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More pandemic health problems

COVID-19 weight gain could be dangerous, says cardiologist

ELIZABETH PATTERSON HEALTH REPORTER elizabeth.patterson@cbpost.com @CBPostElizabeth

SYDNEY — If you gained a few extra pounds during lockdown, keep reading.

Besides tighter clothes, the COVID-19 20 is becoming a serious issue for those who have or may not yet know they have cardiovascular issues, according to one Nova Scotia cardiologist.

A recent Heart and Stroke study examined the health impacts of COVID-19 beyond the actual pandemic, especially in regards to heart health.

Dr. Kim Anderson, a cardiologist specializing in advanced heart failure, transplantation and mechanical circulatory support for Nova Scotia Health at the Halifax Infirmary, has patients from across Atlantic Canada, including Cape Breton and she took part in the study which made several findings including an increase in a common reaction to a stressful situation — overeating and/or not exercising.

“I’ve really seen this,” said Anderson. “The anxiety amongst people who are living with heart disease or a caregiver for those people and the weight gain, lack of exercise, not going out of the house, restarting smoking, increased alcohol intake — that is a real fact that we have seen.

“I have seen a lot with alcohol intake raised, cigarette intake increased, and the weight gain has been quite significant for many people.”

Part of the problem arose during the isolation phase of the pandemic when many who may have been using heart-healthy programs to lose weight and get back into shape suddenly saw those programs stopped by COVID19 lockdowns. When they eventually resumed, it was to smaller numbers or virtual classes.

Twenty or 30 pounds of extra weight may not seem like a lot but if a lot of people have gained extra weight, especially those with underlying heart issues, it could result in long-term repercussions on the health care system.

“That will, unfortunately, mean a lot more work for the health-care system and those patients to lose that weight and go back to healthy habits to reduce the risk for further cardiovascular disease that will happen if they continue those wrong habits that were taken during the isolation period of the pandemic,” said Anderson.

If those extra pounds came from stress eating, it appears patients had plenty to worry about.

The study found 66 per cent of people living with a heart condition, stroke or vascular cognitive impairment had at least one medical appointment changed, delayed or cancelled during the pandemic. Often those in-person appointments were replaced by virtual or phone appointments, which had advantages and disadvantages, says Anderson. One disadvantage is that some heart and stroke patients may be more inclined to do a telephone appointment rather than a virtual appointment since they aren’t as tech savvy or have access to platforms like Zoom. But for others, there are definite advantages.

“For some patients, it helps them avoid travelling a long route to see a physician. For some of my patients who may be travelling three or four hours to come to see me for a 15-minute appointment, a telephone appointment has some advantage for them and it’s much less stressful,” she says, adding it’s still advantageous to see people in person when you can pick up on visual clues and can do a physical exam.

The study also made the following findings:

• Nine in 10 (90 per cent) health professionals and researchers are worried that the health of people living with heart disease or stroke has gotten worse because they were not always able to access the care they needed during the pandemic.

• Delays in diagnosis and treatment resulting in worse health was the biggest issue for people living with heart disease or stroke due to pandemic-related disruptions according to more than eight in 10 (82 per cent) health professionals and researchers.

• Over half (54 per cent) of health professionals and researchers cite mental health issues as significant for people living with heart disease or stroke as a result of the pandemic.

• Over half (54 per cent) of health professionals and researchers are worried about a decrease in cardiovascular health in people who did not have existing conditions prior to the pandemic.

• The pandemic is believed to have widened the health gap between those who have received appropriate care and those who do not with almost half (47 per cent) of health professionals and researchers flagging that those living with heart disease or stroke who were already vulnerable are now at even greater risk.

• Health professionals are worried the pandemic has slowed or stopped critical heart and brain health research.

• The study identified the three biggest challenges facing the health-care system as being health-care provider burnout, increased wait times for appointments and procedures and an increased burden on the system due to more and sicker patients.

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2021-10-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

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