Beware of the close relationship between heart disease and covid

Reasons for complications of heart disease in COVID-19 patients

COVID-19 is considered a respiratory disease that attacks the lungs but the danger to the heart is also something to be aware of.

Cardiologist Vito Anggarino Damay said that around 49% of COVID-19 patients who have severe symptoms are being treated in the ICU ( intensive care unit) it is suffering from inflammation of the heart.

He explained that heart disease is one of the health problems that are closely related to COVID-19. There are three points that doctor Vito emphasized regarding the relationship between heart disease and COVID-19.

First , the COVID-19 virus attacks the lungs and respiratory system where the lungs and heart are connected by blood vessels. Blood vessels are in charge of carrying blood that has been pumped by the heart to flow throughout the body and vice versa.

"The work of the lungs and the heart is connected. So if the lungs are damaged due to a viral infection, the heart will definitely work harder, ”explained doctor Vito who was spokesperson Indonesian Heart Foundation (YJI).

Second, COVID-19 can attack the heart directly. Doctor Vito explained that COVID-19 patients can experience myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle even though they do not have a previous history of heart disease.

An early study showed that 1 in 5 patients with COVID-19 have signs of heart injury, whether they have respiratory symptoms or not.

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Third , the relationship between heart health and COVID-19 also occurs because of the tendency for blood vessel clots to occur in COVID-19 patients. Blood vessel clots increase the risk of blood vessel disorders and aggravate the work of the heart.

According to doctor Vito, this condition is one of the factors that makes COVID-19 patients experience worsening and even death.

This certainly puts patients who already have heart disease at risk of having severe and fatal symptoms when infected with COVID-19.

"For example, a patient with heart failure has a decreased heart function, he will be exhausted if he is infected," said doctor Vito.

Some cases that occur are that the patient does not even know that he has a heart problem before being infected with COVID-19.

The importance of heart health during a pandemic

"So, it is very closely related to why this heart must be maintained, especially in an era of a pandemic like this," said Doctor Vito.

Heart health during a pandemic must be maintained properly. Unfortunately, the pandemic condition has prevented some heart patients from accessing health facilities when they are in need.

A study reports that during the COVID-19 pandemic, only two thirds of heart attack patients went to the hospital. The remaining third are late in going to the hospital, among others, because they are afraid of contracting and limited access.

According to doctor Vito who is also a member of the Indonesian Cardiovascular Specialist Doctors Association (PERKI), this condition also occurs in Indonesia.

"This happened because they were afraid of being infected with COVID-19. So if a patient has a heart attack, they may not come to the hospital. This pandemic is said to have had an effect collateral damage , "He explained.

Collateral damage it is intended that the COVID-19 pandemic causes illness in people who are infected with the virus and causes more severe illness in healthy people.

Education regarding maintaining heart health during the COVID-19 pandemic is becoming increasingly important to be disseminated to the public.

The role of the community to raise awareness

The Indonesian Heart Foundation (YJI) has been active in disseminating information on maintaining heart health during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, how to check blood pressure at home and talk show heart health through broadcasts on social media.

YJI also conducts live broadcasts of heart health exercises and sports that can be done at home. This is done so that heart health is maintained with the right portion of exercise.

According to doctor Vito, education on heart attack alert while exercising is one of the most important. Excessive portions of exercise can actually increase the risk of heart attack.

YJI is a community organization that focuses on raising awareness of heart and blood vessel health. This organization also provides assistance for patients in need.

"Families and heart disease patients who need YJI's assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, can contact YJI by telephone and communicate with the medical department," said YJI representatives to Hello Sehat.