Most of us have postponed routine visits to our doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Maryland loosens restrictions, it’s important to reschedule the appointments you canceled this spring, especially when it comes to your cardiovascular health.
High Blood Pressure and Diabetes May Be Connected to Worse COVID-19 Outcomes
Deaths from COVID-19 appear to be higher among patients with high blood pressure and diabetes. If you don’t know that you have high blood pressure or that your blood sugar levels are in an unsafe range, you may not realize that you are at higher risk for severe disease and need to take extra precautions to prevent getting sick.
The Importance of Cardiovascular Screenings
Your primary care provider (PCP) looks after your cardiovascular health by taking your blood pressure, drawing blood to test for cholesterol levels and blood sugar, and assessing your body mass index (BMI) based on your weight and waist circumference.
While all these practices are important, cardiovascular screening is more advanced than a physical with your PCP. For instance, your PCP may refer you for noninvasive screenings for many different cardiovascular conditions, including carotid arteries, coronary arteries, peripheral artery disease/peripheral vascular disease and renal artery stenosis.
These screenings do not take a long time, are noninvasive and can help detect life-threatening conditions earlier. An earlier diagnosis allows you and your physician to work out a treatment plan, which can include simple lifestyle changes, to mitigate major health issues further down the road.
It’s Safe to See a Physician
If anyone knows how seriously to take the risk of contracting COVID-19, it’s the staff of the University of Maryland Medical System. Our facilities are following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for sanitizing, mask-wearing and social distancing.
See everything we’re doing to keep our patients safe during the pandemic.
