FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – A national survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute reveals that the pandemic has negatively impacted Americans’ habits and heart health.
As Heart Month begins, providers at the Parkview Heart Institute want to create awareness of the survey’s findings and encourage the community to make heart health a priority. The Parkview Heart Institute became an affiliate of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute in August of 2019 and is now an alliance member of the program.
The survey shows that Americans are facing ongoing consequences to their health habits as we near the two-year anniversary of the pandemic. Key findings on health habits include:
- 77% of Americans say that they often or sometimes sit throughout the day.
- One in five Americans (22%) reveal that increased responsibilities at home means they have less time to maintain an exercise regimen.
The survey also revealed the pandemic’s toll on Americans’ heart health, with key findings including:
- Two out of five people (41%) have experienced at least one heart-related issue since March 2020 (the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak), with top issues including shortness of breath (18%), dizziness (15%), increased blood pressure (15%) and chest pain (13%).
- One in four Americans who have tested positive for COVID-19 report that their diagnosis has impacted their cardiac/heart health (27%).
As part of the push, Parkview released the following:
“We recognize, and are here to address, the direct and indirect impact COVID-19 is having on the cardiovascular health of our community,” said Roy W. Robertson, MD, FACC, president, Parkview Heart Institute.
“Our knowledge base regarding the specific impact of viral infection and vaccination benefits has grown immensely, allowing us to offer much more effective therapy. In addition, we recognize that personal care habits have changed throughout the pandemic, creating the potential for secondary decline in cardiovascular health. The good news, however, is that healthy changes in our personal care habits are achievable and can help us all to improve our well-being.”
Throughout the month of February, Parkview Heart Institute will host a series of events aimed at increasing awareness of heart disease and encouraging healthy habits:
Lighting of Parkview Heart Institute and Parkview Hospital Randallia
Feb. 1 ─ 28
Parkview will go red for the month of February, shining a red light on the west side of Parkview Heart Institute on the Parkview Regional Medical Center campus, as well as the east side of Parkview Hospital Randallia on Carew Street.
Monthly meeting of the Her Heart Support Network
Thursday, Feb. 10, 6 ─ 7:30 p.m., free virtual meeting
The Her Heart Support Network welcomes women who are learning to achieve their best health despite a diagnosis of heart disease or recovery from a heart event. Four local women who trained with heart health experts at Mayo Clinic facilitate the monthly meetings. This month, join Dimitrios Koudoumas, MD, Parkview Physicians Group (PPG) – Cardiovascular Surgery, to learn more about a comprehensive care program for the surgical management of cardiac, thoracic and peripheral vascular disease. For more information, or to receive the Zoom link for this free virtual meeting, call 260-266-2444 or email Jill.Zahm@parkview.com.
Hot Topics in Heart Health, an evening with the cardiologists of Parkview Heart Institute
Thursday, Feb. 17, 7 – 8:30 p.m., free virtual event
Join two area cardiologists to learn important heart facts and have a chance to ask questions about heart health. Electrophysiologist Jonathan Shirazi, MD, PPG – Cardiology, will explain what heart rhythm can tell us about health. Alexander Urban, MD, PPG – Cardiology, will discuss heart structure, and explain the danger of blockages and how to prevent them. To register for this free virtual event, visit Parkview.com/HotHeartTopics2022. Questions can be sent to ForHerHeart@parkview.com.
