Hello. My name is Nick Teman, and I'm one of the cardiac surgeons at the University of Virginia. And since February is heart month, today I want to talk to you about COVID infection and its impact on your heart health. COVID infection can affect the heart in multiple ways. Patients with severe COVID infection can develop myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, and can lead to heart failure. 

But even patients with more mild cases of COVID pneumonia, can have increased stress on the heart, which could lead to angina or a heart attack. It's also important to recognize that patients with heart disease tend to develop more severe cases of COVID. So not only can COVID make your heart disease worse, but your heart disease can actually also make your COVID infection worse. 

Whether you have tested positive for COVID or not, the important thing to remember is to listen to your body and to not ignore symptoms that you may be having. We've seen patients with heart attacks, problems with their heart valves, or aortic dissection, who have come to the hospital very late out of concern for COVID exposure. And for these medical emergencies, it is always better to be evaluated sooner rather than later. 

Most of the care that we provide for COVID related heart disease is supportive care. Medicines that can help improve heart function and keep blood flow to vital organs. And some patients may require a coronary stent to treat a heart attack, or surgery to treat other emerging conditions. 

Patients with underlying heart failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other related conditions, are more at risk for COVID related heart problems. But we've also seen some patients that develop heart disease after COVID infection, even with a previously healthy heart. 

Even though it is more difficult because of the pandemic and social distancing, it is still very important to work on all of the things that we know keep your heart healthy. Exercise as often as you can, watch your diet, try to limit your sodium intake and your fat intake. Cut back on or stop smoking, and take the medications that your doctor has prescribed. Most importantly, if you have any new or concerning symptoms, please reach out to your doctor to discuss. 

UVA Health is taking every precaution to keep patients, staff, and visitors safe during the pandemic. Delaying your routine medical care isn't necessary, and avoiding the hospital during emergency could be catastrophic. If you have heart concerns, talk to your doctor about your options to receive care safely. Appointments with UVA providers are available both in person and virtually using telemedicine technology. Don't hesitate to seek care if you are experiencing any new or worsening symptoms.