As we enter the winter months and people have to spend more time indoors, we see serious increases in the number of COVID-19 cases. During this period, I tried to list questions and answers for you such as what should those with cardiovascular disease do, how does COVID-19 affect our heart, what precautions should we take?
How common is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular diseases are very common. . The most common cause of death worldwide is cardiovascular diseases. To put it numerically, more than 40%, or nearly half, of deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases. Approximately 200 thousand people die annually in Turkey due to cardiovascular diseases.
What does the association of cardiovascular disease-COVID-19 mean?
The combination of two serious diseases means an increase in risk. Cardiovascular diseases have been the most common disease for more than 100 years and we call it the disease of our age. COVID-19 is a new disease that the world was introduced to 1 year ago and unfortunately caused a pandemic (epidemic). Therefore, we are talking about the coming together of two diseases that are common and threaten human life. Unfortunately, this association is a negative situation for people, it represents a high risk and can even be fatal.
How does COVID-19 affect our heart and vessels?
COVID-19 is not limited to the lungs but also affects our other organs. Unfortunately, our heart is one of our most targeted organs. If we were to list how COVID-19 affects our heart and in what ways it damages our heart: 1. The first target of COVID is the respiratory system and the organ it most commonly affects is our lungs. When the infection in the lungs affects a significant part of the lung tissue, the oxygen level in the blood decreases. The decrease in oxygen negatively affects all our organs and tires the heart. In this way, it can trigger a heart attack and paves the way for the development of heart failure. 2. We said that COVID is not limited to the lungs and shows systemic involvement. In other words, it also affects other organs of our body. The circulatory system is one of the most frequently affected systems. It predisposes to clot formation in our veins and triggers clot development. This is both our arteries and m also applies to our veins. After a clot develops in the veins and migrates to the vein, the clot may pass to the lungs. The development of clots in the arteries can cause a heart attack.
3. CORONA virus can directly affect the heart muscle and cause an inflammatory condition in the heart muscle called myocarditis. In this way, it may lead to a decrease in the contraction power of the heart.
4. Rhythm disorders may develop during the COVID-19 process. As a result of all the situations listed above, disturbances in the heart's rhythm and electrical system may occur. 5. It may also have effects that we do not know about. We do not yet know exactly the long-term consequences of COVID in terms of cardiovascular diseases. Will there be any bad surprises for us in the long term?
What would you recommend to those with cardiovascular disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, as we enter the winter months and the disease is on the rise again?
1. For cardiovascular disease during the COVID-19 pandemic period? Do not interrupt the treatment you are currently receiving. Continue your medications regularly. For example: if you have hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease (stenosis in the vessels feeding the heart, stent placement or by-pass surgery), heart failure, continue your medications as they are. Do not stop your medications based on your feelings.
2. If you cannot go out, be active and exercise at home. It is very important to exercise for 30-60 minutes every day to sweat. Exercise is very beneficial not only for heart health but also for general health and psychological relaxation. It also has a strengthening effect on our immune system. 3. Let's maintain our ideal weight. During this period, we see that our patients and the people around us gain weight. Let's eat a balanced and healthy diet and not exercise and gain weight. Let's eat mostly vegetables, let's reduce the portions.
4. Let's rest well, eat well, drink well and think well.
What do you mean by "let's think well"? Current research shows us this. Psychological problems before, during and after COVID-19 infection are unfortunately common. This will contribute to our fight against COVID. It causes us to start 0 behind. Because the anxiety, stress and pessimism we experience suppress our immune system. It causes our pulse to rise and our blood pressure to fluctuate. So please let's not stress unnecessarily. Let's do sports, let's not smoke.
What would be your final suggestions? What advice would you give to patients who are hesitant to go to the hospital during this period?
Do not hesitate to consult your cardiologist when you have an important complaint such as chest pain, shortness of breath, high blood pressure. There is a nightmare called COVID-19, we are experiencing a COVID pandemic, but let's not forget that we have a special and mysterious organ, our heart, that we must protect very well. Let's protect it well.
I wish you a healthy life where our hearts work regularly like clockwork and the blood in our veins flows unhindered.
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