Our laboratory, expert in TEE probe repair, presents what cardiologists call “the invisible epidemic”. This is the hot topic of the moment in cardiology. It is of concern to many health professionals. Cardiac pathologies are clearly increasing following quarantine. They mainly affect women.
Between the fear of the virus and the treatment of “cuts and grazes”.
During the outbreak, many patients did not want to go to hospital because they were afraid of the coronavirus… Or because they thought their symptoms were more of a minor nature. Moreover, on 2 April, Professor Pierre Amarenco sounded the alarm, saying that the number of strokes, TIAs and heart attacks had fallen by “50 to 70%”.
The consequences
Today, we seem to be paying the consequences. Claire Mounier-Vehier, a cardiologist at the University Hospital of Lille, says that “these are complications that we used to see maybe three times a year, not three times a month” as is currently the case. In addition to the fear of the virus or of injury, she believes that the “change in lifestyle” caused by the coronavirus and the resulting stress are the main causes.
Testimonial
Dorothée, a 56-year-old mother, testified on Europe 1. “I told myself that the doctors were overwhelmed, that we shouldn’t go and say ‘it hurts here and there’. As the radio station points out, while she is in hospital, she takes care of the children, the housework, the school at home… All the while working from home. And she manages it all, paying attention to everything except the pain she feels until she has to “call the ambulance”. From then on, her hypertension was closely monitored.
An isolated case?
This patient’s case is far from isolated. This is why cardiologists speak of an “invisible epidemic”. As for stress, Professor Mounier-Vehier points out that it is “the third risk factor for myocardial infarction in women”.
Heart attacks in women
It is good to know that the symptoms of a heart attack in women are different from those in men. Our expert TEE probe repair laboratory has already discussed this topic. In men, acute chest pain is the main symptom. The warning signs for women are very different. For example, a feeling of exhaustion, shortness of breath on exertion and nausea that often lasts more than 5 minutes and does not go away with rest.
In any case, 80% of cardiovascular accidents “can be avoided, but do not hesitate to call or consult your doctor”. There are many ways to reduce the risks. Our laboratory, a leader in TEE probe repair, regularly discusses them in its blog.
