What if someone with heart disease gets a cold? (Heart Disease and Colds) - Let's be careful!

Do you have heart disease, high blood pressure , or any other heart- related condition? Then you need to be a little more careful about the common cold or flu. Even if you think, "Oh, this is just a common cold," this can sometimes cause serious complications for someone with heart disease . So today, let's talk about how to be aware of this and how to protect yourself.

Why can a common cold be dangerous for a heart patient?

Simply put, when you have a cold, your body is fighting the infection. This fight puts extra stress on the body. While a healthy person without heart disease can handle this stress, it is an extra burden on a heart that is already weak or has a disease.

Imagine that your cold has gotten worse and turned into something like pneumonia . Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. This is when your lungs have difficulty absorbing enough oxygen into your blood.

What happens now? To send oxygen to all the other parts of the body, the heart has to work much harder than usual. Just like when a water pump has a blockage somewhere in the pipeline, the motor has to work harder and with more force. Having to work extra hard on an already weak heart increases the risk of a serious condition such as a heart attack or worsening heart failure .

Can I buy any medicine for a cold at the pharmacy? - No!

This is the most important thing. When we get a cold, many of us are used to going to the pharmacy and asking for a packet of cold medicine, a pill, or a syrup. But if you have a heart condition, this is very dangerous to do .

Many cold medicines, especially those for nasal congestion, contain a chemical called a decongestant . These work by dilating the blood vessels in the body.To constrict. When the blood vessels in the nose constrict, the stuffiness in the nose decreases. But this effect is not limited to the nose. When the blood vessels throughout the body constrict, your blood pressure suddenly increases. And your heart rate also increases.

Imagine how dangerous this could be for someone who is already taking medication to control their high blood pressure, or for someone who has heart disease. So, let's look at what medications you should and shouldn't take.

What should we do to protect ourselves from colds?

The best thing to do is to prevent the disease from developing, rather than taking medication. As a heart patient, that's very important for you.

1. Wash your hands often.

This is the best protection. You and your family should make it a habit to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water regularly. Especially after coming from outside, before eating, and after using the toilet.

2. Avoid crowded places

Avoid crowded places (buses, trains, fairs, festivals) as much as possible during cold and flu epidemics (usually during the rainy season).

3. Keep the immune system strong

The immune system is the body's army that fights disease. To keep it strong, do these things:

• Sleep well: Get 7-8 hours of good sleep a day.
• Eat nutritious foods: Include fresh vegetables, fruits, and green vegetables in your diet.
• Exercise: As directed by your doctor, do light exercise, such as walking, every day.
• Manage stress: Stress is a big enemy of the immune system. Listen to your favorite song, talk to your family, and engage in religious rituals.

4. Get Vaccinations

Although there is no vaccine for the common cold, there are vaccines to protect against other infections that cause similar symptoms but are more dangerous. These are extremely important for a heart patient.

• Flu Vaccine: This is a vaccine that protects against the influenza virus, which causes fever, body aches, and more severe symptoms than the common cold. Doctors recommend that everyone with heart disease get this vaccine every year . It is best to get it before the flu season starts (usually before October). Ask your doctor about this.
• Pneumonia Vaccine: There are vaccines available to protect against the bacteria that cause pneumonia. This vaccine is usually recommended for people over the age of 65 and those with chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Talk to your doctor about whether you need this and when to get it.

Red Flags When You Should See a Doctor Immediately

If you have heart disease and develop a cold and any of the following symptoms, see your doctor immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department (ETU) .

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
• Feeling of chest pain, tightness, or pressure.
• Severe dizziness or loss of consciousness.
• Confusion.
• A high fever that does not go down despite taking medicine.
• Your heart disease symptoms (e.g., swelling in the legs, shortness of breath) increase.