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Coronavirus questions for heart and stroke patients

I have COVID-19 symptoms. What should I do?

If you think you have the virus (or if you know you do), contact your health care professional for guidance. Don’t go out except for medical visits. Wear a mask covering your nose and mouth when around others, even in your home, if you can. Wash your hands frequently and disinfect commonly touched surfaces.

Make sure appropriate caregivers are available at home. Ensure there’s a separate bedroom or other space (and ideally, a separate bathroom) where you can recover without sharing space with others. Read more about coronavirus precautions for people with certain medical conditions and browse tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

I’ve heard COVID-19 isn’t just a respiratory disease. What other effects can the virus have on the body?

The coronavirus can affect almost every major bodily system. The virus can affect not just the lungs, but the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, skin, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Check with your health care professional about symptoms that concern you, and for severe symptoms seek emergency care.

Learn more:

Beyond breathing: How COVID-19 affects your heart, brain and other organs

What is "long-COVID"?

Nearly 7% of people who’ve had COVID-19 — many of them without symptoms — experience long-term, potentially disabling effects of the illness, called long COVID. Common symptoms of long COVID include persistent fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, and pain in the chest or joints.

People with long COVID also report problems like foggy thinking, a pounding or racing heart, depression, muscle pain, headache and intermittent fever. More serious complications can affect the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys and skin.

What do I need to know about the coronavirus if I have a heart valve problem?

The American Heart Association advises people with heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors to get vaccinated. Because of your condition you might face  of complications from COVID-19 if you contract the disease, which makes caution essential. Do everything possible to avoid exposure to the coronavirus, and follow expert advice after vaccination. Staying home and away from other people you don’t live with is critically important — especially if you are in your 60s or older.

Remember to take your medications as prescribed, stay in contact with your health care team, and be sure to eat well and be physically active. If you are preparing for a procedure, get plenty of rest. 

Is there a place where I can easily reach out to other cardiovascular patients and survivors?

Yes, the AHA’s  is just such a place. It’s an online community of survivors, caregivers, family members and friends. You’ll find information, advice and encouragement regarding many medical conditions as well as other topics. Hop on! It’s easy to join — and it’s free.

What do I need to know about the coronavirus if I have high blood pressure?

If you have high blood pressure, you of complications from COVID-19 if you contract the disease. The AHA urges that you get vaccinated, with any federally authorized vaccine that’s available to you, as soon as possible. Here’s more of what you need to know.

It’s prudent to be cautious and do everything possible to avoid exposure to COVID-19. Staying away from large groups of people outside your household is important — especially if you are in your 60s or older. And don’t forget the safety basics, such as wearing a mask in large groups in public and handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. The CDC has a full list of recommended precautions and offers advice for what you can do after you’re vaccinated.

Also, continue taking all your high blood pressure medications as prescribed, including . Using these medications if they are needed has been associated with lower risk of hospitalization and intubation/death from COVID-19. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, you should be thoroughly evaluated before adding or removing any treatments. People with high blood pressure and those with diabetes should keep in mind that your overall medical condition is much better if your blood pressure and are optimally controlled.

What do I need to know about the coronavirus if I have high blood pressure?

Because of your condition you  of complications from COVID-19 if you contract the disease. The AHA , with any federally authorized vaccine that’s available to you, as soon as possible. Here’s more of what you need to know.

It’s prudent to be cautious and do everything possible to avoid exposure to COVID-19. Staying away from other people outside your household is important — especially if you are in your 60s or older. And don’t forget the safety basics: wearing a mask in public, handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, not touching surfaces, and disinfecting surfaces regularly. The CDC has a full list of recommended precautions and offers advice for what you can do after you’re fully vaccinated.

Also, continue taking all your medications as prescribed, including . There is no evidence that these medicines increase your risk of contracting COVID-19. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, you should be thoroughly evaluated before adding or removing any treatments. And high blood pressure patients and diabetes patients should both keep in mind that your overall medical condition is much better if your blood pressure and are optimally controlled.

If I only have plaque buildup, does my mild heart disease put me at the same level of risk as people with more severe heart disease?

It’s possible. The coronavirus’s inflammatory effects in theory could raise your risk of heart attack. So, if you have COVID-19 and severe chest discomfort or other cardiac symptoms, seek help immediately. Your best bet is to get vaccinated, take all the recommended precautions to avoid getting COVID-19, and stay heart-healthy by continuing your cholesterol medications and getting appropriate exercise each day.

What should children and adults with congenital heart defects, or those caring for them, be doing?

Congenital heart defects can raise the risk for severe COVID in children and teens. These patients also should be doing the same as everyone else in terms of coronavirus prevention, including getting vaccinated for COVID-19. In addition, people with congenital heart defects should continue to take their regular medications.  They should call their health care team if there are any new symptoms or problems — and seek emergency help for severe symptoms.

What do I need to know about the coronavirus if I have heart failure?

Because of your condition you face  of complications from COVID-19 if you contract the disease, which makes caution extremely important.  The AHA , with any available vaccine, as soon as you can. Also, avoid exposure to the coronavirus. Staying away from large groups of people and people who are ill is important — especially if you are unvaccinated or in your 60s or older. And don’t forget the safety basics: getting vaccinated, wearing a mask in large groups of people and handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. The  has a full list of recommended precautions.

Stay in contact with your health care team, eat well, be physically active and take all your medications as prescribed. (Make sure you have at least a 30-day supply of each of your heart disease medications.) If you aren’t already doing so, make note of your symptoms each day so you can better manage your condition. (You can use our HF Symptom Tracker.) And be sure to seek emergency help right away if needed.

I heard a rumor that my medication could put me at risk. Is that true?

The first thing you should do if you hear a rumor about your medication is contact your health care professional or pharmacist. Check with your health care team regularly for any updates regarding your medication(s). 

Early in the pandemic, there was unsubstantiated information going around about potential COVID-19 risks for patients who were already prescribed medications for high blood pressure, heart failure and other heart disease. The AHA, Heart Failure Society of America and American College of Cardiology jointly published a  providing expert guidance, including advice for patients to continue use of prescribed drugs known as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-i) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB).

What do I need to know about the coronavirus if I have atrial fibrillation?

In general, .  Many AFib patients are older and have other cardiovascular conditions that evidence shows do increase risk, such as heart failure or Type 2 diabetes.

To be safe, get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as you can, and do everything possible to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. Remember the safety basics: getting vaccinated, wearing a mask in large groups in public and around people who are ill, and handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. The has a full list of recommended precautions. And don’t forget to take your medications as prescribed, stay in contact with your health care team, and be sure to eat well and be physically active.

Should I avoid contact with pets if I’m sick with COVID-19?

Yes, you should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you’re sick with COVID-19, just like you should with people, according to the CDC. Some pets have been reported to have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after contact with people who have the disease.  Of those who have gotten sick, the illness was mostly mild, and they fully recovered.  There’s no evidence pets or other animals in the U.S. might be a source of infection with the coronavirus. However, animals can spread other diseases to people, so always practice healthy habits after being around them.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.