One of the most harrowing effects of COVID-19 is severe damage to the lungs, which makes breathing hard or impossible for those who’re severely affected.

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However, evidence is mounting that COVID-19 also damages the heart, damage either caused by the virus itself, from inflammation triggered by the immune system’s response to the virus or a from increased clotting in heart vessels.

There is now evidence that heart damage may persist even after the patient recovers and, in some cases, that damage may be long lasting. Experts just don’t know how often the heart damage will occur at this point or whether it might affect people with only mild symptoms.