September 29 is celebrated all over the globe as World Heart Day, and on the occasion PGIMER’s Cardiologist Dr Rajesh Vijayvergiya talked about how Covid-19 took a toll on heart problems and shared tips.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) still carries the tag of being the number one killer of the world and has many likely risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity, etc. Covid-19 in those with underlying CVD had worse outcomes and posed greater challenges for management. Populations suffering from heart-related ailments have borne the maximum fury of Covid-19 which has brought like a never before cease to their normal routine and has put an adverse toll on their overall health.
Prof Vijayvergiya from the department of Cardiology, PGI, Chandigarh commented that the WHO theme of World Heart Day as “Use Heart to Connect” is basically to make people aware of prevention, early diagnosis, and advance management of heart disease to all strata of patients in the society including those who are underprivileged.
Dr Vijayvergiya commented that the following steps should be taken by individuals to have a healthy heart:- 1. Try to continue a healthy lifestyle during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Physical fitness and regular exercise are crucial aspects of physical and mental well-being of an individual. Avoid smoking, excess alcohol intake, continue to remain physically active, do regular exercise for at least 30-45 minutes every day, and adopt a healthy food style.
2. Be compliant and take regular medicines for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol, if an individual is suffering from these diseases.
3. Don’t indulge in self medications. As the strict norms of physical movement and lockdown are over by now, those who are suffering from heart disease are advised to consult their physician for appropriate management of their heart disease including titration/modification of various drugs, further evaluation about disease progression, and risk stratification for possible acute cardiac events.
4. Seek medical attention immediately and in time if you have Covid-19 or cardiac emergency. Follow the advice and medications as per the physician’s advice.
5. Appropriate Covid protocol should be followed including hand hygiene, wearing face mask and social distancing, till the pandemic is over or a significant percentage of the population gets vaccinated.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN FOR THE PREVENTION OF HEART DISEASE
Have a healthy healthy food style. Increase uptake of vegetables (>200gm), fruits (>200gm), cereals and fibers (> 20gm/d) in daily diet. Salt intake should be < 5 g/d. Foods with high saturated fat contents like red meat, dairy products, coconut and palm oils; with high trans-fat contents like deep-fried fast foods, bakery products, packaged snack foods, and margarine should be avoided. All healthy adults should do 30 to 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day, at least five days a week.
Treatment of abnormal lipids by exercise, weight reduction, and drugs.
One should stop smoking and tobacco chewing.
Have blood pressure <140/90 mmHg. Those with diabetes and renal failure should have strict control of high blood pressure. Control of blood pressure is achieved by low salt intake, appropriate body weight maintenance, and medications.
Have fasting blood sugar <110 mg percentage. Control of blood sugar can be done with diet modification, appropriate body weight maintenance, and drugs.
Be physically active. Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of <25 Kg/m2. The ideal weight can be calculated by height in cm – 100. Reduction of body weight can be achieved by an appropriate balance of physical activity, calorie intake, and formal behavioural programs when indicated.
Psychological stress at home and at the workplace can be modified by yoga, exercise, changing the workplace environment, and psychological counselling.
Comply with the drugs prescribed by the physician for heart disease. Drugs like aspirin and statin should not be taken without physician’s advice.