What does this have to do with exercise? “Stressing the heart can worsen heart inflammation — and such stress occurs with exercise,” says Richard Wright, MD, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California (unaffiliated with the study). “Covid-19 victims should be rigorously tested to ensure their heart is normal prior to resuming exercise.”
Study author Valentina Puntmann, MD, PhD, recommends Covid-19 patients undergo a cardiac MRI to investigate potential cardiac inflammation. “Until we know more, our advice to our nonprofessional athletes is to take it easy for a minimum of six months,” she says.
Easy doesn’t mean nothing; exercise is still an excellent way to stay healthy. In fact, regular exercise may reduce the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a major cause of death in Covid-19 patients, per research in Redox Biology. Talk to your doctor before restarting workouts, and maybe opt for lower-intensity exercise like gentle cycling, yoga, or just walking.
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