Corona infection: advice for heart patients

Lisa Vogel studied departmental journalism with a focus on medicine and biosciences at Ansbach University and deepened her journalistic knowledge in the master's degree in multimedia information and communication. This was followed by a traineeship in the editorial team. Since September 2020 she has been writing as a freelance journalist for

More posts by Lisa Vogel All content is checked by medical journalists.

Heart patients do not have an increased risk of contracting the coronavirus. Once infected, however, the risk for them is sometimes significantly higher. That has consequences for everyday life.

Keep your distance, follow hygiene rules: These general tips in the fight against coronavirus and Covid-19 are particularly important for people with heart disease. Because an infection with the virus can be very dangerous for you. There are also other points to consider:

Strengthen the heart

A Covid-19 outbreak can be hard work for the heart. This applies even if the disease does not affect the organ directly, explains the German Heart Foundation. Pneumonia can mean that there is no longer enough oxygen in the blood. If the blood pressure then falls as a result of the illness, the heart has to beat faster to compensate. This can overload the organ - especially if it has already been damaged.

It is therefore particularly important for patients to get their heart into the best possible state of performance and resistance. The foundation's experts therefore advise taking cardiovascular medication particularly carefully now. At least as important, however, are a healthy diet and, as far as possible, sufficient exercise.

Take symptoms seriously

Occasional breathing difficulties, for example after climbing stairs, are part of everyday life for many heart patients. However, shortness of breath is also an early sign of Covid-19. A worsening of the symptoms should therefore not be taken lightly, but should be clarified by a doctor - because it may not be the cause of the usual heart disease.

If the shortness of breath occurs suddenly and at rest, you should even dial 112 - regardless of the corona pandemic. Because sudden, seemingly unfounded shortness of breath can also be an indication of a heart attack.

Keep getting help

Some heart patients may be afraid of being infected in the hospital - so they don't call the doctor when they need to. The German Heart Foundation points out, however, that all offers of help for heart patients, even in emergencies, are still available regardless of the pandemic.

Patients should not cancel planned hospital stays either, advises the Heart Valve Initiative. If, for example, a heart valve operation is planned, those affected should prepare for it further - at least as long as they do not receive any other information from their doctor. However, particular caution is required after such an operation. Heart valve patients have a generally higher risk of infection after an operation, according to the initiative. (dpa)

Tags:  alcohol prevention healthy workplace