To coincide with Heart Research Month and the growing presence of COVID-19 in the Western Australian community, we thought we’d take a closer look at the links between COVID-19 and heart health.
Not only are you at greater risk of serious complications from COVID-19 if you have an existing cardiovascular disease, getting COVID-19 can cause heart damage or injury to those with no underlying heart conditions.
What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease refers to a range of conditions that affect your heart, including blood vessel diseases (such as coronary artery disease), heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) and heart defects that you may have been born with.
Cardiovascular disease causes blood vessels to narrow or block and can lead to a heart attack, chest pains or stroke.
According to the Heart Foundation, heart disease is the single biggest killer of Australians, affecting around 1.2 million people. It is estimated that one Australian dies of cardiovascular disease every 12 minutes and one person will experience a heart attack or stroke every five minutes.
COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, those with existing cardiovascular disease have been more likely to have serious complications from COVID-19 and are at higher risk of hospitalisation, intensive care admission and death.
COVID-19 can also make a person’s existing cardiovascular disease worse.
In addition, COVID-19 can cause damage to the heart muscle and affect the heart function of those with no underlying heart conditions.
As noted by cardiologist Wendy Post, M.D., in a recent article from John Hopkins Medicine, this is due to coronavirus attaching itself to the heart’s angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors before it enters host cells. The high levels of inflammation caused by the body’s immune system fighting off the virus can also cause damage to healthy tissues, including the heart.
Vaccination offers protection
Vaccination remains one of the best ways for to look after your heart health and protect yourself against serious complications from COVID-19.
While some may have concerns about serious side effects from mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna), such as myocarditis and pericarditis, most reported cases have been mild, self-limiting and have recovered quickly.
Myocarditis causes inflammation of the heart muscle, while pericarditis causes inflammation of the outer lining of the heart.
In Australia, only 1-2 cases out of every 100,000 people have been reported after receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, with most people having mild symptoms and recovering well. Most reported cases have occurred within 10 days of vaccination and occur more commonly after the second dose in men aged under 30 years.
As such, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) continues to advise that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks of myocarditis and/or pericarditis for any age group and strongly recommends people get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Further information on these heart conditions is available from ATAGI>>
For more information on reported cases of myocarditis and pericarditis in Australia, see the latest TGA COVID-19 weekly vaccine safety report>>
If you are concerned about any symptoms following vaccination, you should seek advice from your doctor. If you believe your reaction is severe or life threatening, please phone 000 for an ambulance or go to your closest emergency department.
Looking after your heart health
Looking after your heart health is more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly if you have heart disease.
As well as keeping up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccinations, other simple steps toto jitu you can take to better look after your heart include:
Keeping physically active – undertaking physical activity for 30-45 minutes a day, five or more days a week, can help reduce your risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
Getting your annual flu vaccination – the flu can trigger a heart attack, so getting vaccinated not only helps prevent the flu but can also prevent heart attacks.
Eating well – eating a heart healthy diet is one of the best things you can do your heart health. This includes eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and wholegrains, sticking to healthy or reduced fats, reducing your salt and alcohol, and drinking plenty of water.
Looking after your mental health – people with cardiovascular disease are more likely to experience depression. Feeling isolated or depressed can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. That’s why looking after your mental health and getting support when you need it is an important way to look after your heart health.
Staying connected with your doctor – stick to your current treatment plan, take your medicines and keep in touch with your doctor as needed. Many doctors now offer telehealth appointments for those unable to visit face-to-face due to COVID-19.
If you have concerns about your heart health, questions about COVID-19 vaccines, or want to book in for your COVID-19 vaccine, contact us on (08) 9208 6400 or make an appointment online.
For more information on this topic, visit:
- Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) – https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-update-following-weekly-covid-19-meeting-22-september-2021
- The Conversation – https://theconversation.com/myocarditis-covid-19-is-a-much-bigger-risk-to-the-heart-than-vaccination-174580
- Heart Foundation – https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/covid-19/covid-19-and-heart-disease-risks
- Health Direct – https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/heart-and-cardiovascular-conditions
- Healthy WA – https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Health-conditions/Heart-health-cardiovascular
- John Hopkins Medicine – https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/heart-problems-after-covid19
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) – https://www.tga.gov.au/covid-19-vaccine-safety-monitoring-and-reporting
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute – https://www.victorchang.edu.au/coronavirus