The Ask a Doctor project of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation continues raising awareness of the Ukrainians about the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The guests of the live programmes include leading highly experienced medical experts who answer the viewers’ questions and share the latest research findings and trends to help fight the pandemic.
An in-studio guest of the programme was Kateryna Amosova, a cardiologist, professor, associate member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, member of the European Society of Cardiology, Vice President of the Ukrainian Association of Cardiologists, Vascular and Cardiac Surgeons in Kyiv.
The doctor emphasised that patients with cardiovascular disease must be among the first to get vaccinated:
“People with cardiovascular diseases are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 and, if infected, they are at greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke. That’s why they must get vaccinated.
In addition, the Delta variant of COVID-19 is much more dangerous both for people with cardiovascular diseases and other risk groups. She explained:
‘Firstly, Delta variant appears more contagious and transmissible than the British variant. Secondly, the viral burden is much higher and thus leads to severe COVID-19. Thirdly, it has a higher mortality rate, unfortunately. All these factors pose a great danger, especially to people with cardiovascular diseases”.
Kateryna Amosova also explained the aftereffects of the COVID-19 infection and how coronavirus may impact the cardiovascular system:
“People who have medical conditions such as a heart disease or disease of blood vessels are more likely to develop COVID-19 symptoms in its various forms. The risk of a heart attack or stroke increases two or threefold within the first two weeks. That’s why these people must remain under the supervision of a cardiologist”.
The expert added that we should eat a healthy, balanced diet, in particular, enough vegetables and fruit, as well as reduce consumption of sugar, salt and junk food in a move to reduce the risk of all these complications.
Since its launch on the digital platforms of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, the Ask a Doctor project has had over 20 million views. Earlier, the project invited such guests as Borys Todurov, a famous cardiac surgeon; Oleh Chaban, M.D., psychiatrist, professor; Serhiy Dubrov, the President of the Association of Anesthesiologists of Ukraine, and many others.
Watch videos featuring versed medical practitioners on the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation’s page on Facebook and YouTube.