Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is widely known for causing respiratory illness in infants, but its impact on adults, particularly older age groups, is increasingly recognized as a significant public health concern. While often presenting as a mild cold in healthy adults, RSV can lead to severe lower respiratory tract disease requiring hospitalization. Evidence suggests the infection is not strictly limited to the lungs and can affect the entire cardiovascular system. This systemic involvement addresses whether RSV can cause cardiac symptoms, specifically heart palpitations, by disrupting the heart’s normal function.
RSV’s Systemic Impact on the Heart
Yes, RSV can cause palpitations by triggering various forms of heart rhythm disturbances, known as arrhythmias. This primarily occurs through the body’s generalized response to the viral invasion, rather than direct viral attack. Fighting RSV releases inflammatory molecules called cytokines, which cause systemic inflammation that stresses the heart muscle and surrounding vessels.
Systemic inflammation increases the heart’s workload, forcing it to pump harder and faster to meet the body’s demands. This stress can destabilize the heart’s electrical system, leading to irregular beats perceived as palpitations. In rare instances, the virus can directly infect the heart tissue, causing myocarditis, which is inflammation of the muscular wall. Myocarditis severely impairs the heart’s ability to pump and directly causes significant rhythm abnormalities.
Severe respiratory symptoms associated with RSV also contribute to cardiac strain. When the infection progresses to pneumonia or bronchiolitis, difficulty breathing reduces the oxygen available to the heart muscle. This lack of oxygen, combined with the stress of fever and the body’s attempt to compensate, can compromise cardiac function and trigger rhythm disturbances. Studies show that a significant percentage of adults hospitalized with RSV experience an acute cardiac event.
Recognizing and Evaluating Palpitations
Heart palpitations during a viral illness are often described as the sensation of the heart skipping a beat, fluttering rapidly, or pounding heavily. During acute RSV infection, many temporary palpitations are benign, such as sinus tachycardia caused by fever or dehydration. These temporary changes are part of the body’s normal response to illness and typically resolve as the infection clears.
Palpitations can also signal a more serious underlying issue, specifically the onset of a significant arrhythmia. RSV is known to precipitate conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib) or atrial flutter, especially in vulnerable adults. AFib is an irregular, often rapid heart rhythm that increases the risk of stroke and is a common cardiac complication in hospitalized RSV patients.
When palpitations are reported during or after an RSV infection, physicians use diagnostic tools to evaluate the heart’s electrical activity and structure. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is the immediate test to capture the heart rhythm and check for signs of a conduction disturbance. If palpitations are intermittent, a Holter monitor records the heart’s rhythm over 24 to 48 hours or longer to capture irregular beats that would otherwise be missed.
Risk Factors and When to Seek Medical Care
While any adult can contract RSV, certain populations face a significantly higher risk of developing severe cardiac complications, including persistent palpitations and acute heart events. Advanced age is the most prominent risk factor, with adults aged 65 and older being particularly susceptible to severe illness and associated cardiovascular issues. Pre-existing chronic conditions further amplify this risk.
Individuals with a history of congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery disease (CAD), or pre-existing arrhythmias like AFib are vulnerable to having their conditions exacerbated by RSV. Those with chronic lung diseases, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or asthma, are also at increased risk because respiratory distress places additional strain on the heart. Adults with compromised immune systems due to underlying diseases or medications also fall into the high-risk category.
Acute cardiac events, such as a heart attack or stroke, have a heightened risk period immediately following an RSV infection. Therefore, certain symptoms should prompt immediate medical consultation to triage a potentially dangerous situation. Seek emergency medical care immediately if palpitations are accompanied by chest pain or a sensation of heaviness in the chest, which can signal an acute coronary event.
Other serious warning signs include sudden, severe shortness of breath that is disproportionate to the respiratory symptoms, which may indicate new or worsening heart failure. Fainting or a sudden loss of consciousness (syncope), as well as a persistent, very rapid or visibly irregular heart rate that does not subside, warrants immediate attention, as these symptoms can signal a life-threatening arrhythmia. For high-risk adults, proactive measures like RSV vaccination are recommended to minimize the risk of these severe complications.