What to know about COVID and the heart

ASK A PHYSICIAN

COVID-19 AND THE HEART

Focusing on heart health is important, especially in the midst of a pandemic. Many are weary of going to the doctor during this time, which can lead to further complications. For those who contract COVID, the virus can pose additional problems if they already have health conditions. Though whether someone has COVID or not, a cardiac event must be dealt with quickly. We talked with Dr. John T. Eagan Jr. of Cardiovascular Associates to talk about heart conditions during the time of COVID.

Q: How can COVID affect your heart, both short and long term?

A: COVID-19 causes flu-like symptoms and eventually has a severe effect on the respiratory system. COVID-19 presents unique challenges when patients have underlying heart issues because it makes treating those patients much more complicated. Postponing necessary cardiovascular care due to fear of COVID-19 is a massive risk and arguably one of the largest problems of the pandemic. Patients are choosing to stay home instead of seeking out the treatment they need due to being afraid of the virus. We are finding that when some patients eventually present for care, their disease has progressed to a later stage and is much more serious than it would have been otherwise.

Q: What are signs or symptoms someone might be having a heart event or damage due to COVID?

A: Signs and symptoms remain the same for a heart event with or without the presence of COVID-19.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19 Dr. John T. Eagan Jr.

Dr. John T. Eagan Jr. joined the private practice of Cardiovascular Associates in 1993. His current focus is on treating venous disease by performing procedures such as state of the art venous ablation and other therapeutic and cosmetic procedures to improve the appearance and function of lower extremity venous abnormalities.

Dr. Eagan is a Fellow of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American College of Angiology, and the American College of Physicians. He is board certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology, internal medicine, hypertension, phlebology, echocardiology, and cardiac CT. Dr. Eagan sees patients at the Colonnade office of CVA in Birmingham, where is specializes in the treatment of venous disease.

Q: What should they do if they suspect they are having those signs or symptoms?

A: If you suspect you are having a heart event, please call 911 or seek emergency medical help immediately.

Q: Are certain people more at risk for having heart complications with COVID?

A: Underlying medical conditions make the risk greater for heart complications with COVID-19. These conditions make it more difficult for your body to fight the COVID-19 virus and more difficult for your heart to function properly. For a full list of underlying medical conditions, please consult the CDC website.

Q: If someone tests positive for COVID, is there anything they can do to help prevent heart damage or issues?

A: If you test positive for COVID-19, please follow the advice of your physician to prevent heart damage and further complications.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

For those who had COVID-19, lingering heart problems can complicate their recovery, according to John Hopkins Medicine. Common symptoms can include palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, and shortness of breath — which can be due to heart problems or from being ill with the virus.

One reason for this is because the cells in the heart have ACE-2 receptors where the virus attaches before it enters the cells. Damage to the heart can also be due to high levels of inflammation circulating in the body.

So, as the immune system fights the virus, the inflammatory process can damage some healthy tissues, like the heart. COVID can also affect the inner surfaces of veins and arteries, which can cause blood vessel inflammation. Generally, children who contract COVID do not have serious problems as often as adults do.

Any heart event should be taken seriously, so it’s important for people to contact their doctor if they are having any symptoms. For more information, visit Hopkinsmedicine.org.