If you’re living with heart disease, you’ve probably heard that you’re at higher risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.

This high-risk group includes people with other heart conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On the list: those who have survived a stroke or are living with coronary heart disease or high blood pressure (aka hypertension).

Sobering news, for sure. But you’re not powerless. Taking a few simple precautions can go a long way toward protecting yourself. Here are 5 simple moves you can make to defend your health. Deep breath — you’ve got this.

Defense Move #1: Know What You’re Up Against

The COVID-19 virus targets the lungs, not the heart. But when your lungs take a direct hit, a compromised heart is like an innocent bystander. The harder your lungs have to work, the harder it becomes for your heart to send oxygenated blood throughout the body.

COVID-19 also creates a lot of inflammation. According to a recent report, this includes the veins, arteries, and heart muscle. It results in an irregular heartbeat (known as arrhythmia).

Previous coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, were also linked with inflammation of the heart muscle. That sometimes led to heart attacks and rapid-onset heart failure. Basically, the virus limits the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently.

Defense Move #2: Assume the Virus Is Everywhere 

“Assume everyone around you has it and that you’re at risk,” says Suzanne Steinbaum, D.O. Dr. Steinbaum is a New York City–based cardiologist and national spokesperson for the American Heart Association (AHA) Go Red for Women campaign. “People can be a carrier and not really know that they have it, or they recover very quickly. So the more we stay away from each other [during the pandemic], the better.”

Dr. Steinbaum also suggests sticking with your heart disease treatment. And if you hear about a potential COVID-related side effect or risk with any of your medications, talk about it first with your cardiologist. For example, early in the outbreak, there were reports that patients on renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers, particularly angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs), may be more susceptible to the virus. “The American Heart Association came out with guidelines that said if you’re taking it, keep taking it,” Dr. Steinbaum says. “We don’t know enough about this.”

A study published in January 2021 confirmed that continuing medications was the recommended course of action. Since the start of the pandemic, the AHA has funded $2.5 million in COVID-related research. In December 2021, it announced a $10 million research initiative. The goal: “to fund new studies into the long-term effects of the deadly coronavirus and its impact on the body’s cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems.” The AHA also created a national registry of health records for people hospitalized with COVID-19.

This is why the CDC guidelines are so important. “Prevention requires significant precautions,” Dr. Steinbaum says. “Social distancing, handwashing, and all that other stuff that we keep talking about are the most effective ways to stay safe.”

That includes masking up any time you’re in public. According to the CDC’s most recent guidance, you should wear a snug-fitting mask. It should have 2 or more layers of breathable fabric. The mask should cover your mouth and nose. Look for masks with a nose wire. They help stop air from leaking out of the top of the mask.

Other steps you can take to reduce your COVID-19 exposure include:

• Getting vaccinated and boosted.
• Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Those are the main entry points for the virus.
• Washing your hands with soap and warm water regularly.
• Wearing a face covering when you go out in public.
• Avoiding needless travel. 

Defense Move #3: Adapt Your Routines

Your emotional health also plays an important role in keeping you healthy. So Dr. Steinbaum suggests focusing on your mental strength and fortitude. 

“How you perceive this outbreak and how you take care of yourself is psychological as much as it is physical,” Dr. Steinbaum says. “They’re linked.” Depression, anxiety, and lack of sleep are major risk factors for heart disease. So Dr. Steinbaum tells patients that this is the time for stress management.

Start by sticking (at least loosely) to a schedule. That includes getting enough sleep, showering, and changing out of your PJs. Even if you no longer commute to work, stick to your morning and evening routines. It will give you a sense of normalcy and keep your body clock set.

Next up, eat well. “There’s no reason to binge on anything,” Dr. Steinbaum says. “We’ve all probably done some of that. It’s time to put the potato chips away.”

Finally, Dr. Steinbaum suggests moving every day. “There’s a lot we can do without going to a gym. We have to start doing that. Walk in place, dance, and do jumping jacks. Every day for 30 minutes, get up and do something to get your heart rate up.”

Defense Move #4: Check in with Your Cardiologist

If there are COVID-19 cases in your area, your doctor may have specific steps they’d like you to follow. Call them with any concerns or questions you might have. And remember, if you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor or seek emergency care right away:

• Crushing chest pain. That includes huge pressure on the chest or feeling like you can’t breathe.
• Palpitations. 
• Dizziness.

Defense Move #5: Have a Sick Plan

These are the telltale signs of COVID-19, according to the CDC:

• Cough. 
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Fever.
• Chills. 
• Muscle pain.
• Sore throat.
• New loss of taste or smell.

Call your doctor right away if you have any combination of these symptoms or if your symptoms are getting worse. “The first thing that’s going to happen when you get sick is you’re probably going to get a fever and maybe a cough,” says Dr. Steinbaum.

If that cough gets worse and you have shortness of breath, get medical attention right away. When you or your loved one calls 911, share the history of your heart problems as well as your current COVID-19 symptoms. Also mention the medications you take.

That last part is important. Knowing the medications you take, what you’re allergic to, and your medical history will help any physician, nurse, or first responder care for you.

“They’re going to know the side effects of medications,” Dr. Steinbaum says. “They’re going to understand that if you have a decreased heart function due to heart failure and are on certain drugs, maybe albuterol is not the best choice for you.” Albuterol is a first-line medication that’s inhaled.

This is a case of “more is more.” In other words, the more information you can share, the better. 

“Don’t try anything on your own, especially if you have heart disease,” Dr. Steinbaum says. “Talk to your doctor. Or go to the emergency room. Get help from the people who are dealing with this right now.”

The information in this story is accurate as of press time and posting. To limit the spread of the coronavirus, it’s important to continue practicing social distancing (keeping at least 6 feet away from people outside your household) and washing your hands frequently. You should also be appropriately masked per CDC guidelines. Because the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, we encourage readers to follow the news and recommendations for their own communities by using the resources from the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department.

 

[Sources:]

[1.] Abbasi J. “Researchers Investigate What COVID-19 Does to the Heart.” JAMA, vol. 325, no. 9, 2021, pp: 808-811.

[2.] Madjid M, Safavi-Naeini P, Solomon SD, et al. “Potential Effects of Coronaviruses on the Cardiovascular System: A Review.” JAMA Cardiology, vol. 5, no. 7, July 2020, pp: 831-840.

[3.] Lopes RD, Macedo AVS, de Barros E Silva PGM, et al. “Effect of Discontinuing vs Continuing Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers on Days Alive and Out of the Hospital in Patients Admitted With COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” JAMA, vo. 325, no. 3, January 2021, pp: 254-264.

[4.] “$10 Million Invested to Study Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on Heart and Brain Health.” American Heart Association, https://newsroom.heart.org/news/10-million-invested-to-study-long-term-impact-of-covid-19-on-heart-and-brain-health. Accessed January 12, 2022.

[5.] “COVID-19 CVD Registry.” American Heart Association, https://www.heart.org/en/professional/quality-improvement/covid-19-cvd-registry. Accessed January 12, 2022.

[6.] “Your Guide to Masks.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, October 25, 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html. Accessed January 12, 2022.