21 News weekend anchor and reporter, Caroline Collins, is recovering from heart complications after contracting the COVID-19 virus.

"I never thought I would be admitted to the hospital just days after my 27th birthday," said Collins.  "After noticeable chest pains following my COVID-19 diagnosis, I went to the emergency room where a high level of troponin was found in my blood work, indicating a problem with my heart."

It was an issue that raised red flags for cardiologists at Sharon Regional Medical Center.

Doctor Brandon Mikolich, a cardiologist at Sharon Regional, said the unknown that comes along with this virus is a concern.

"We don't know if the damage to your heart can be small now and in the future can be precipitant to heart failure or arrhythmias or something more lethal."

After a cardiac MRI, Doctor J. Ron Mikolich discovered noticeable swelling and inflammation surrounding her heart.

"When I looked at this, I knew that our diagnosis for your chest pain was pericarditis." Said J Mikolich.  "The lining around the heart is called the pericardium, and you can see a pretty intense area of swelling or edema of the pericardium that is consistent with inflammation. Along the left side of the heart, it's a little less, but it is still somewhat inflamed."

If this isn't treated, several problems can occur, including atrial fibrillation and myocarditis.

"The worst case is that the heart muscle gets inflamed, not just the sack around the heart, and then it becomes weak, and you go into heart failure. Which can be lethal in some cases."

Collins said she is now on anti-inflammatory medication and is restricted from physical activities for the next three months.

With the early diagnosis from the Sharon regional Cardiology team, doctors believe her heart should make a full recovery.