What if my underlying condition is/has been under control?
Anika H. Ahmed, MD
The primary job of a physician is to diagnose any chronic medical condition early before it gets blown into a severe illness, which could lead to complications. The main challenge of every physician is managing a chronic medical condition long term and keeping a patient safe from both the identified risk factors of the disease, as well as any new super-imposed risk factors that could lead to deterioration in the clinical condition of the patient. The ongoing pandemic of Coronavirus is one serious, major risk factor that can adversely affect all patients with underlying chronic medical conditions.
The question remains: why do we see a pattern of people with chronic medical conditions becoming COVID-19 patients, even if their underlying condition is adequately controlled? The main reason is that any time there is a respiratory infection in the body, there is extra work for the cardiovascular system and the respiratory system. The heart and the lungs are intricately linked and any time there is an infection like COVID-19, both have to work harder. The resulting inflammation arising from the Coronavirus compromises both the heart and the lungs. The heart distributes oxygen delivered by the lungs to the entire body. When the lungs get inflamed, less oxygen is supplied. This results in the heart having to pump harder to provide adequate oxygen to all the vital organs of the body.
This is the reason why doctors emphasize that all patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, heart and circulation diseases, kidney diseases, liver diseases, immunodeficiency diseases, diabetes and cancer, and patients either going through or recovering from dialysis, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, must be extra cautious. All patients with chronic underlying medical conditions controlled or not controlled must be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as the vaccine is available. This is the same reason why doctors recommend elderly and immunocompromised patients to get the Flu vaccine. Any time a virus or bacteria attacks the body, the immune system reacts with inflammatory cells to control the infection. The resulting inflammatory cells can storm the lungs, leading to a reaction that compromises the functions of not only the lungs but also the heart and its circulatory system.
All patients with underlying controlled or uncontrolled medical conditions are advised to register on a telecommunications platform with their doctor, which can serve as the most efficient way of communicating. They must practice social distancing and high standards of hygiene with frequent hand washing. In case of development of any symptoms of COVID-19 like fever, cough, chills, body aches breathlessness, or sensory loss of sense and smell, they must quickly contact their doctor for immediate consultation.