Dr Anna-Marié Grebe, medical consultant to Pharma Dynamics – SA’s largest provider of CVD medicine in the country – says initially, efforts were focused on determining the respiratory effects of the virus, such as pneumonia and difficulty breathing, but clinicians are now investigating the detrimental impact that it can have on one’s heart.

“While COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, which primarily affects the lungs, the heart has to work harder to pump oxygen-rich blood to the body when the lungs aren’t functioning optimally. A fever – common in COVID-19 patients – also leads to a rapid heart rate.

“This added stress could increase the risk of developing heart failure or suffering a heart attack in patients with pre-existing heart problems. Myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle – has also been reported in some COVID-19 patients. This condition can affect the heart muscle and thus reduce the heart’s ability to pump.

For the thousands of South Africans that suffer from heart disease, this raises many questions.

Grebe says that it is of great importance to put the risks into perspective. “While information about COVID-19 is changing almost hourly, current evidence, released by the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, University of Minnesota and American Heart Association, indicates that the actual risk for patients with existing heart disease is not higher with COVID-19 than with seasonal influenza (or the flu) per se. However, the difference is in the infectious nature of COVID-19 and that there is currently no vaccine protecting against COVID-19 as with the flu.”

She stresses that there is no need to panic as 82% of cases are mild. While having heart disease doesn’t mean you are destined to get the virus or that you will develop a serious complication, prevention is the best.

To reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19:

• Wash hands often with soapy water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser
• Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, and mouth) with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• Stay home, self-isolate and practice social distancing (1,5 to 2 m distance between you and someone else)
• Take your chronic medication as prescribed by your doctor
• Use 3-layer cloth masks when going out to buy food or appearing in public (medical masks should be reserved for use by healthcare professionals)

If you think you have COVID-19 and suffer from CVD you should:

• Call your doctor. He/she will be able to advise you about what to do and where to go
• You can also call the NICD helpline on 0800 029 999

Protect your heart by:

• Exercising for about 20 to 30 minutes five to seven days a week. Visit ichange4health.co.za for easy ways to exercise at home without needing any equipment
• Reduce stress by practicing deep breathing and relaxation techniques.
• Get at least eight hours of sleep every night.
• Eating healthily. Choose from more than 100 heart-healthy recipes from cookingfromtheheart.co.za. All the recipes have been approved by the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA, are affordable and easy to make. Eating foods like fruit and vegetables that are rich in vitamins and minerals also keeps your immune system fighting-strong.

• Issued by Meropa Communications on behalf of Pharma Dynamics.