Four out of ten Americans have experienced a heart-related issue during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new Cleveland Clinic survey.
The survey included feedback from a national sample of 1,000 American adults. All answers were provided in November 2021.
“COVID fatigue is a very real thing—and for this year’s survey, we wanted to see what kind of effect the ongoing pandemic is having on Americans’ heart health and in particular their healthy habits,” Samir Kapadia, M.D., chairman of cardiovascular medicine at Cleveland Clinic, said in a prepared 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.”
In total, 41% of respondents said they’ve experienced at least one heart-related issue since the pandemic began. Shortness of breath (18%), dizziness (15%), increased blood pressure (15%) and chest pain (13%) were among the most commonly reported issues.
Also, 27% of respondents with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis said the virus had an impact on their heart health.
The survey also examined the day-to-day lifestyles of each respondent. For example, 51% of people said they do not follow a specific diet pan, and 22% said they know that the Mediterranean diet is good for the heart.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.