How to fight COVID from your heart

World Heart Day

The COVID pandemic that engulfed humanity this year has brought the importance of health care in society to the forefront. In these trying times your health can determine your survival. A strong and healthy person with a strong immunity can beat an infection by the Coronavirus which otherwise can kill you should your health and immunity be below par. On the occasion of the World Heart Day 2020, the theme this year is to "use Heart....for Society, your loved ones and you"...with the aim to spread the concept of a healthy heart and take appropriate measures to improve heart health amongst one and all and thereby prevent cardiovascular disease(CVD) and bring down mortality and

morbidity of this number one killer disease. A healthy heart is at the core of a healthy body. Various preventive measures have been identified of which the four important ones are, controlling and treating high blood pressure. (Hypertension), controlling raised sugar levels in blood (Diabetes), stopping the use of Tobacco (smoking, chewing tobacco, adding tobacco to supari & betel nut) and having a healthy life style (incorporating a heart healthy diet which includes fruits & vegetables, adequate exercise, avoid obesity & sedentary lifestyle, optimizing mental and social well being). If these are taken care of almost 85% CVD related deaths from stroke & heart attacks can be prevented.

CVD is now the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide and is reported to have caused 17.9 million deaths per year mostly preventable. But once a person develops Heart disease he has to take effective and timely action to reach a doctor at an appropriate treatment facility to save life and prevent disability. This usually involves medical management by a Cardiologist and may need invasive procedures by an Interventional Cardiologist like angiography, angioplasty (balloon dilation of blocks in the coronary artery), and stenting (using bare metal or drug eluting stents to keep the vessel patent for a prolonged period). But in certain situations medical mangement is inadequate and the person has to go for more aggressive treatment by surgery.

Heart surgery is an unavoidable but highly beneficial reality of life and will have to be done in those situations wherein heart ailments cannot be treated with medicine or other treatments haven't worked. Heart surgery has saved millions of lives worldwide and today with technological

Advancement it is very safe with a worldwide mortality of less than 3%. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is the most common operation done and approx 340,000 procedures are done per year in the USA with approx 70,000 being done annually in India. During CABG surgery

a blocked coronary (heart) artery is bypassed by grafting with a healthy artery or vein from the patient's body and thereby restore normal blood flow to the heart. It is done to treat multiple blocks in those patients suffering from Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) who are not treatable by angioplasty & stenting. CAD patients become symptomatic as the blood flow to the heart muscle gets reduced impairing the hearts primary function as a pump to provide adequate circulation to the body and the vital organs. Many a time this leads to heart attacks (myocardial infarction) and sudden death when the heart stops beating (pumping) all of a sudden. Adequate Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with timely hospitalization can save many lives in these situations.

Heart surgery is also used to Repair or Replace Heart valves which control blood flow through the heart in those patients with congenital or acquired valvular heart disease. It is also used to repair abnormal or damaged structures in the heart, implant medical devices that can help control heart function and blood flow to support heart function or control the heartbeat. Heart surgery is also used to control abnormal heart rhythms (arrythmia surgery) or replace the damaged heart by heart transplantation with a healthy donor heart. Surgery is also done to treat heart failure by modifying and restoring the shape of the damaged heart. With technological advancements minimally invasive and robotic techniques to do heart surgery have been developed. Once a patient undergoes a successful heart surgery it is of paramount importance that he understands that he is now a Heart Hero. He will have to be pro active to maintain a healthy heart by strictly following the doctor's advice along with timely medication and check up and take the pledge to be a conscientious member of society with the responsibility of not only caring for his heart but to share his experience with his fellow human beings and help support them and educate them to lead a healthy life with a healthy heart and thereby reducing CVD burden in society.

However, should a person develop heart ailments that require medical treatment or heart surgery there is nothing to be scared or alarmed and he should proceed with the treatment with a positive attitude and take the pledge to be a Heart Hero and thereby an asset to society.

Once he recovers he should use his heart for himself, his loved ones and society by sharing his experience and knowledge for a better quality of life, by influencing others by setting an example and by being compassionate and looking beyond the self and supporting and guiding the vulnerable section of society with Heart ailments so that they can be in the best possible state of health.

The best and infalliable answer to the corona pandemic is a strong and healthy body which is only possible with a healthy heart.