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Recognizing, Diagnosing and Treating COVID-19 in Heart Patients
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj discusses recognizing, diagnosing and treating COVID-19 in heart patients.
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Hem Bhardwaj, MD
Dr. Bhardwaj joined the VCU Pauley Heart Center as an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine/Cardiology in 2011 following completion of her Cardiology fellowship at VCU. Dr. Bhardwaj’s clinical expertise includes performing and reading transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms, as well stress tests. Dr. Bhardwaj has outpatient clinics both on the MCV campus and at Stony Point.Learn more about Hem Bhardwaj, MD
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Caitlyn Whyte: Over 30 million Americans are diagnosed with heart disease and are more at risk for severe COVID-19. Dr. Hem Bhardwaj is a cardiologist at VCU Health Pauley Heart Center. And she joins us today on Healthy with VCU Health to share the risks and also provide hope as we battle a resurgence of COVID-19 in our community.
Welcome to Healthy with VCU Health. I'm your host, Caitlin Whyte. So Dr. Bhardwaj, do people with heart conditions have a higher risk of developing a more severe case of COVID-19?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: Yes. In fact, they do. Research has shown that people with heart conditions, including coronary artery disease or heart failure have a higher risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19 and dying from the disease compared to healthy people.
Caitlyn Whyte: So as a cardiologist, what do you think or what do you wish more of your patients knew?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: Well, I think the number one important thing to do is to keep in touch with your doctor. Now we're using telehealth, we're seeing patients via video conferencing to respect the need for the physical distancing. So keep in touch with your doctor, especially if you have any symptoms.
If you have any cardiac studies ordered such as a heart ultrasound or a stress test, please keep those appointments. That's very important. The other thing you should do is continue your home medications. Don't stop taking any of your prescription medications, unless you talk to your doctor first.
One of the biggest mistakes I've seen patients make is ignoring symptoms, chest pain, or shortness of breath, and just ignoring them. If you have any symptoms, it's important to reach out to your doctor or call 911, and go to the emergency room. It's important to know that even with COVID-19, our hospitals are safe. At the first sign of chest pain symptoms, if you think you're having a stroke, call 911. Do not delay care.
And I think the other biggest thing to talk about is continue to take care of your heart. Take it one day at a time. This pandemic we have has been stressful for everyone, but you need to take care of yourself. There are a variety of resources that VCU has to help with patients' wellness. We have a wellness library and the VCU Health Hub at 25th that offer a variety of virtual events to learn more about eating healthy and the importance of wellness.
In fact, speaking of wellness, exercise is important. So make sure that if you can, you get exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes, if possible a day, but if you can't do it every day, a few times a week. Something is better than nothing.
And then finally, don't ignore your family and friends. Although with this COVID-19 pandemic, we do need to distance. It's really physical distancing to keep safe, but you can maintain a social life via Zoom calls, FaceTime, phone calls. So remember to continue to reach out to your family and friends.
Caitlyn Whyte: Now, we're about a year into this pandemic, but still, I feel like people get confused on, you know, what we can do to reduce our odds of getting COVID-19. Can you walk us through some of those?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: Yes, definitely. A couple of very important things, because we all want to see COVID-19 pass so we can get back to normality. So wearing a mask, key. Washing your hands, also key. Keeping a distance. I like to say physical distance, because I still want you to maintain social contact via the phone via FaceTime with family and friends. But distancing is very important. Avoiding large groups. Wait to gather. Only stay with the people in your bubble for now and then register for the vaccine when you are eligible.
Caitlyn Whyte: Well, that leads me into my next question. Everyone is talking about the vaccine right now. Is that something you're recommending to your patients?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: Because patients with heart disease are at higher risk of having worse outcomes if they get COVID-19, yes. We are still learning more about the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC outlines vaccine considerations for individuals with underlying medical conditions. Because we know the risk, I expect most of my patients to want the vaccine. I myself have been vaccinated. And the vaccine is a very powerful tool along with wearing a mask, staying home, washing your hands. It's a tool that we can use to stop this pandemic.
Caitlyn Whyte: What about patients who don't want the vaccine at first? How do you navigate those conversations?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: Well, I think everybody has to make their own decision when it comes to the vaccine. But I will tell you the vaccine, although it came up quickly in some people's eyes, we've been working on vaccines for viruses for a long time and we just utilized that information to come up with a COVID-19 vaccine.
Yes, there are side effects. But those side effects are better than being in a hospital hospitalized, maybe being on a breathing tube or, at worst, dying.
So I will tell you that it is an individual decision. I advocate for the vaccine. And in fact, I have many, many of my own patients who are messaging me every day to try to get the vaccine because they understand the importance.
Caitlyn Whyte: Great. Well, Dr. Bhardwaj, is there anything else that you want your patients to know when it comes to COVID-19 and keeping that heart healthy?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: I know it's a tough time for everybody out there with this pandemic. We know that patients with heart disease are higher risk of having worse outcomes, so it's very important to not only protect yourself, but do things to protect everyone else. Wear a mask, wash your hands, maintain distancing, wait to gather.
And if you have the opportunity and when you have the opportunity to get the vaccine, really consider doing so.
Caitlyn Whyte: You've been listening to Dr. Hem Bhardwaj of VCU Health Pauley Heart Center, cardiologist. To learn more about heart diseases and COVID-19, visit VCUHealth.org/heart. You can also schedule an appointment by calling (804) 628-4327.
And you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We're at VCU Health Heart on all those platforms. Thanks for checking out this episode of Healthy with VCU Health. I'm Caitlin Whyte. We'll see you next time.
Caitlyn Whyte: Over 30 million Americans are diagnosed with heart disease and are more at risk for severe COVID-19. Dr. Hem Bhardwaj is a cardiologist at VCU Health Pauley Heart Center. And she joins us today on Healthy with VCU Health to share the risks and also provide hope as we battle a resurgence of COVID-19 in our community.
Welcome to Healthy with VCU Health. I'm your host, Caitlin Whyte. So Dr. Bhardwaj, do people with heart conditions have a higher risk of developing a more severe case of COVID-19?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: Yes. In fact, they do. Research has shown that people with heart conditions, including coronary artery disease or heart failure have a higher risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19 and dying from the disease compared to healthy people.
Caitlyn Whyte: So as a cardiologist, what do you think or what do you wish more of your patients knew?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: Well, I think the number one important thing to do is to keep in touch with your doctor. Now we're using telehealth, we're seeing patients via video conferencing to respect the need for the physical distancing. So keep in touch with your doctor, especially if you have any symptoms.
If you have any cardiac studies ordered such as a heart ultrasound or a stress test, please keep those appointments. That's very important. The other thing you should do is continue your home medications. Don't stop taking any of your prescription medications, unless you talk to your doctor first.
One of the biggest mistakes I've seen patients make is ignoring symptoms, chest pain, or shortness of breath, and just ignoring them. If you have any symptoms, it's important to reach out to your doctor or call 911, and go to the emergency room. It's important to know that even with COVID-19, our hospitals are safe. At the first sign of chest pain symptoms, if you think you're having a stroke, call 911. Do not delay care.
And I think the other biggest thing to talk about is continue to take care of your heart. Take it one day at a time. This pandemic we have has been stressful for everyone, but you need to take care of yourself. There are a variety of resources that VCU has to help with patients' wellness. We have a wellness library and the VCU Health Hub at 25th that offer a variety of virtual events to learn more about eating healthy and the importance of wellness.
In fact, speaking of wellness, exercise is important. So make sure that if you can, you get exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes, if possible a day, but if you can't do it every day, a few times a week. Something is better than nothing.
And then finally, don't ignore your family and friends. Although with this COVID-19 pandemic, we do need to distance. It's really physical distancing to keep safe, but you can maintain a social life via Zoom calls, FaceTime, phone calls. So remember to continue to reach out to your family and friends.
Caitlyn Whyte: Now, we're about a year into this pandemic, but still, I feel like people get confused on, you know, what we can do to reduce our odds of getting COVID-19. Can you walk us through some of those?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: Yes, definitely. A couple of very important things, because we all want to see COVID-19 pass so we can get back to normality. So wearing a mask, key. Washing your hands, also key. Keeping a distance. I like to say physical distance, because I still want you to maintain social contact via the phone via FaceTime with family and friends. But distancing is very important. Avoiding large groups. Wait to gather. Only stay with the people in your bubble for now and then register for the vaccine when you are eligible.
Caitlyn Whyte: Well, that leads me into my next question. Everyone is talking about the vaccine right now. Is that something you're recommending to your patients?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: Because patients with heart disease are at higher risk of having worse outcomes if they get COVID-19, yes. We are still learning more about the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC outlines vaccine considerations for individuals with underlying medical conditions. Because we know the risk, I expect most of my patients to want the vaccine. I myself have been vaccinated. And the vaccine is a very powerful tool along with wearing a mask, staying home, washing your hands. It's a tool that we can use to stop this pandemic.
Caitlyn Whyte: What about patients who don't want the vaccine at first? How do you navigate those conversations?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: Well, I think everybody has to make their own decision when it comes to the vaccine. But I will tell you the vaccine, although it came up quickly in some people's eyes, we've been working on vaccines for viruses for a long time and we just utilized that information to come up with a COVID-19 vaccine.
Yes, there are side effects. But those side effects are better than being in a hospital hospitalized, maybe being on a breathing tube or, at worst, dying.
So I will tell you that it is an individual decision. I advocate for the vaccine. And in fact, I have many, many of my own patients who are messaging me every day to try to get the vaccine because they understand the importance.
Caitlyn Whyte: Great. Well, Dr. Bhardwaj, is there anything else that you want your patients to know when it comes to COVID-19 and keeping that heart healthy?
Dr. Hem Bhardwaj: I know it's a tough time for everybody out there with this pandemic. We know that patients with heart disease are higher risk of having worse outcomes, so it's very important to not only protect yourself, but do things to protect everyone else. Wear a mask, wash your hands, maintain distancing, wait to gather.
And if you have the opportunity and when you have the opportunity to get the vaccine, really consider doing so.
Caitlyn Whyte: You've been listening to Dr. Hem Bhardwaj of VCU Health Pauley Heart Center, cardiologist. To learn more about heart diseases and COVID-19, visit VCUHealth.org/heart. You can also schedule an appointment by calling (804) 628-4327.
And you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We're at VCU Health Heart on all those platforms. Thanks for checking out this episode of Healthy with VCU Health. I'm Caitlin Whyte. We'll see you next time.