As 2020 winds down, I know that we all wish it a good riddance. Our country has been devastated by racial and political strife, unearthly wildfires, and the scourge of COVID-19. If there is a bright spot in this dreadful year, it is that two vaccines are now being rolled out—one from Pfizer last week and one from Moderna coming out shortly. As a healthcare provider, I was able to get my first (in a series of two) vaccines on Friday. I’ll get the second one 3 weeks later.
Sadly, I have seen more times than I wish the horrendous damage that this virus can inflict on the human body. While COVID-19 most notably causes severe pneumonia, it also hits the cardiovascular system, leading to a strong tendency to form clots. I had one patient who had a heart attack one day—likely precipitated by her COVID-19 infection—went home the next day after receiving a stent and that night returned to the hospital with severe shortness of breath, caused by a clot in her legs that went to her lungs (a pulmonary embolism). While in the hospital, she was also found to have a stroke due to clot, as well as clot in her spleen.
So, please take this infection seriously. Wear masks and stay at least 6 feet away from anyone you encounter. And get vaccinated when you can!
Greg Koshkarian, MD, FACC