DC to DC: Tell patients guard your heart against COVID-19

Chiropractors should be telling patients to guard your heart against COVID-19 via diet, exercise and other wellness measures

In August 2020, the American Heart Association issued a statement saying that injury of the heart is one of the most common results associated with COVID-19. Chiropractors should be telling patients to guard your heart against COVID-19 via diet, exercise and other wellness measures in case of infection to prepare the heart (and body) to fight off the illness without long-lasting repercussions.

Shawn Bisacco, DC and clinical director of AICA Orthopedics in Atlanta, Ga., answered our questions about advising patients to guard your heart against illness. Because COVID-19 is now known as causing more problems and potential death in patients who have cardiovascular disease already, chiropractors need to start advising their patients how to stay heart healthy over the next year. What follows is our interview edited for length and/or clarity.

What kinds of advice would you give to your patients about how to guard your heart if they already have some type of cardiovascular disease?

I would plead with them to take their heart health seriously by doing what they know they should already be doing.

In my opinion, COVID-19 does not necessitate a unique approach to their treatment. It just emphasizes the importance of it. If someone with cardiovascular disease is ever going to take the health of their heart seriously, now is the time.

What kinds of advice will you give regarding heart health to your patients who don’t have cardiovascular disease?

The same — take your heart seriously. It matters, and for most people, it is something they can control. The number one cause of cardiovascular disease is lifestyle which means that it does not have to happen.

If someone has already had and recovered from COVID-19, how will your advice on heart health differ for this patient?

My advice is always based upon the unique needs of each patient, but in general, I don’t think my advice would change.

What are the biggest mistakes that patients can make in terms of taking care of themselves and their cardiovascular health?

One is certainly food. What we eat matters, and most people make poor choices.

Another is exercise. I think a lot of people avoid exercise because they think they must be a super athlete to get any benefit, and that is simply not true. Any amount of exercise is better than none, and there are a lot of ways to get it.

Is blood pressure an issue when advising patients on heart health?

Yes, for sure. You cannot talk about heart health without considering blood pressure, and once again, it provides another great opportunity to emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle. 

For more information on healthy lifestyle tips for patients and doctors of chiropractic or for how to further guard your heart, go to chiroeco.com/?s=healthy+lifestyle.