Paid Advertisement
FEBRUARY IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH HEART FAILURE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW
Is there a link between COVID-19 and heart failure?
Over 6 million American adults suffer from heart failure, and that number is expected to grow to 8 million by 2030 according to the American Heart Association. What is heart failure? What causes it? How can it bemanaged? And is there a linkage between COVID-19 and heart failure? Cardiologist Sanjay Lulla, DO, answers these and other frequently asked questions about heart failure. Dr. Lulla is affiliatedwithMemorial HermannHealth System and sees patients at Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital. What is heart failure? Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood effectively. There are two types, which can lead to similar clinical symptoms. The heart can become stiff or unable to relax, called diastolic heart failure, or it can become weak and unable to pump blood effectively, called systolic heart failure. What are the symptoms? Heart failure can present with a constellation of symptoms, including shortness of breath, exertional fatigue (becoming short of breath with activity), generalized fatigue, swelling (particularly in the lower extremities or in the abdomen, if there is significant f luid accumulation), difficulty breathing when lying down, or waking up in the middle of the night coughing or gasping for air. What are the risk factors for heart failure? Risk factors for heart failure include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, tobacco use, sleep apnea and valvular heart disease, including significant narrowing (stenosis) or leaking (regurgitation) of a heart valve. Systolic heart failure is most often caused by coronary artery disease, especially in older patients with multiple medical problems. Other causes include hypertension, irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and valvular heart disease. Diastolic heart failure is commonly caused
by longstanding hypertension and obesity. Are some people more susceptible to heart failure than others? Yes, individuals with multiple medical problems, including diabetes, hypertension, tobacco use and valvular heart disease, are more susceptible to developing heart failure. Heart failure ismore common in the elderly population, with the risk significantly increasing after age 65. In addition, heart failure is more prevalent among certain ethnicities, including African Americans, who are at a greater risk of nonischemic cardiomyopathy, or heart failure without underlying coronary artery disease. These individuals may have a familial/genetic component or an idiopathic (unknown) cause of heart failure. How is heart failure diagnosed? Heart failure is a clinical diagnosis based on the patient’s medical history, clinical symptoms and physical examination. Diagnosis is confirmed via lab work and an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram), which enables us to evaluate the heart function in detail. How can I prevent getting heart failure? The best way to prevent heart failure is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. While we are unable to control non- modif iable risk factors, such as our genetic predisposition to (family history of ) high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease, we can control modifiable risk factors, such as maintaining an optimal weight with diet and exercise, avoiding tobacco use and controlling hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes. Is heart failure the same thing as heart attack? No, a heart attack is due to an acute blockage within a blood vessel that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the heart. This acute blockage and underlying coronary artery disease can lead to heart failure, but they are two different entities.
While there is no proven link between COVID-19 and long- term risk of heart failure, we do know that acute, severe COVID-19 infection can lead to inf lammation of the heart, calledmyocarditis, whichmay lead to acute heart failure. What treatments are available for heart failure at Memorial Hermann Northeast? We utilize the latest treatmentmodalities and therapies to treat heart failure. Should a patient require more advanced heart failure therapies, such as mechanical circulatory support or heart transplantation, they can be seamlessly transferred to the Center for Advanced Heart Failure at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center for a higher level of care. Are there any new advancements on the horizon at Memorial Hermann to treat heart failure? Memorial Hermann participates inmultiple ongoing research studies looking at novel therapies, including medications that can improve survival in heart failure, improve quality of life and reduce hospitalizations related to heart failure. In addition, researchers are looking at new devices for mechanical circulatory support. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of heart attack, seek immediate emergency medical attention. If you believe you are at risk for—or are experiencing symptoms of—heart failure, talk to your primary care physician or a cardiologist right away. Early diagnosis and treatment can extend and improve your quality of life. Sanjay Lulla, DO Cardiologist
To learn more, or to schedule an appointment with a Memorial Hermann affiliated physician, visit memorialhermann.org/heart
Advancing health. Personalizing care.
19
LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
Powered by FlippingBook