As suspected, Covid-19 is to be blamed. A study, published in the European Heart Journal, indicates that Covid did not just attack lungs, it silently attacked your arteries as well, causing dangerous inflammation and stiffness that can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and lifelong damage. This study was done across 16 countries, involving 2,400 participants, half of which were women. What's terrifying? This damage often shows no obvious symptoms at first - just subtle signs like unusual fatigue, chest tightness, or shortness of breath that many dismiss as 'just stress' or 'getting older.' But behind the scenes, women's hearts are being compromised in ways doctors are only beginning to understand. COVID HAS LEFT BEHIND A CARDIOVASCULAR LEGACY: EXPERTS According to Dr. Mukesh Goel, senior consultant, cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgery, heart and lung transplant surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Covid-19 has left behind a cardiovascular legacy that extends well beyond the acute infection. "This new study, which highlights that covid-19 may accelerate vascular ageing by up to five years, particularly in women, is deeply significant. Blood vessels are the lifelines of the heart and the body, and their stiffness or premature ageing is closely linked to risks such as hypertension, heart attack, and stroke," Dr. Goel tells India Today. What is striking is that women, who were earlier thought to have some natural protection against vascular ageing due to hormones like estrogen, appear to be more vulnerable in the post-covid phase, especially if they suffer from long covid symptoms like breathlessness and fatigue. Dr Brajesh Kumar Mishra, HOD & consultant, cardiology, Manipal Hospita, adds that one possible reason for this difference between men and women lies in the immune system. Women generally have a faster and stronger immune response, which helps protect them from infections. "However, this heightened response can also cause greater damage to blood vessels after the initial infection," Dr. Mishra says. WHAT IS VASCULAR AGEING? Vascular ageing essentially means that the elastic nature of the arteries is reduced, making the heart work harder to pump blood. "In a person who has already had Covid-19, this can amplify the risk of heart disease, even in those who were otherwise healthy before infection. It underscores the importance of regular cardiovascular screening for post-covid patients - checking blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and, where needed, vascular health assessments," Dr. Goel explains. Experts agree that Covid-19 was not just a respiratory infection, it affected the heart too. DON'T DISMISS SYMPTOMS Dismissing symptoms can have long-term consequences for the heart and vascular health. Patients, especially women, must take post-covid symptoms seriously rather than dismiss them as fatigue or stress. Timely lifestyle interventions like a balanced diet, exercise, and medical follow-up can go a long way in mitigating these risks. "As physicians, our role is to raise awareness that the pandemic's impact on the heart and blood vessels may unfold silently over years, and vigilance today could prevent major cardiovascular events tomorrow," Dr Goel underscores. Preventive screening and immediate medical intervention could save the lives of covid-19 patients, particularly women.