF ablation
COVID and AF (some new research)
Covid vaccine - symptoms worsening?
Update on covid and af
