Protect Yourself and Others

It’s been an uncertain time, and no one knows what the future holds. But we do know there are steps you can take to lower the likelihood that you will get sick. For example:

• Staying up-to-date with recommended vaccines; talk with your care team about whether you should get an additional dose of vaccine – or booster shot – to strengthen your body’s protection against COVID-19.

• Wearing a well-fitted mask to help protect yourself and others, especially if the cases of COVID in your community are high or if you or someone in your household has been with someone who tests positive.

• Avoiding crowds or poorly ventilated indoor spaces when COVID cases rise, particularly if you have heart disease or other health conditions, or if you aren’t fully vaccinated.

• Getting tested to prevent spreading the virus to others if you feel sick or find out you’ve been exposed to someone who was infected.

•  Staying 6 feet apart from others if you’re not up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines or are at high risk.

•  Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use a hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.

Also, it's important to do what you would usually do to avoid getting sick including:

• Cover sneezes and coughs – use the inside of your elbow, not your hands 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth 
• Clean surfaces touched often – for example, doorknobs, handles, phones, keypads, or remote controls
• Get vaccinated against the flu and pneumococcal disease as any illness can weaken your ability to fight another infection

Beyond these tried-and-true measures, people with existing heart conditions should take additional steps to stay healthy and heart strong .