(HealthDay News) — Four in 10 U.S. adults report experiencing at least one heart-related issue since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a survey released Feb. 1 by the Cleveland Clinic.
The online survey was conducted between Nov. 8 and 26, 2021, and included 1,000 U.S. adults.
According to the results of the survey, 41% of adults have experienced at least one heart-related issue since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The most common issues included shortness of breath (18%), dizziness (15%), increased blood pressure (15%), and chest pain (13%). Just over one in four Americans (27%) who tested positive for COVID-19 reported that their diagnosis has impacted their heart health. Further, the pandemic appears to be having a negative effect on healthy behaviors, with more than three-quarters of respondents saying they often or sometimes sit throughout the day.
“COVID fatigue is a very real thing,” Samir Kapadia, M.D., chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, said in a statement. “We know 90% of heart disease is preventable through a healthier diet, regular exercise, and not smoking, so now is the time to refocus on our heart health.”
