Workers’ compensation for post-COVID cardiac complications may exist. If you contracted COVID-19 on the job and now suffer from this virus’s long-term impacts, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation.
When the coronavirus pandemic started to uproot the lives of Americans, most focus was on the short-term impacts of the virus. Two years later, medical professionals have identified that COVID-19 can affect individuals long after their initial recovery. Those experiencing such long-term consequences have been dubbed “COVID long haulers.”
The medical industry has recognized one alarming symptom experienced by many COVID long haulers – cardiac complications. Even individuals who had never suffered heart problems before testing positive for COVID-19 have developed concerning cardiac conditions.
Post-COVID, Long COVID, Chronic COVID, COVID Long Haulers – What Does Any of This Mean?
Most people who come down with COVID-19 will feel better within a few weeks.
But, for some individuals, symptoms may persist far beyond this typical window of time. “In such patients, there is no longer live coronavirus running amok in the body. If tested, the person would test negative for the coronavirus, but they might be severely debilitated nonetheless,” says John Hopkins Medicine.
Medical professionals and researchers call this phenomenon many things: post-COVID, long COVID, chronic COVID… the list goes on and on.
In addition, those living with this syndrome are known as COVID “long haulers.”
The CDC explains, “Post-COVID conditions are a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems people can experience four or more weeks after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.”
The most common post-COVID symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, joint pain, and chest pain. However, more frightening conditions can appear as well.
In some cases, post-COVID conditions may include multiorgan effects or autoimmune conditions.
Multiorgan effects can considerably impact the body’s systems such as heart, lung, kidney, skin, and brain functions.
Autoimmune conditions exist when the immune system accidentally attacks healthy cells. This attack on healthy cells can cause inflammation or tissue damage.
Post-COVID Syndrome & Heart Problems
COVID-19 survivors can develop severe heart conditions following their initial recovery from the virus. These conditions include inflammation of the heart, irregular heartbeats, and heart failure.
One of the most common post-COVID cardiac conditions is “myocarditis,” better known as inflammation of the heart muscle. According to John Hopkins Medicine, a recent study shows “60% of people who recovered from COVID-19 had signs of ongoing heart inflammation.” This inflammation can lead to shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and rapid heartbeat.
As stated, inflammation of the heart can cause heart palpitations and rapid heartbeats, “arrhythmias.” An arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or in an irregular pattern. Arrhythmias are not always an indicator of severe cardiac concerns. But, if an irregular heartbeat lasts for months or follows minimal activities, this may indicate that a more significant issue exists.
Of these more significant issues is heart failure. Both myocarditis and arrhythmias can contribute to heart failure, a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. If untreated, this condition can be deadly. Health care professionals fear COVID-19 may lead to an uptick in heart failure cases.
Avoiding COVID-19 and Potential Longlasting Cardiac Symptoms
To avoid post-COVID cardiac symptoms, it is best to work to prevent becoming infected with COVID-19 in the first place.
If you have not already, take action to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC outlines steps you can take to find a vaccine provider and set up an appointment.
If you have already received a COVID-19 vaccine, ensure you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine booster shots.
Additionally, when appropriate, everyone should wear a mask and follow social distancing measures.
Did You Contract COVID-19 at Work? Are You Now Facing Cardiac Complications? We Can Help.
If you or a loved one contracted COVID-19 on the job and are experiencing the long-term impacts of this virus, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation.
As with any workers’ compensation claim, to receive benefits for post-COVID cardiac complications, a claimant must show that such conditions are related to their work. Keches Law Group can help.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
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