[Interview] – What parents of children with heart diseases must know about COVID-19 – How to keep them safe – Times Now

[Interview] - What parents of children with heart diseases must know about COVID-19 - How to keep them safe | Photo Credit: Getty Images

New Delhi: As the number of confirmed cases globally stands beyond 3 million, with 2,44,000 deaths, scientists, medical experts and doctors work tirelessly to find better treatment methods, a vaccine against the virus, and more information about the virus that will help them achieve these two goals. According to the latest reports, the coronavirus has been found to infect and cause damage to other organs of the body, apart from the lungs. the heart, kidneys, liver, and intestines are infected due to the novel coronavirus. Clots and thickening of blood have also become a common sight in COVID-19 patients and has also been found to be a cause of death among young people with the infection.

In an exclusive interview with Times Now Digital, Dr B Hygriv Rao, Sr. Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist, KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad, talked about the difference in the prognosis of coronavirus infection, in heart patients. Exploring the link, risk factors, and heart diseases among children, DrRao explained how the virus can lead to thickening of the blood, clots, and other heart problems. Below are excerpts from the interview.

Anushree Gupta: What increases the risk of COVID-19 among heart patients?

Dr B Hygriv Rao: While COVID-19 is a respiratory disease and the basis of contracting the virus is the same (through respiratory droplets) in heart patients, once it enters the body, it causes direct damage to the lungs and triggers an inflammatory response which places stress on the cardiovascular system. This leads to a drop in blood oxygen levels and blood pressure. Therefore, the heart must pump oxygen-rich blood and this added stress is dangerous for people with heart disease. It poses a greater risk to people with an underlying heart condition such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, arrhythmia, or those with heart failure. They are thus at a higher risk of getting infected and more likely to develop severe symptoms.

Anushree Gupta: How closely are respiratory problems linked with heart diseases?

Dr B Hygriv Rao: Patients with heart disease are prone to respiratory infections. This is particularly more in those with heart failure as there is a tendency for water accumulation in the lungs. Many patients with prior heart attacks frequently have other comorbidities like diabetes which make them more susceptible to infections. Conversely, patients who suffer from respiratory infections like pneumonia, bronchitis and common flu have many-fold chances of getting a heart attack. Hence patients over 50 years of age with diabetes or hypertension or heart failure are advised to take vaccines to prevent pneumonia and flu. When a heart attack or heart failure occurs with pneumonia, the survival chances are diminished.

Anushree Gupta: Recent studies have shown that the coronavirus can affect more than just the lungs. What are the problems or complications heart patients can face due to COVID-19?

Dr B Hygriv Rao: COVID-19 causes a severe inflammatory response in the body which is the biggest cause of heart attacks, congestive heart failure and pulmonary embolism as the inflammation causes the benign plaque build-up in the arteries to swell, causing blood clots. Another condition that has been observed in patients who appear to be having a heart attack but are instead suffering from marked inflammation of the heart muscle is myocarditis. This can lead to many arrhythmias which can lead to cardiac arrest. There is also a tendency for fluid to accumulate around the heart. In addition, with cardiac involvement chances of heart failure increase. A rare condition called Takatsubo cardiomyopathy is associated with extreme mental stress, This leads to a massive surge of hormones like adrenaline and norepinephrine resulting in a ballooning of the apex of the heart muscle. This causes chest pain and heart failure which is fortunately reversible with treatment.

Anushree Gupta: What are some precautions heart disease patients should take during this pandemic?

Dr B Hygriv Rao: Patients with an underlying heart condition should undertake the following precautionary measures to protect themselves against the virus:

Anushree Gupta: Though kids are not at a high risk of COVID-19, cases among children are on a rise. We often associate heart diseases only with the elderly, but statistics show that they are pretty common in children as well. What are some tips for parents of such children during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Dr B Hygriv Rao: Although most COVID-19 cases in children are like any other viral infection and it can be fatal in children with underlying chronic diseases like heart disease. Parents should follow these measures to avoid infection:

Anushree Gupta: Recent reports have shown that the coronavirus infection is leading to thickening of blood, clots. What could be the cause behind this?

Dr B Hygriv Rao: It has been observed with COVID infection that there is an increase in procoagulant activity in the body in parallel with inflammation associated with the disease. Fibrinogen and D-Dimer levels increase. The tendency of platelets to aggregate also increases. All this leads to increased clot formation particularly in blood vessels of lungs where inflammation is most marked.

[Interview] – What parents of children with heart diseases must know about COVID-19 – How to keep them safe – Times Now

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