WARNING! Exaggerated Heart Rate Surges in Post-COVID Individuals Linked to Hidden Lung and Heart Damage!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 07, 2025 9 hours, 9 minutes ago
Medical News: A new study by Italian researchers from the University of Parma has uncovered that many people suffering from Long COVID are experiencing dangerously exaggerated heart rate increases during mild physical activity. This post-COVID phenomenon, known as Exaggerated Exertional Tachycardia (EET), is not just an annoying symptom—it may signal underlying damage to the lungs and heart that could lead to more severe complications if ignored.
WARNING, Exaggerated Heart Rate Surges in Post-COVID Individuals Linked to Hidden Lung and Heart Damage
The research, conducted by experts from the Department of Medicine and Surgery and the Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Department at the University-Hospital of Parma, involved 79 individuals who had recovered from COVID-19. At a median of 23 weeks after their infection, these individuals underwent comprehensive follow-ups to assess their cardiac and respiratory health. This
Medical News report reveals that nearly half of them—specifically, 40 patients—developed an abnormal surge in heart rate when performing even simple activities such as a 6-minute walking test.
The Hidden Warning Sign in Your Heartbeat
Normally, our heart rate rises gradually during exercise. But in people with EET, the increase is excessive, with their heart rate jumping by over 40% on average during a short walk. What’s more alarming is that these individuals often don’t report feeling much worse than others, masking the severity of the issue.
According to the study, the people with EET were generally older, had higher body mass index (BMI), and more often had high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes. They also showed more severe lung damage during their initial COVID-19 infection, as confirmed by CT scans and higher D-dimer levels—a blood marker linked to clotting issues.
Breathing Less Oxygen Means Your Heart Works Harder
One of the key findings was that people with EET had significantly worse lung function. Their oxygen levels dropped more during light exercise, and their lungs absorbed oxygen less efficiently. In fact, the most powerful predictor of whether someone would experience this abnormal heart response was how much their oxygen levels fell during the 6-minute walk.
This drop in oxygen forces the heart to work harder to compensate, leading to the dramatic increase in heart rate. Essentially, the body is struggling to keep up with even moderate exertion because both the lungs and heart have been left weakened by the viral attack.
Heart Muscle Changes Detected Months After Recovery
Echocardiograms (ultrasound scans of the heart) revealed that people with EET also had subtle but important changes in heart structure and function. The left side of their heart was slightly enlarged, and both sides showed signs of weaker muscle performance, particularly in the early relaxation phase that happens between heartbeats.
These abnor
malities suggest that the exaggerated heart rate is not just a fluke of the nervous system but may stem from real and ongoing changes in the heart’s physical condition.
Not Just Stress or Anxiety
Many Long COVID patients are often told their symptoms are due to stress or deconditioning. But this study offers solid evidence that in some cases, these symptoms reflect lasting, measurable damage to the cardiopulmonary system. And while many of these patients were already using beta-blockers—medications that slow the heart—these drugs didn’t stop the exaggerated heart rate response.
Interestingly, younger patients without these heart-lung changes still reported more classic Long COVID symptoms like fatigue, chest pain, and palpitations. This suggests that EET might be a distinct subtype of Long COVID, with its own specific risks and underlying biology.
Why This Matters for COVID-19 Survivors
Identifying EET in Long COVID patients can be crucial. People experiencing unexplained rapid heartbeats during exercise—even walking—should not dismiss it. It may be a red flag pointing to damaged lungs or heart tissue, potentially setting the stage for future complications like arrhythmias or heart failure.
The researchers emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring of heart and lung health in people recovering from COVID-19, especially older individuals or those with pre-existing conditions. Rehabilitation programs focusing on breathing exercises, oxygen therapy, and tailored cardiovascular care may help reduce the risks.
A Call for More Awareness and Medical Action
The findings of this study shed light on the complex aftermath of COVID-19 and the various ways it continues to impact the body long after the virus is gone. With so many people around the world still dealing with unexplained symptoms months later, doctors are being urged to look beyond standard check-ups and pay attention to subtle signs like exercise-induced tachycardia.
In conclusion, the study clearly shows that exaggerated heart rate responses during physical activity are not just a nuisance but may indicate serious issues with lung and heart function. Detecting these signs early could help doctors intervene before long-term damage sets in. More research is urgently needed to find effective treatments and to understand why these complications persist in some but not others.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Heart & Lung.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014795632500127X
For the latest on Long COVID, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/study-finds-that-one-third-of-recovered-covid-19-individuals-exhibit-subclinical-ventricular-dysfunction-of-the-heart
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/sars-cov-2-spike-protein-induces-the-formation-of-senescent-cells-particularly-in-heart-tissues
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/sars-cov-2-destroys-heart-cell-mitochondria-leading-to-dangerous-long-covid-cardiac-issues
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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