Derek Draper is “fighting for his life” again after suffering a reported major heart attack. The 56-year-old former political advisor, who is married to broadcaster Kate Garraway, has faced severe health complications since contracting Covid back in March 2020.
Now a doctor has revealed why his case has been so extreme compared to other people that may have caught coronavirus.
Kate, 56, is once again by his bedside just when he’d started to look forward to Christmas at home with his family. A source told The Sun: “Everyone is praying for a miracle.
“Derek suffered a massive heart attack earlier this week which has left him fighting for his life all over again.
“It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.”
According to Dr Gareth Nye, a lecturer of physiology at Chester Medical School, any Covid infection can raise the likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke.
He told The Mirror: “After any Covid infection regardless of hospitalisation or treatment, your risk of having a cardiovascular event (eg heart attack or stroke) is significantly higher in the 12 months that follow.”
Dr Nye said that there is also the chance of developing long term lung issues, long term changes to your immune system and an increased risk of autoimmune diseases.
A study covering 47,910 patients between the ages of 17 and 87 estimated that 80 percent of those infected with coronavirus developed one or more long-term symptoms.
The most common og those were fatigue (58 percent), headaches (44 percent) and disorders impacting attention span (27 percent).
Discussing Derek’s case, Dr Nye added: “Derek will undoubtedly have multiple long-term health conditions following his specific reaction to the Covid infection, as well as the procedures used to try and save him eg ventilation.
“We know that the Covid virus impacts the cardiovascular system and does increase your risks of clots which can lead to heart attacks and organ failure.”
He added that Derek’s case “isn’t isolated but remains quite uncommon” compared with the vast numbers of people who have been infected with the virus.
Derek has battled several serious health problems after being rushed to hospital with Covid.
He spent 13 months in hospital with the virus, making him one of Britain’s longest suffering Coronavirus victim, and was put into a coma at the time.
