Virus-triggered young runner’s chest pain: Doctor warns of risk

WASHINGTON (7News) — A healthy college runner began suffering chest pains during the pandemic. It was believed to be COVID-related, but after a doctor’s visit, he learned it was something else.

Now doctors are warning that more young people may have similar issues.

“I just started feeling a chest pain in my chest,” said Howard University alum Aaron Coates. “As the night went on, as I was trying to lay down to sleep, the pain just got worse and worse and worse. So I ended up having to wake up my parents…I was scared at the time.”

Coates ended up having a virus that caused inflammation and irritation of the lining around the heart, said Cardiologist with MedStar Health Dr. Syed Waqas Haider.

Coates was diagnosed with pericarditis and myopericarditis.

“I see patients very similar to Aaron, and we’re learning that this is actually quite common. The severity of this illness could be a spectrum from mild disease to severe and potentially life-threatening disease, but it is certainly not uncommon to have pericarditis or myopericarditis,” said Haider.

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Howard University alum Aaron Coates was a healthy runner until he started experiencing chest pains (7News).{ }