[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/11\/covid-19-and-heart-health\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/11\/covid-19-and-heart-health\/","headline":"Connections Between COVID-19 and Heart Health","name":"Connections Between COVID-19 and Heart Health","description":"Disclaimer: At UPMC HealthBeat, we strive to provide the most up-to-date facts in our stories when we publish them. We also make updates to our content as information changes. However, education about COVID-19 can shift quickly based on new data, emerging variants, or other factors. The information in this story was accurate as of its […]","datePublished":"2021-11-11","dateModified":"2022-06-06","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/iStock-1213000350.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/iStock-1213000350.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/11\/covid-19-and-heart-health\/","about":["COVID-19","Health Topics A-Z","Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":837,"articleBody":"Disclaimer: At UPMC HealthBeat, we strive to provide the most up-to-date facts in our stories when we publish them. We also make updates to our content as information changes. However, education about COVID-19 can shift quickly based on new data, emerging variants, or other factors. The information in this story was accurate as of its publish date. We also encourage you to visit other reliable websites for updated information, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and your state and local governments.\u00a0Keeping your heart healthy is very important \u2014 heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and can seriously affect your quality of life.It’s especially important to take care of your heart as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. The first case of COVID-19 was identified in November 2019. Ever since, cardiovascular experts like Aryan Aiyer, MD, cardiologist, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, have worked to understand how the disease affects heart health.Heart Health and COVID-19Problems with your heart health include heart disease, vascular disease, and heart failure.Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and can affect different people in different ways. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD). It occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Other heart conditions include arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and preeclampsia (postpartum hypertension).Vascular disease describes problems with the vascular system. That’s the network of arteries and veins that carry blood from your heart to the rest of the body. Peripheral artery disease (PAD), for example, is a buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply blood outside of the heart. Other forms of vascular disease include thoracic aneurysm and carotid artery stenosis.Heart failure is characterized as a weakening of the heart muscle. For various reasons, the heart can lose its ability to effectively pump blood throughout the body.How Heart Health Risk Factors Relate to COVID-19It’s important to pay attention to your risk factors for heart disease, vascular disease, and heart failure, according to Dr. Aiyer. People who have these conditions or are at risk for developing them have a greater risk for developing severe COVID-19 symptoms which can lead to hospitalization.Heart disease risk factorsSome general risk factors for heart disease include:AgeDietDiabetesFamily history of heart diseaseHigh blood pressureVascular disease risk factorsMany risk factors for vascular disease are similar to those for heart disease, including:AgeFamily history of vascular diseaseHigh blood pressureYou also are at an increased risk for vascular disease if you have end-stage kidney disease.Heart failure risk factorsSome general risk factors for heart failure include:A previous heart attack that weakened the heart muscleCongenital heart diseaseHigh blood pressureDifferent people have different heart health risk factors. But Dr. Aiyer says women face additional risk factors for heart disease such as:Hormonal changes during menopause: The drop in estrogen levels that women experience during menopause can increase blood pressure which can increase their risk for heart disease.Pregnancy: During pregnancy, women can develop high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and other conditions that increase their heart health risk.Taking Care of Your Heart Health During the COVID-19 PandemicAs the COVID-19 pandemic goes on, the best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated against the virus.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved or authorized three COVID-19 vaccines — developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson\/Janssen (J&J). More than 180 million Americans are now fully vaccinated. These vaccines are safe and highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.It’s also important to protect yourself from the flu by getting a flu shot. Public health experts fear that a severe flu season combined with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could cause a \u201ctwindemic.” Flu shots are safe and highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from the seasonal flu.Public health guidelines everyone should follow as the COVID-19 pandemic continues include wearing a face mask in public, social distancing, and avoiding large crowds. According to Dr. Aiyer, it’s especially important for people with underlying heart conditions, or people who are at risk for developing them, to follow public health guidelines.Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:CoughingFatigueFever and chillsLoss of taste or smellShortness of breathIf you have a heart condition and experience these symptoms, it’s critical to tell your doctor right away.Why Choose the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute?When you choose the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, you’re choosing a comprehensive team of experts who have the necessary skills to treat complex medical conditions. Our experts take a multidisciplinary approach to address the complexities of heart disease when combined with other conditions like COVID-19.To learn more about the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, call 1-855-876-2484 or visit our website."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Connections Between COVID-19 and Heart Health","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/11\/covid-19-and-heart-health\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]