Heart problems are strongly linked to COVID-19
muscle that weakens the pumping of the heart , irregular beats , and sudden cardiac death , to name a few . It ’ s also been observed that due to the sheer fear of contracting the virus , patients with chronic cardiac conditions do not seek timely medical care . As a result , self-medication , non-compliance with medicines , and neglecting symptoms like chest pain are contributing to a rise in cardiac arrests outside the hospital setting from non-COVID-19 factors . This means the safest place to be if you ’ re having a heart attack or a stroke is in the hospital . It ’ s therefore recommended that heart patients continue with their regular consultations , either in person or over the phone or via video online chat , whichever is possible .
Vaccinations have shown good efficacy against COVID-19 and in particular from its severe form , so patients should not shy away from getting vaccinated . Any adverse events from vaccines are usually far less severe than getting the virus , while the benefits clearly outweigh the risks . In general , there is no need to stop any medications prior to vaccination , including most blood thinners , though it ’ s advisable to consult your physician beforehand .
So stay safe , stay protected , and stay wellinformed . Finally , prevention is the best way to be healthy . n
Dr Ruhikesh S Patil is a full-time consultant interventional cardiologist at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital in India . He has more than seven years of experience in interventional cardiology , including complex coronary interventions , valvular interventions , and device therapies for heart failure . His areas of interest are complex coronary interventions , including PAMI ( Primary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction ).
GlobalHealthAndTravel . com JUNE 2021
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