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QNA
Doha
Patients with high blood pressure may be at greater risk of developing severe complications if infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19), and therefore they must take more precautions, the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has warned.
Dr Mawahib Ali El Hassan, acting director of the Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at HMC’s Heart Hospital, said people with high blood pressure may be more susceptible to complications from COVID-19 and should take extra precautions to avoid contracting the virus.
“We don’t yet fully understand why people with poor cardiovascular health and high blood pressure seem to be at higher risk for more severe illness from this virus, but what we do know is that COVID-19 puts a strain on the lungs and this also burdens the heart. For this reason, it is extra important that anyone who has poor cardiovascular health takes extra precautions,” said Dr Hassan.
“COVID-19 is a new coronavirus so we are still learning about its pathology, including how it attacks the body. Available data from China, where the virus originated, seems to indicate that individuals with cardiovascular disease and hypertension are among those who experienced worse outcomes. We encourage people with these conditions to exercise a greater degree of prevention and protection,” she said.
Dr Hassan said high blood pressure means the heart must work harder to pump blood around the body.
She said high blood pressure causes the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart to lose their elasticity and narrow, which places individuals with the condition at an increased risk for a heart attack.
While allaying the fears of patients with high blood pressure, Dr Hassan urged them to follow their doctor’s instructions and take extra precautions to prevent contracting the virus.
She said, “It is normal for people to feel concerned, especially if they have a preexisting medical condition. My advice for any patients with high blood pressure is to follow prevention guidelines around personal hygiene and social distancing, which includes avoiding places where they might encounter crowds, like busy grocery stores.
“They should also continue to follow whatever directive they’ve been given by their doctor, including taking any prescribed medications. It is also really important for people to ensure they are getting information about COVID-19 from reliable sources, like the Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organization (WHO).”
Dr Hassan said defensive steps everyone can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include avoiding people who are sick, thoroughly washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands, and frequently cleaning surfaces touched often, like doorknobs, handles, steering wheels and light switches.
The Ministry of Public Health has established a dedicated website (www.moph.gov.qa) to provide the public with updates on the current situation as well as information on how to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. A hotline (16000), which is available 24 hours a day to answer COVID-19 related queries and an educational social media campaign have also been launched, with the MoPH, HMC and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) sharing infographics and videos through their social media channels.
Doha
Patients with high blood pressure may be at greater risk of developing severe complications if infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19), and therefore they must take more precautions, the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has warned.
Dr Mawahib Ali El Hassan, acting director of the Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at HMC’s Heart Hospital, said people with high blood pressure may be more susceptible to complications from COVID-19 and should take extra precautions to avoid contracting the virus.
“We don’t yet fully understand why people with poor cardiovascular health and high blood pressure seem to be at higher risk for more severe illness from this virus, but what we do know is that COVID-19 puts a strain on the lungs and this also burdens the heart. For this reason, it is extra important that anyone who has poor cardiovascular health takes extra precautions,” said Dr Hassan.
“COVID-19 is a new coronavirus so we are still learning about its pathology, including how it attacks the body. Available data from China, where the virus originated, seems to indicate that individuals with cardiovascular disease and hypertension are among those who experienced worse outcomes. We encourage people with these conditions to exercise a greater degree of prevention and protection,” she said.
Dr Hassan said high blood pressure means the heart must work harder to pump blood around the body.
She said high blood pressure causes the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart to lose their elasticity and narrow, which places individuals with the condition at an increased risk for a heart attack.
While allaying the fears of patients with high blood pressure, Dr Hassan urged them to follow their doctor’s instructions and take extra precautions to prevent contracting the virus.
She said, “It is normal for people to feel concerned, especially if they have a preexisting medical condition. My advice for any patients with high blood pressure is to follow prevention guidelines around personal hygiene and social distancing, which includes avoiding places where they might encounter crowds, like busy grocery stores.
“They should also continue to follow whatever directive they’ve been given by their doctor, including taking any prescribed medications. It is also really important for people to ensure they are getting information about COVID-19 from reliable sources, like the Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organization (WHO).”
Dr Hassan said defensive steps everyone can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include avoiding people who are sick, thoroughly washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands, and frequently cleaning surfaces touched often, like doorknobs, handles, steering wheels and light switches.
The Ministry of Public Health has established a dedicated website (www.moph.gov.qa) to provide the public with updates on the current situation as well as information on how to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. A hotline (16000), which is available 24 hours a day to answer COVID-19 related queries and an educational social media campaign have also been launched, with the MoPH, HMC and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) sharing infographics and videos through their social media channels.
