“Take the coronavirus seriously. Do all you can to avoid getting infected, but at the same time, do not ignore symptoms of a heart disease (chest pain, breathlessness, palpitation, etc.) as this could be life threatening,” says Prof. (Dr.) Davinder Singh Chadha, Consultant Cardiologist, Manipal Hospitals, Bangalore.
Though the relentless spread of coronavirus around the globe has grabbed everyone’s attention, people with heart diseases need to be extra attentive as they are at a greater risk of developing a prolonged, complicated COVID infection.
“Take the coronavirus seriously. Do all you can to avoid getting infected, but at the same time, do not ignore symptoms of a heart disease (chest pain, breathlessness, palpitation, etc.) as this could be life threatening,” says Prof (Dr.) Davinder Singh Chadha, Consultant Cardiologist, Manipal Hospitals, Bangalore. Dr. Chadha further shared his views and recommendations for patients with heart diseases, especially ones with no symptoms for many years.
One of the commonest conditions affecting the elderly is Aortic Stenosis (AS). AS is the abnormal narrowing/calcification of the aortic valve, which restricts the flow of blood from heart to rest of the body. The mortality rate among patients with Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis is 50% within an average of two years if they do not have their aortic valve replaced [1]. During the asymptomatic phase, the disease can be picked up by prudent medical examination like ECG and echocardiography.
Conventionally, the disorder is treated with open heart surgery wherein the aortic valve is replaced with an artificial valve. Open-heart surgery carries additional risks in older population, who often have other disorders. An alternative to this is a new, less invasive option called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). It involves replacing the diseased valve via a catheter (carrying the new artificial valve) which is introduced through a blood vessel in the lower limb. Using advanced imaging techniques, the catheter is guided to the diseased aortic valve. TAVR has become the standard of care for people with severe AS in whom open-heart surgery is considered too risky.
“With TAVR, your aortic valve is replaced with a new valve while your heart is still beating. It does not require patients to have their chest cut open. In majority of the patients, the procedure is done under local anesthesia and conscious sedation (patient is awake but may not speak). The entire procedure lasts for 1-2 hours and within 12 hours of the procedure the patient can walk around and is discharged in 2-3 days,” Dr. Chadha says.
To conclude, Dr. Chadha reiterates TAVR as an effective procedure that may correct the structurally abnormal aortic valve and not only improve the quality of life, but also reduce the risk of death. There is general misconception that the prevalence of heart diseases has come down during COVID. Coronavirus does not protect your heart. If you are experiencing symptoms and there is even slightest doubt that your heart needs to be attended to, get your heart condition evaluated as soon as possible. The longer you delay, the greater is your risk of developing complications, most of which are irreversible. Do not delay and seek care today.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the doctors are their independent professional judgment and we do not take any responsibility for the accuracy of their views. This should not be considered as a substitute for physician's advice. Please consult your treating physician for more details.
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