How to keep your heart healthy after recovering from coronavirus

As a result of COVID-19, you may know that your risk of serious illness is influenced by the health of your heart (the disease caused by the novel coronavirus). While it's true that heart disease and high blood pressure (hypertension) increase the risk of heart disease, there are steps you can take to protect your heart during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to TIB Pharmacy's cardiology expert, here are five ways to protect your heart if you have the chronic cardiovascular disease:

1. Keep Up Your New Normal

When it comes to staying home when possible, practicing safe distancing, and seeking medical help if you have any problems, the first thing to do is keep doing what you are doing. already.

Also, when your state reopens, proceed with caution. I have a responsibility to get my heart patients back to normal life as soon as possible. You shouldn't have to continue to be a heart patient with restrictions,” the doctor adds. However, now is the time to advise them to maintain social distancing, wear a mask, and get sterilized as much as possible. Stay the course for as long as you can to stay healthy.

2. Take advantage of telemedicine

TIB Pharmacy cardiologists offer video visits and phone conversations to their patients, in addition to the regular in-person sessions that are required. Communication from your doctor should be high on your priority list. A lot of people, including me, get nervous when they're on TV. The video option, on the other hand, is very useful. If you are meeting your health goals, taking your medications, and not showing any symptoms, we will contact you from time to time.

3. Keep taking your medications

Due to conflicting information about common blood pressure medications and their relationship to COVID-19 risk, you may be tempted to stop using them altogether. However, the pendulum begins to swing in the direction where there is no need to be afraid. In fact, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, there is no link between blood pressure medications and the risk of COVID-19.

warns that stopping medications without talking to your doctor first is a mistake. A patient might call me on the phone and say, “I'm on a low-dose ACE inhibitor for my high blood pressure; Is there a better option?' “says the doctor. You might consider replacing them as they only take medication to control their blood pressure and there are many other options available. Others, on the other hand, may find that these drugs are absolutely necessary to prevent heart failure. Accordingly, we do not want anyone arresting them unless there is an irrefutable investigation and facts to support their actions."

4. Maintain a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

don't forget the basics. Stay healthy by:

• Communicate with your doctor

• Eat healthily

• practice

• get enough rest

• Patients with hypertension or heart failure should monitor their blood pressure.

5. Watch for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and heart failure

Learn the signs and symptoms of a COVID-19 infection. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that the following symptoms should be avoided:

• Dry cough.

• Fever or chills are common.

• Feeling short of breath or having difficulty breathing

• Muscle aches and pains.

• A new loss of taste or smell has occurred.

• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Heart and stroke symptoms, on the other hand, are a harbinger of trouble and may indicate COVID-19 infection. Take a look at:

• Chest pain or pressure, especially during exercise or other physical activities.

• Chin drops to one side of the face.

• Weakness or numbness in one arm or on one side of the body

• Slurred or garbled speech, as well as other speech changes.

• Persistent blurred vision.

• Unbearable headache.

• The following are related to nocturnal dyspnea or shortness of breath:

• leg swelling

• Dizziness

• Fainting

• pass out

Don't stay home if you suspect you're having a heart attack or other heart condition because you're worried about COVID,” says the expert. We encourage you to come immediately for an evaluation so that we can begin treatment as soon as possible. At TIB Pharmacy, we do everything we can to protect you when you do something wrong. Physical distancing and infection control techniques, as well as daily symptom testing of staff and patients, are part of the plan. »