Cardiac patients have no increased risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus. Once infected, the risk for them is sometimes significantly higher.
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Medicine and shortness of breath
Frankfurt / Main / Berlin (dpa / tmn) – Keep your distance, observe hygiene rules: These general tips in the fight against coronavirus and Covid-19 are particularly important for people with heart diseases.
Because an infection with the virus can be very dangerous for them. There are also other points to consider:
– Strengthening the heart: An outbreak of Covid-19 can mean hard work for the heart. This applies even if the disease does not affect the organ directly, explains the German Heart Foundation. So pneumonia can make sure that there is not enough oxygen in the blood. If the disease then also lowers the blood pressure, the heart must beat faster to compensate. This can overload the organ – especially if it is already damaged.
It is now particularly important for patients to put their heart in a state that is as powerful and resistant as possible. The Foundation’s experts therefore advise cardiovascular medication to be taken with particular care now. But at least as important is a healthy diet and, as far as possible, sufficient exercise.
– Take symptoms seriously: Occasional breathing difficulties, for example after climbing stairs, are everyday life for many cardiac patients. However, shortness of breath is also an early sign of Covid-19. A worsening of the symptoms should not be taken lightly, but should be checked with a doctor – because it may not be the usual heart disease.
If breathlessness occurs suddenly and at rest, you should even choose 112 – regardless of the corona pandemic. Because sudden, apparently groundless breathlessness can also be an indication of a heart emergency.
– Get more help: Some heart patients may be afraid of getting infected in the hospital – and therefore do not call the doctor when it should be. However, the German Heart Foundation points out that all support services for heart patients, even in an emergency, are still available regardless of the pandemic.
The Heart Valve Initiative advises that even planned hospital stays should not be canceled on their own initiative. For example, if heart valve surgery is planned, those affected should continue to prepare for it – at least as long as they do not receive any other information from their doctor. However, special care is required after such an intervention. Heart valve patients have a higher risk of infection after surgery, according to the initiative.
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