An unhealthy lifestyle likely contributes to an increase in heart attacks

Doctors in Dehradun have advised individuals not to panic following the recent concerns regarding the probable side effects of the Covishield vaccine as it is just a misconception. Recently, the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company AstraZeneca acknowledged that its Covid vaccine Covishield may lead to rare side effects such as the formation of blood clots. Regarding this, doctors here have stated that any side effects from a vaccine typically manifest within three to six weeks of administration. Rather than Covishield, the rise in heart attacks among individuals has been linked to long Covid, they said.

Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) hospital medical superintendent Dr Anurag Aggarwal said that there is no need to panic as the fear is based on a misconception. He said that there have been no reported cases of heart ailments or heart attacks related to the Covishield vaccine. Any vaccine including Covishield or Covaxin may potentially show side effects within three to six weeks of administration. Since it has been two years since the vaccine was introduced, he assured that there should be no risk of side effects such as heart attacks or blood clots. He further pointed out that the rise in heart attacks could be attributed to factors like the long-term effects of Covid-19 and a sedentary lifestyle. He emphasized that physical activity is beneficial for the heart.

“The current report lacks accuracy as a vaccine’s side effects typically manifest soon after administration and not years later. People should remain calm. Covishield is not the primary factor in the rise of heart attack cases,” cardiologist at GDMC hospital Dr Amar Upadhaya said. He further added that heart attacks are usually caused by blood clots in the heart and can lead to paralysis if they occur in the brain. He asserted that attributing increased heart attack cases to Covishield is incorrect, as the vaccine’s impact period has nearly passed and its incidence rate is comparable to the occurrence of lightning strikes on individuals. He stressed that factors like managing blood pressure, sugar levels, and cholesterol and refraining from smoking, play a significant role in preventing heart attacks. Increasing physical activity can also help reduce the likelihood of experiencing a heart attack, he said.