Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients.

Podcast Summary

Introduction

Dr. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author dedicated to improving patient care through heart health education. In this episode, he addresses COVID-19 from a cardiological perspective, focusing on practical guidance for patients during the pandemic and clarifying misconceptions about blood pressure medications and COVID-19 risk.

Key Takeaways:

• Phone consultations have become a vital tool for delivering healthcare during COVID-19, with the Australian government quickly implementing this option to maintain patient care while people isolate at home.

• For phone consultations to work effectively, patients should be punctual, find a quiet location free from interruptions, and consider using speakerphone so family members or carers can participate.

• First consultations are best conducted face-to-face when possible, as they require building rapport and reading non-verbal cues; however, phone consultations work well for follow-ups, especially for elderly, frail, or mobility-impaired patients.

• Patients should prepare for phone consultations by writing a list of issues they want to discuss and presenting them early in the call, along with an up-to-date medication list, to maximize the limited time available.

• A study in The Lancet suggesting ACE inhibitors increase COVID-19 risk was purely theoretical and lacked supporting evidence; the paper did not even verify whether hypertensive patients were taking these medications.

• Blood pressure medications, including ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-2 receptor blockers, should not be discontinued, as hypertension and diabetes rates in COVID-19 patients match general population rates with no clear evidence of increased risk.

• Patients should organize a sensible 4-6 week supply of medications by liaising with their pharmacist and potentially arranging delivery, allowing delivered medications to sit for four days to eliminate any viral contamination.

• Hoarding medications selfishly and unnecessarily—such as clearing pharmacy shelves of Ventolin inhalers or other essential medications—deprives vulnerable patients of life-saving treatments and represents thoughtless behavior during the crisis.

• Patients should follow standard COVID-19 precautions including hand washing, social distancing, and avoiding contact with people recently on cruise ships, while maintaining sensible preparation without overreacting.