Hi first time posting.. Just wondering do us hearties still have the 80% chance the coronavirus will be mild or are we guaranteed the full force of this virus... Some facts would be nice..
Mild Coronavirus? : Hi first time... - British Heart Fou...
Mild Coronavirus?
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Kerching25
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I can't answer your question, but I am working on the basis I will do everything possible to prevent getting it. I know that's what we are all going to do but in our case it makes so much sense !!!
Regards
Thanks for the reply... Definitely prevention is better, but it would be nice to know that if we did get that it could be mild
The BHF posted this:
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Associate Medical Director, said:
“There’s still a lot we are still learning about how this virus affects people with existing medical conditions. However, information to date suggests that people with heart and circulatory disease including cerebrovascular disease (problems with the blood supply to the brain, such as stroke) appear to be at higher risk of complications caused by the virus.
“If you are living with a heart or circulatory disease it’s particularly important that you reduce your chance of catching the virus by following and acting on all current government advice.
We are only at "higher risk" as hearties ... hope this cheers you a bit...
Thank you for your reply.... Hasn't really cheered me up.. I was hoping we would have the same chance it could be mild if we caught it, but it looks like we'll be definitely having complications 😔
Oh well, I read it as there;s every chance if you catch it it will be mild but hearties just have a higher risk of complications. Not that heart patients are definitely going to have complications.
Why assume you'll catch it? Practice the good hygiene as advised by the WHO and you may be one of the many lucky ones who manage to dodge it! ☺
Only cause the government predict it will infect up to 80% of the population and last 3 months, and could return in November.
in reply to Lezzers
I would go middle ground - quite likely unless you avoid doing anything. It's an airbourne disease and you do not know whose 'space' you may be walking into. Many (as we already know) with mild or even no symptoms will never know they have had it. Of course hygiene is always important....however be too clean and our immune systems never learn to deal with all the biological attackers that are around us every day.
Hi just a question,I am on Apixaban for irregular heartbeat,am I high risk ??
My afib has been non existant since ablation. Im wondering if I will be greatly impacted if I get the virus. I guess time will tell...
It affects each person differently, like all viruses do.
I try to minimise risk, I shop very early when numbers are small in store, I use alcohol hand gel in my car before entering the house and then a good hand wash. I clean all door furniture with bleach daily, and self isolate which suits me as a self confessed anchoress. There are 4 cases at present in my town I don’t intend to be no 5. .... fingers crossed.
I hope you're right Lezzers... I need to be more upbeat like you
Good idea!
I am with you on the side of caution. I can remember with most infections, the government only tells you how bad, after the fact.
Italy has gone into lock down. Just look at the increase in other Countries, someone is definitely playing it down.
We are very short staffed in the NHS. If staff get exposed, it will wipe out the work force, not 1/5 th like the government says.
I hope all this playing it down, is worth it.
I read an article by the chief medical officer last week which stated that only 10% of people over 80 died from Covid-19 but the who data shows that it is over 20%. The article also stated that one man over 100 recovered . 1 person wins the lottery every week but not every week and millions lose.
This link is produced by reputable organisations.
The death rate for those over 80 is much lower than 20%
informationisbeautiful.net/...
I feel we don't really know at the moment and I will relay on information produced by the NHS and WHO.
DEATH RATE Table produce by the World Health Organization.
confirmed cases
DEATH RATE
all cases
80+ years old
21.9%
14.8%
70-79 years old
8.0%
60-69 years old
3.6%
50-59 years old
1.3%
40-49 years old
0.4%
30-39 years old
0.2%
20-29 years old
0.2%
10-19 years old
0.2%
Please provide an exact link to this information.
I think it's from a website called worldometer!
This is the link.
Why assume 80%. That was/is a worst case scenario for planning purposes. In the real world, infection rates are a very long way from this. I know thats not a lot of consolation if you happen to be one of the few
Hi Steve, I'm aware that 80% is a worse case scenario. My reply was to kerching25 who's worried that he/she will catch it & that the symptons won't be mild! I agree it's not a lot of consolation if you're one of any % but why assume you're gonna get it in the first place?
Hi lezzers. That’s what I was getting at. I was also responding to kerching but it came out posted under your earlier (than my) response. I think we are actually agreeing with each other
That's scary, nobody usually agrees with me! 😂
🤣
Thanks for replying Steve.. I was just hoping to see that if I was unfortunate to catch the virus that there would be a good chance it would be mild.. But I agree the best plan is to prevent it first... and hopefully the percentages will be low ☺
We are all in the same boat. Keeping our newly washed fingers crossed that it doesn’t happen to us.
😂 xx
I think the scale of each individual case in those of us with pre-existing/underlying conditions is going to depend on our general over-all physical condition at the time of contraction of the virus.
For example, my multiple heart conditions are considered serious enough to warrant regular monitoring by a cardiologist (and a cardiac nurse) but 'mild-trivial' and my over-all physical condition good enough that I stand a better chance of not developing the serious complications should I somehow contract the virus. As long as I maintain strict hygiene and limit my exposure to potential virus-carrying sources, I should be ok.
But my friend down in Devon with COPD, congestive heart, and has only recently been declared cancer-free (non-smokers lung) has so compromised an immune system and poor general over-all condition that her consultants have had her on what she's calling 'house arrest with no visiting privileges' for a few weeks now. Er, suffice it to say she's going more than slightly mad. But she's also managed to avoid catching this thing owing to her doctors removing her from potential exposure and contraction. Her medical team assess her risk as exceptionally high and the prognosis for surviving should she contract the virus is not good. (She's a serious toughie, though, so hopefully if she does get it, she'll survive)
There must be people out there like us with heart problems who are catching it and doing ok. The problem is we are just hearing about the worst cases. Just follow the instructions from om the NHS and try to reduce the risk. Stay safe and well everyone.
It would be nice if any one who did OK, and even better recovered posted on this website... It would alleviate a lot of anxiety
I did see a report of a 100 year old who had recovered in China
I agree all we hear is died with underlying medical conditions this way they will make us feel like we have no hope I personally feel scared to catch any virus which then makes me have palpitations probably make heart condition worse and may not get the virus it’s not fair to anyone who has an underlying illness to make them feel doomed if they get the illness
Well last week I had major heart surgery, am home now and today I am going to the clinic to have my sutures taken out and on Thursday I have an appointment with my GP.at the surgery!! Do I keep these appointments, I am following instructions on my release letter from the hospital
If you are worried you could always ring your surgery beforehand and speak to them regarding your concerns.
Tombob there is no reason why you shouldn’t keep your appointments unless of course you are showing signs or symptoms of actually having the virus yourself. The only people that are being asked to stay away, are those with symptoms, in which case you should either ring the surgery or 111.
in reply to Tombob
My GP came out for first and second visit. Normally you would have stitches removed in hospital. I would cite risk of sitting in a surgery waiting room with all manner of stuff circulating.
I know if I get a common cold, it wipes me out but this is different, it could be mild. Only God knows. I plan to take lots of honey, lemon, zinc C lozenges, thyme, cinnamon, and lemsip etc., if I am unfortunate enough to get it. I take heart knowing that an very elderly person recovered. He was 100. That should give you hope.
Good morning,
Like you all a little concerned but not overly.
I have been on mainline and underground trains in the last 2 weeks and believe in ‘carrying on’.
BUT I am due to fly long haul at the end of April and hope I still can (not Asia).
What I’m confused about is ‘underlying health problems’. I had a quadruple by pass 18 months ago but was told although my arteries were grim and now replaced my heart was good.
My Travel Insurance Company have reduced my payment this year (I had to pay extra last year as I was within I year of heart surgery).
I’m assuming this mean I don’t have underlying health problems?
in reply to Lilyrosy
Not wishing to be gloomy but....Even though you have been treated (like me with triple BP) think still considered to have CVD. With the op we have had often the pericardium is left open which does increase risk of infection to heart if you get an infection. Not sure if mine was left open as this is normally done to avoid cardiac tamponade which I actually sustained after surgery, so it is possible mine was closed.
I am a born optimist but after listening independently to a couple of wise and experienced GP friends at the weekend i am concerned at what is likely to come our way in the next few weeks.
I have therefore cancelled all gym and sports activities and will be relocating to our remote holiday home for self isolation for the immediate future. Not sure yet if I will allow my wife and family to visit me! It will be a bit lonely but I will bring a box of books to read and I will have a beach to myself for exercise until summer arrives.
in reply to WestCorkHeart
What are you going to live on then fresh air??
WestCorkHeart in reply to
I have a large freezer and have bought a supply of food to cook and freeze. There is a small shop and a butcher in the nearest village (5 miles away) where I can replenish stocks. Risk of contracting Covid19 should be significantly reduced.....I doubt that Risk can be totally eliminated.
You're very lucky.. But most of us don't have that option... I have five family members living with me.. I can't stop them all from going out, so Im not sure how I can isolate myself.
You could join WestCorkheart in his holiday home. Think I will ask for an invite myself. Any more room! lol
in reply to WestCorkHeart
If I were you I would buy myself a six string on the way.
WestCorkHeart in reply to
I dream of being able to play a musical instrument, especially a guitar. I have tried in the past but I am talentless when it comes to music
Do you have a time limit for this self isolation?
We are possibly heading into unchartered waters. Self isolation is a short term strategy. I will decide on future tactics as the situation unfolds.
The downside of being in a remote location is that I am a long way from a hospital if I nee urgent care. It is unlikely that I would have survived my Acute Aortic Dissection last August had I been in the holiday home at that time.
Let's hope it doesn't go on too long then, the family may decide they don't want you back! 😂
😂
As long as we all practise basic hygiene every day, which we should already be doing anyway, stay away from large crowded areas where the risk could and I only say could be higher. A lot of what is being said is through the media which we all know hype things up more than is necessary and scaremongering. My husband and myself both have heart problems and tend to go shopping when its quieter during the week as we prefer to do our own shopping instead of home delivery but it's there if or when needed. We dont go into crowded shopping centres at present or into big coffee shops, we are choosing smaller, local places and doing more walking with our dog as we are lucky enough to live in the country and have some lovely walks with Forest cafe and canal side pubs nearby, which during the week are quieter. Therefore we are able to get out for fresh air and exercise while staying hopefully a little safer from catching it. Always take hand sanitizer with us too.
We are indeed at higher risk, but certainly not at the “highest risk“ those people would be the very elderly who already have severe breathing difficulties. That is not to say we should treat anything lightly and we should avoid trying to get infected in always possible. Think about it logically if you have a mild heart condition and you have experienced the flu Or a cold this might give you some idea of what to expect. If you have a serious lung disease and perhaps diabetes as well on top of heart problems you really want to be taking care of your health because you would be pushed towards the “highest risk” group of course anyone can die from any group – even the fit and healthy, but some realism and commonsense is required
As far as I'm aware this particular virus attaches itself to our lungs where it makes duplicates of itself ! If your lungs are already compromised then I guess they will start to party , fun for them but not for us ! The virus needs to be transported as it has no arms or legs so it relies on us humans to do that! Which is why every time we touch an infected surface and touch our face it finds a way in , that and obviously people coughing and sneezing over you !
Wash your hands , don't touch you face and keep your distance, if we don't help this virus move about it will eventually go away!
there is a thing called viral load - basically the more virus you are exposed to the more likely you are to having a more severe form of the disease. Which is where hygiene & social distancing come in. An example of viral load causing a severe disease is probably that of the poor young doctor in China who was the first to note the symptoms last year & died recently from Covid19 - medical people are more likely to have severe viral loads because of treating patients -suspected/& actual carriers (that & they were probably exhausted.
2 suggestions for you all: when you come in from mixing outside, if its not raining (!) hang your outside clothes on the line in the sunshine or at least outside
than have a good shower & wash your hair or at the least wash your face & wash your hands (again sorry! I really dislike Boris but what he parrots in this case is right 
)
Prevention is far better and I feel it depends on how your medical condition is. As a diabetic I'm in the same group of having an underlying illness. But I'm hoping as I am generally healthy I'd only have a mild illness but I hope to never catch it. Antibiotics would be used for any secondary respiratory infection.
Hi, Crash. You write you have diabetes, which type and are you insulin dependent? Do you also have a heart condition or 'only' the diabetes? (I wrote that as 'only' owing to my awareness diabetes of any type, insulin dependent or not, is a wretched illness, there is no 'only' about it and it very often is complicated by concurrent conditions like heart and or lung problems)
70 thousand people die of diabetes each year just in England. So I would say it is a wretched illness.
I believe we have to stay positive with a bullet proof attitude and not let anything including the media spinning & scaremongering the situation and take only your GP’s advice and most importantly, your own common sense. Though I’m speaking as a person now on my own, I fully understand those with families, partner’s, husband or wife it’s not possible to have that kind of military upright attitude but it certainly has helped me.
You're so right! It's funny but sort of not - my husband didn't want me to go for my morning exercise walk today and as part of his argument, said 'Hand sanitiser does not make you bulletproof, woman!'
We both laughed after what he'd said really sank in but it did have me thinking (as I walked along my usual route, lol!). I think the only real bulletproofing that can be done is to our attitude toward keeping calm whilst not taking undue chances.
I find the wording being used to report another death as a bit strange? They don't actually say the coronavirus has caused the death only that the deceased had tested positive for the virus, does that mean the virus didn't actually cause the death?
I believe that are testing all patients in intensive care.
The person may have sadly been very ill so the coronavirsus was found but not the actual cause of death. They won't know for sure until a post mortem has been carried out.
I think you have a very good positive attitude it’s true the news alwaz gives depressing news I’m thinking of switching any news off last year I was worrying about mers
Irrelevant of whether or not we all have heart issues no two cases will be the same. Some people have really changed their lifestyles and changed their general health for the better in a big way. We would expect these people to fare better than those of us who are in poor shape because we haven't been as disciplined as we could/should have been so we haven't done ourselves any favours. Then there is the potluck aspect, some will walk away completely unscathed despite bordering on being high risk. It is totally unpredictable and that's why nobody can second guess what will happen. What I will remind people of is that stress and or anxiety greatly play havoc with the very immune system that we will be relying on should we contract the virus so my advice is to chill, eat well, sleep well, meditate and keep laughing because it really is the best medicine
I too have been concerned on this and managed to find the below article "COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system" which has some initial findings and insights. Hope this helps anyone who'd like to read a bit more into some research done on this topic.
nature.com/articles/s41569-...
The conclusion, as stated in the article:
"SARS-CoV-2 is thought to infect host cells through ACE2 to cause COVID-19, while also causing damage to the myocardium, although the specific mechanisms are uncertain. Patients with underlying CVD and SARS-CoV-2 infection have an adverse prognosis. Therefore, particular attention should be given to cardiovascular protection during treatment for COVID-19."
Unfortunately the UK has done a terrible job at trying to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
Why are there still no airport screenings for incoming passengers?
Perhaps because there is little evidence that screening in this way is effective?
sciencemag.org/news/2020/03...
Insert of handwashing emoji😊
I agree. The thing with screening is its only good for the moment you're being screened. It can only detect those who are already showing symptons. If you don't have a temperature then you're fit to travel but you can still be a carrier & then develop a temperature afterwards.
Quarantine any one who has been to an area of risk at their own expense.Anyone who enters or returns to Israel has to self isolate for 14 days. If they can do it why can't we?
This article is interesting
BBC News - Coronavirus: What measures are countries taking to stop it?
We are fortunate that we have 2 very able individuals Prof Chris Whitty and Dr Jenny Harries as Chief and Deputy Chief Medical officers of England.
Insert handwashing emoji 😉
I found the following on the WHO web site."According to China's National Health Commission (NHC), about 80% of those who died were over the age of 60 and 75% of them had pre-existing health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.[24]
The median age of cases detected outside of China is 45 years, ranging from 2 to 74 years.
71% of cases were male.
Link
Can anyone explain why the virus is so deadly for people with cardiovascular disease?
I would have thought that it was most dangerous for people with lung and respiratory problems.
Just watched the one show and the BBC medical correspondant said "that even if you're in a high risk group, even if you're very elderly the vast majority of people will get through this".... I hope it's a bit of comfort
Hi all, please take a look at the BHF's behind the headlines article on coronavirus for our analysis of the news coverage: bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
Hope this helps.
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