The pandemic was hard on everyone, in just about every way. For those people who contracted the virus, there were obvious physical implications. But virtually no one was left untouched by the emotional and mental anxiety of the shutdown and resulting economic downturn.
For most people, the focus was on the lungs. After all, COVID-19 is a respiratory virus. Along with its behavioral and socioeconomic impacts, COVID-19 also took a toll on the heart. Especially those of women.
Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women. In addition, women are twice as likely as men to develop depression, another growing issue during the pandemic. Now researchers believe that the two are connected.
“Depression doubles the risk for heart disease,” says Mehreen Qureshi, MD, cardiologist at UPMC in Central Pennsylvania. “When you look at the data, women appear most vulnerable to both conditions.”
“Women are still underdiagnosed with heart disease, in part because too many providers focus more on a woman’s mental health,” says Dr. Qureshi. “The connection between mind and body should become more prevalent.”
COVID-19 and heart disease:
a double-edged sword
As we all know, either from our own experience or that of a friend or loved one, COVID-19 presents with a varying severity of different symptoms in each person. Even though it is a respiratory virus that attacks the lungs, the virus also forces the heart to work harder and faster to pump oxygen-rich blood to the lungs and other major organs. In some instances, COVID-19 has also been shown to cause blood clots that can weaken the heart muscle.
Complicating matters is the fact that people who are already suffering from heart disease are more at risk for serious complications if they are infected with COVID-19. And when it comes to women, many have downplayed their signs of heart disease. Therefore, they are unknowingly more in danger of contracting serious disease or COVID-19.
“When you consider that heart disease is 80% preventable by reducing the risk factors such as obesity, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking, patients realize they have a level of control in regulating their blood pressure, sugars, and cholesterol,” says Dr. Qureshi.
UPMC in Central Pennsylvania offers collaborative care across the region, giving women the information, choices, and access to vital resources that they’ll need to practice self-care and fend off heart disease, depression, and anxiety — as well as live a healthier life in general.
There are in-person classes and events promoting healthy lifestyle choices, as well as plenty of online resources for women to access at home or on the go.
Partners in care
Check your heart: Women are at increased risk of heart disease and depression
FEBRUARY 2023
Interview with:
Mehreen Qureshi, MD, cardiologist
Increased stress not only puts a direct burden on the heart, but anxiety also often leads to unhealthy lifestyle choices, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and difficulty sleeping. It’s a vicious cycle that was only worsened by the pandemic and its aftermath.
That’s why healthcare providers like Dr. Qureshi and her colleagues at UPMC are urging everyone to pay extra close attention to women’s hearts this February, which is American Heart Health Month.
“Establishing a relationship with a primary care provider (PCP) can help women get ahead of potential problems such as heart disease, depression, or anxiety,” says Dr. Qureshi. “Being healthy today includes preventative care to achieve and maintain wellness.”
“The connection between mind and body”
The pandemic might have worsened or brought more attention to depression, but mental health has always had a two-way connection to heart health.
According to the American Heart Association, a third of heart attack patients develop some degree of depression, which, even in a mild form, increases the chance of heart disease in women almost threefold. The emotions associated with depression and anxiety release the stress hormone cortisol, which has been linked with an increased risk of heart disease and heart attack.
Once a person becomes depressed, it gets harder for them to make healthy lifestyle decisions. They lean on unhealthy habits to cope, such as overeating, smoking, or drinking alcohol. They stop exercising and become lethargic and sedentary.
That’s why practicing self-care is essential in preventing heart disease. But you don’t have to go it alone.
In other words, they realize they have control over their heart health.
For more information about women’s health services at UPMC, call 717-231-8900 or visit UPMC.com/CentralPaHeart.
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