COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a bigger risk for cardiac patients. During this pandemic heart patients are more at risk of infection during this time patients are avoiding to go to the hospital for their treatment time due to the fear of getting infected. 

Signs & Symptoms

More often than not, the patients ignore early signs of cardiac distress like pain in the back or shoulders or tightness of chest accompanied by nausea, cold sweat, weakness or shortness of breath. Some of such cardiac signs may seem generic and be passed-off as trivial concerns. Yet, if ignored over a period of time, basic symptoms can result in fatal cardiac conditions. This indicates a need for mass awareness amongst patients and clinicians.

 How Digital Healthcare Provides Patients with a Potent Solution

“Online consultations for cardiology grew by 350% in the last six months, as per Practo Insights. More than 30% of the queries were from people residing in non-metro cities. Most of the queries were on “How COVID-19 affects heart patients?” and “What are symptoms one should look out for in case of heart attacks?” Shares Dr Alexander Kuruvilla, Chief Healthcare Strategy Officer, Practo

 “Sooner a patient seeks professional help, the efficiency and effectiveness in the diagnosis and treatment is dramatically higher. Procrastination from the patients’ side has been majorly due to the perceived inconvenience in accessing healthcare at large and the fear of contracting the Corona virus – especially in the last six months. However, digital healthcare has provided patients with a potent solution to seek help instantly with a verified doctor 24×7.” Dr Alexander adds.

Understand Your Cardiac Symptoms & Seek Timely Help 

According to Indian Heart Association,heart disease is the number one cause of mortality and a silent epidemic among Indians claiming nearly three million lives every year. Unfortunately, our country has the highest number of heart disease patients across the world and contributes to a massive six crore people being newly diagnosed every year. As the numbers are still on an exponential rise, various studies have claimed that people with pre-existing heart conditions have a 11.6 % higher risk of mortality due to the COVID infection. The biggest reason for people losing their lives due to heart ailments in India is attributed to lack of awareness about the prevailing condition and the reluctance or delay in seeking adequate medical attention. Hence, it becomes all the more important to understand these cardiac symptoms and seek timely help. 

  Visit Your Doctor Virtually

Heart disease is a chronic medical condition that needs meticulous management. A patient once diagnosed, requires holistic treatment including immediate medical attention, lifestyle modification, consistent and long term monitoring and in most cases a lifetime of oral medication. Digitization makes every step of this process convenient and simple for the patient and the doctor. Patients can now reach doctors virtually anywhere and anytime to get timely advice and help instead of relying on self-diagnosis. For the patient, there are apps like Practo which help with online and offline appointments, diagnostics, and medicine delivery.

 Safety & Precautions

A study suggests serious COVID patients are at 10 times risk of developing heart diseases. Hence take extra precaution and lead a healthy life in order to lower the risk.

“During these pandemic times, it is important for patients with heart conditions to take extra care and follow all prescribed medications regularly. Strict adherence to a healthy diet, abstaining from excess alcohol intake, smoking cessation, regular exercise are pillars on which one can build a lower risk profile. One must remember that viruses like COVID-19 will only increase the risk in patients who already have heart related ailments. Hence, it becomes necessary to follow all precautions including frequent sanitization, wearing masks and staying away from people who have COVID-19. The golden rule when it comes to heart diseases is that shorter the time in seeking help, higher the chances of the heart muscle being saved. This will in turn result in lesser irreversible damage, and a lower risk to life while providing better short term as well as long term outcomes,” shares Dr Rajpal Singh R.L, Director, Cardiology, Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, also consults on Practo

 So don’t ignore even a minor symptom. Heart patients need to be regular with their medication and prescription and also have regular follow ups with their treating doctors.

Inputs from the Experts of the Practo -Dr Alexander Kuruvilla , Chief Healthcare Strategy Officer, Practo and Dr Rajpal Singh R.L , Director of  Cardiology, Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, also consults on Practo

( Practo is India’s leading digital healthcare company) 

By Dr Brajesh Kumar Kunwar, Director & Head-Interventional Cardiology, Hiranandani Hospital Vashi-A Fortis Network Hospital~

Stress which is a normal part of life has been raised exponentially owing to the unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown. Social & emotional distancing, fear of contracting the disease, loss of near and dear ones, stress & loss of jobs, and drop in daily earnings have catered to the stressful life. Stress could also be attributed to physical factors such as inadequate sleep, an illness, work burnouts etc. However, stress has a significant impact on Heart health and could be deadly if not identified and treated on time.

HOW DOES STRESS AFFECT THE HEART?

As a result of stress, the body responds by releasing the hormone – Cortisol. High levels of Cortisol which would result from long term stress may increase Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Triglycerides, all contributing risk factors for Heart Disease. Additionally, the build-up of plaque deposits in the arteries may also be a result of changes due to stress. Also, hormones produced by Adrenal Glands known as ‘Catecholamines’ are released as a reaction to stressful events, which causes an increase in Blood Pressure and is responsible for Heart Attacks and Heart Failure.

Dealing with stress is often substituted with the urge to smoke recklessly. Minor stress levels could also trigger heart problems such as restricting blood flow to the heart muscle – here the heart does not receive enough blood or oxygen. Long term stress could affect blood clotting – the blood becomes stickier thus increasing the risk of Stroke and Heart Attack.

COMBATING STRESS & PROTECTING YOUR HEART:

1. GET ADEQUATE EXERCISE:

Exercise will aid in counteracting the damaging effects of stress on the heart. It is recommended to aim for at least 30mins of exercise a day, for 5 days of the week to boost heart health. Exercise promotes cardiovascular health by helping manage weight, regulating cholesterol and lowering blood pressure.  Additionally, people who exercise have a reduced physical response to stress. Their blood pressure and heart rates don’t rise as opposed to people under stress who don’t exercise. Regular exercise can also decrease the risk of Depression, another risk factor for Heart Disease.

• TREAT DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY:

According to research, long term Anxiety or emotional stress can escalate the risk of sudden cardiac death. Seek medical treatment if you experience Depression or Anxiety, and ask about medicines that can help. Try activates like Yoga, walking and medication that reduces anxiety levels. Quit alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine as they can increase the feeling of Anxiety; they also increase stress levels and blood pressure.

• EASE YOUR WORK STRESS:

Studies show that stress emerging from having a challenging and gruelling job that offers you few opportunities to make decisions, or provides little reward, can amplify your risk for Heart Disease. According to a report, the frequency of heart diseases in people under 40yrs of age, in the past three decades, has spike dramatically, by almost about three times. The report also noted that Heart attacks in young Indians were noted to be 3-4 times higher than in the West! The authors attributed this increased risk to Stress, which also made these youngsters look older than their age, becauseof working at odd hours and unhealthy eating habits.

Try to make some time away from work for yourself on a regular basis. Do something that is relaxing and that you enjoy, which may include reading, walking, or a hobby. A counsellor may help recommend strategies to help you lower your work related stress.

• STAY CONNECT & BUILD A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM:

It is vital to stay in a socially connected group. With the lockdown imposed and travel restrictions in play, many people are stuck away from their near and dear ones. This has contributed immensely to the ongoing mental health hazard. Internet and other gadgets can help to stay connected in real time with family and friends, which will help reduce stress. Indulge in a hobby through group classes like online forums, podcasts, group streaming etc. A strong and lovable support system will enable you to take better care of yourself. Having a single person to confide in and rely on will help take the burden of stress of your chest.

If you think you are at an increased risk for Heart Disease because of stress in your life, seek help of a healthcare provider. They may recommend counselling, classes, or other programs to help you lower your stress level and your risk for Heart Disease.

Boost your heart health with these foods!

By Niyati P. Likhite, Dietician, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan 

 In an attempt to spread awareness on the risk of cardiovascular diseases, which is the leading cause of deaths globally. Diet plays an important role in curbing the risk; sedentary lifestyles and the recent new normal of work from home has increased consumption of junk food & restricted workout time, which could negatively impact heart health. 

Appropriate dietary intervention allows for better combination of multiple foods and nutrients. For a diet that supports a healthy heart, it is essential to include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, pulses & legumes low-fat dairy products, good amount of proteins, good quality of fats and foods packed with micronutrients& antioxidants. To protect and boost one’s heart health, opt for: 

− Increase intake of fruit and vegetables: Eat variety of vegetables and fruits as they are rich in micronutrients and high in fibres. It is always advised to have a rainbow list that includes colourful fruits and vegetables.

− Opt for whole-grain, high-fibre foods: Beneficial whole grain choices include whole Wheat, Oats/ Oatmeal, Rye, Barley, brown Rice, Millets, etc. Legumes (Beans) is also another healthy option. 

− Good amount of Protein intake is a must: Consume skimmed milk & its products as they are low in fats, legumes, pulses, whole grains. Other options include Egg whites, Poultry and Fish which are considered as lean meats. 

− Consume foods rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fish, especially oily fish (Sardine, Mackerel, Tuna, Salmon, Herring, and Trout), Almonds, Walnuts& Flaxseed are the best options. These foods help in reducing bad cholesterol.

− Curb consumption of saturated fat and trans-fat foods:These include breads, Cakes, Pastries. Packaged food and fried items, these must be avoided. Restrict the intake of red meat, Butter, Dalda, Margarine and Egg yolks. Consuming shell fish must also be reduced, as it is high in cholesterol. 

− Oil consumption to be limited to 1/2kg per person, per month: It is best to use blends of oils as the PUFA, MUFA and SAFA content varies in each; Cold pressed oils are recommended over refined oils. Rather than frying, cook your food by either stir frying, boiling, broiling, stewing, grilling, baking or roasting. 

− Salt intake should be reduced: It has the potential of increasing Blood Pressure, a risk factor for Heart Disease. Try and avoid eating bakery products, pickles, papads, canned and preserved foods including fruits and vegetables. It is okay to eat dry fish, namkeen, readymade chutneys, tomato ketchup, ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products once in a while. 

− It is best to avoid carbonated beverages: This coupled with foods that contain added sugars (Corn Syrup, Sucrose, Glucose, Fructose, Maltrose, Dextrose, concentrated fruit juice, Honey), can be harmful to one’s overall health.

Overall guidelines:

− Consume alcohol in moderation, if possible, avoid it altogether

− Keep a watch on your portion size; small and frequent meals are recommended

− Avoid feasting & avoid fasting

− Exercising regularly is a must; try to exercise at least 30-40minutes, 5 days a week

− Yoga, brisk walking, aerobics, swimming and bicycling are viable cardio boosting options

This World Heart Day, let’s all take small progressive steps towards protecting and boosting heart health; while we all stay confined in our homes, we can take these small steps to make a big change.