RSV and Heart Health

Respiratory Syncytial Virus, often called RSV, is a common respiratory virus. 几乎所有的孩子在两岁时都会感染呼吸道合胞病毒, 它每年影响大约6500万人. 

For most people, RSV involves mild, cold-like symptoms, 一两个星期后你可能会感觉好一些. But for others, 尤其是在婴儿和老年人等高危人群中, 呼吸道合胞病毒可能很严重，甚至可能导致住院治疗. 

更严重的RSV病例可引起细支气管炎和肺炎. It can also escalate chronic health issues like asthma and congestive heart failure. Serious cases of RSV can also have serious implications on your heart health. The good news for older adults is that a new vaccine has been approved. (Read on for more details.)

诊断呼吸道合胞病毒并防止其传播

Many people think of RSV as a seasonal illness that starts in the fall and peaks in winter. 但2019冠状病毒病在2020年破坏了它的一些可预测性, 专家们也不确定未来会发生什么.

It can be difficult to distinguish RSV from other seasonal respiratory illnesses, like influenza and the cold, 因为他们有很多共同的症状，包括咳嗽, sneezing, and congestion. Your doctor can conduct special tests to determine the specifics of your illness.

If you’re an older patient with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or related risk factors, 你有呼吸道症状, it’s important to visit your health care professional because you might have RSV. 你的医生可以帮助你采取措施防止传播, manage your condition and watch for worsening CVD symptoms that could require hospitalization.

Impact of RSV

In the United States alone, up to 160,每年有000名成年人因呼吸道合胞病毒更严重的病例而住院. There’s a strong correlation between RSV and heart health in more serious cases of RSV. 

Around 14 to 22% of hospitalizations for adult patients are complicated by cardiovascular issues including worsening congestive heart failure, acute coronary syndrome and arrhythmias. Underlying cardiovascular disease has also been linked to 45 to 63% of adult hospitalizations for RSV. 

Are you at risk?

如果你是老年人或有慢性疾病的成年人, you may face an increased risk of severe RSV and cardiovascular complications. 呼吸道合胞病毒感染风险最高的人群包括:

• Adults over 60
• 免疫系统较弱的成年人
• 患有肺病等慢性疾病的成年人, 心血管疾病包括充血性心力衰竭和 coronary artery disease肾脏疾病和神经系统疾病.

How it’s diagnosed

If you have RSV, you’ll probably show symptoms within four to six days of getting infected. Symptoms can include:

• Runny nose
• Decrease in appetite
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Wheezing

这些症状通常是分阶段出现的，而不是一次全部出现.

How it’s treated

大多数呼吸道合胞病毒感染会在一两周内自行消失, 通常不建议使用抗病毒药物. 但是你可以做一些事情来缓解症状.

Drink enough fluids. 别忘了多喝水. 你可以防止脱水(体液流失).

保持对发烧和疼痛的警惕 with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, including acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

和你的健康护理专家谈谈 如果你的症状变得严重. It's important to remember that RSV can cause severe illness in some people.

Complications from RSV

While most cases of RSV will remain mild, serious complications can occur. This includes bronchitis, 肺炎和哮喘等恶化的疾病, 慢性阻塞性肺病和充血性心力衰竭.

Studies have shown that up to 22% of hospitalized adults experience cardiovascular complications, 比如加重充血性心力衰竭, new arrhythmia and stroke. 

It’s important to understand the heightened risks you could face and the best way to protect yourselves and your loved ones, 特别是如果你是在一个更脆弱的人群中.

呼吸道合胞病毒感染对某些成年人来说是危险的. Each year, 估计在60,000-160,000 adults ages 65 and older in the United States are hospitalized and 6,000-10,其中000人死于呼吸道合胞病毒感染. 严重呼吸道合胞病毒感染风险最高的成年人包括:

• 老年人，尤指65岁及以上的老年人
• 患有慢性心脏或肺部疾病的成年人
• 免疫系统较弱的成年人

关于呼吸道合胞病毒和你的心脏健康要知道些什么

如果你有心脏问题, it’s critical to pay special attention and see your health care professional for advice. 严重的呼吸道合胞病毒病例可因心血管问题而复杂化, 会导致住院甚至死亡. 

Studies have shown that up to 63% of hospitalized adults with RSV have underlying cardiovascular disease. And 14-22% of adult patients hospitalized for RSV deal with cardiovascular complications including worsening congestive heart failure, 急性冠状动脉综合征和心律失常. 

Researchers believe RSV primarily impacts cardiovascular health through the respiratory tract.

RSV还与心肌损伤有关. It can also lead to ischemia (心脏供血不足)和增加患心脏病的风险 atrial fibrillation (不规则的、快速的心跳).

Cardiovascular complications

RSV has been associated with worsening cardiovascular conditions such as arrhythmias, 心力衰竭和心脏病发作, 在有或没有这些疾病已知诊断的患者中.

• Heart attack and stroke -患者面临更高的风险 heart attack 或在感染RSV后立即中风. The highest risk is within three days of infection but remains heightened for up to 90 days.
• Congestive heart failure -患有CHF和RSV的成人更有可能需要住院治疗. Researchers found patients with CHF had eight times the rate of hospitalizations than those without. And over 5% of all hospitalizations for CHF during RSV season are due to RSV infection. 对于老年人来说，情况更糟. One study found that 20% of elderly patients who had been admitted due to RSV had a primary discharge diagnosis of CHF.
• Coronary artery disease -在RSV患者中发现了高发的潜在CAD, though one study found that those patients were more likely to receive outpatient care than inpatient. 

When it’s a severe infection

当一个成年人感染呼吸道合胞病毒, 他们通常有轻微的类似感冒的症状, 但有些人可能会患上肺部感染或肺炎. RSV can sometimes also lead to worsening of serious conditions such as:

• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – a chronic disease of the lungs that makes it hard to breathe
• Congestive heart failure – when the heart can’t pump enough blood and oxygen through the body

因呼吸道合胞病毒感染而病情严重的老年人可能需要住院治疗. Some may even die. Older adults are at greater risk than young adults for serious complications from RSV because our immune systems weaken when we are older.

Avoiding RSV

你可以采取一些简单的步骤来保持健康并避免呼吸道合胞病毒.

Wash your hands. 使用肥皂和水或含酒精的洗手液.

不要用未洗手的手触摸你的脸. This is how we spread germs.

Stay away from sick people. Don’t kiss or share cups or eating utensils with friends or family if they have cold-like symptoms. 

咳嗽和打喷嚏时捂住嘴. Need to cough or sneeze? Be sure and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your shirt sleeve. 当然，把你的纸巾扔进垃圾桶.

Clean, clean, clean! Make a mental note to clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people frequently touch, including toys, doorknobs and mobile devices. 这样做，你就能帮助去除细菌.

Feeling sick? Stay home. 你不想让别人染上这种病. 保护好身边的人，避免去上班、上学和公共场所. 

Feeling sick? Read the do's and don'ts 当你感染病毒时，帮助你恢复健康并保护他人.

A promising new vaccine

Two new vaccines were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended for adults over 60 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 目前在许多零售药店都可以买到. 

Research shows one shot could reduce the risk of symptomatic illness by 83% and of severe illness by 94%. It’s especially important for older patients with cardiopulmonary issues to get the vaccine.

If you have questions about the RSV vaccine, talk to your health care professional.