In a new report from the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers found heart disease and stroke continue to kill more people in the U.S. than any other cause, despite, and likely even due to, the impact of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic last year.
That trend is likely to continue for years to come as the long-term impact of the novel coronavirus will directly affect heart health.
COVID-19 has taken a huge toll worldwide and is now officially ranked as the third leading cause of death in the U.S. in today’s report. Heart disease remains at the top spot and stroke remains at #5.
However, the influence of COVID-19 will directly and indirectly impact rates of cardiovascular disease prevalence and deaths for years to come.
Research shows that COVID-19 can cause heart and vascular damage directly. But the indirect effects of the pandemic can affect overall heart health as well because most heart disease and stroke deaths are preventable with appropriate medical treatment and healthy lifestyle behaviors
According to the team, unhealthy eating habits, increased consumption of alcohol, lack of physical activity and the mental toll of quarantine isolation and even fear of contracting the virus in health care settings, all can adversely impact a person’s heart risk.
Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors: During extended periods of quarantine, many people developed or returned to behaviors that can elevate the risk for heart disease including poor eating habits and lower quality diets, increased alcohol consumption, changes in work/sleep habits and lack of regular exercise.
In addition, the mental stress of social isolation and excessive sedentary screen time could also contribute to heart disease and stroke risk.
Missed medical visits: Many patients postponed regular doctor visits for the management of their chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol, resulting in an epidemic of poorly controlled conditions that can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, and could persist for years to come if not brought back under control.
Fear of hospitals: Data from the American Heart Association show that many individuals experienced a heart attack or stroke during the pandemic and did not seek urgent care out of fear of contracting COVID-19 in a hospital setting.
Unfortunately, many people may have experienced heart or brain damage with lasting consequences, or even death, that could likely have been avoided with prompt treatment.
Heart-related risks for COVID-19 patients: Studies of the impact of COVID-19 on pre-existing medical conditions are ongoing.
But the data show that individuals with cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are at increased risk for complications – including prolonged hospitalization and death – if they become ill with COVID-19.
It’s important for every eligible person to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Even as researchers thought the worst may be over, they are again seeing increased numbers of people getting COVID-19 across the country in this fourth wave related to the Delta variant.
They urge everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated as soon as possible, because that’s the only way to prevent or lessen the severity of this disease.
Their messages for preventing heart disease and stroke and their risk factors have never been more important.
People need to watch their diet, get up and move more, get the sleep their body needs and please see their doctor to make sure they are managing any chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about this cheap drug combo could reduce heart disease death by one-third and findings of a big cause of congenital heart disease.
For more information about heart disease, please see recent studies about independent of cholesterol, this can raise risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and results showing that women more likely to have this deadly heart disease at night.
One researcher of the study is Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, M.D., Sc.M., FAHA.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
