The subtle early warning sign of new stealth Omicron strain you must not ignore
WHILE Covid infections continue to fall and are becoming less severe - we still need to be on the look out for symptoms.
Most people who catch Omicron will have a mild illness, with the majority of patients suffering from cold-like symptoms.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) previously stated that the most commonly reported symptoms have been a cough, fatigue and headache.
But these are the most common signs for the BA.1 strain, which experts say could be different to the new stealth strain BA.2.
A study published today found that it spreads 33 per cent fast and can evade vaccines, but it isn't more severe than BA.1.
In Denmark, where the study took place, the sub-variant now makes up the majority of cases.
Numbers in the UK are still low compared to the original Omicron, but are increasing.
Medics have now said that people are presenting with an elevated heart rate.
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Experts at the said that your heart might beat faster is response to fever or inflammation due to Covid.
An increased heart rate is common if you have an infection as your heart has to work harder to pump more blood around your body to fight the infection.
The experts said that some people who have recovered from coronavirus have also experienced heart palpitations.
They said that in most scenarios the palpitations won't be serious but if they sit alongside a faster heart rate, chest pain and dizziness, then you should seek medication attention.
It comes after a study was published which highlighted that people who have survived Covid-19 are 63 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack - irrespective of pre-existing conditions and age.
The paper, published in , shows how important getting the vaccine is when it comes to protecting our health.
Millions of people have now received booster vaccines and health experts have repeatedly said that jabs are the best way to keep everyone safe from Omicron.
Experts at Washington University in St Louis, US, focused on the first year of health after contracting Covid.
The signs of a heart attack you should never ignore
The NHS states that you should call 999 if your sudden chest pain also sits alongside a pain that spreads to your arms, back neck or jaw.
You should also seek immediate help if your chest pain is accompanied by a tight or heavy chest, it started with shortness of breath, sweating or being sick or it lasts more than 15 minutes.
Call 999 as you might be having a heart attack and you need immediate treatment in hospital.
Heart attack symptoms can be difficult to spot for sure, because they can vary from person to person.
The most common signs include:
- chest pain, tightness, heaviness, pain or a burning feeling in your chest
- pain in the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach
- for some people the pain and tightness will be severe, while for others it will just feel uncomfortable
- sweating
- feeling light-headed
- becoming short of breath
- feeling nauseous or vomiting
This means that study participants would have likely been suffering with the original strain of Covid or the Alpha strain, which was discovered in December 2020 in Kent.
The experts stated that there was an increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in those who were not vaccinated.
However, the majority of people analysed for the study contracted the virus before they had a vaccine.
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Analysis of 150,000 Covid-positive people found that the rate of conditions such as coronary disease, strokes and heart failure, was noticeably higher in those who were infected compared to those who had not.
The risk of heart attack increased by 63 per cent after Covid, and the risk of suffering from coronary artery disease or a stroke, was higher at 72 per cent and 52 per cent.
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