Letter to the FH Community about COVID-19
Dear Friends:
We find ourselves in one of the most challenging situations in world history. It is crucial for all of us to follow the guidance on handling the coronavirus (COVID-19) provided by the CDC, which is updated daily. This said, it is important for our FH community to be aware of the extra precautions sometimes required in persons with underlying medical conditions. While FH by itself does not put people at greater risk, those with cardiovascular disease caused by FH are considered high-risk. Often in FH families, there are one or more members who have established cardiovascular disease, and each of us has to think of our family members and others in our local community who have underlying medical conditions.
Many health care systems are gearing up for “virtual medical appointments,” often through Skype, Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger or Google Hangouts. Scheduling virtual appointments may be important for you to consider as you work to avoid coming into contact with potentially infected people. Be sure that your prescriptions are filled and keep taking your medications!
Equally important is the need to take care of yourself emotionally. Things like eating well, getting plenty of sleep, and daily exercise are essential. Additionally, reaching out to family, friends, and the Family Heart Foundation via your phone and the internet can be beneficial. And although all FH team members are now working remotely, we are still here to answer your questions and listen carefully to your concerns:
Wishing everyone in the FH Family good health.
Warmly,
Mary McGowan, MD
Chief Medical Officer
the Family Heart Foundation
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About the Author: Mary McGowan MD
Mary McGowan received her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts. She remained at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center for both internship and residency and completed her fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital.Dr. McGowan is the Chief Medical Officer of the Family Heart Foundation. Until June 2022 she was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth & the Co-Director of the Lipid Clinic at Dartmouth Hitchcock Heart and Vascular Center. She is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and 4 books and has been the principal investigator on over 30 national and international clinical trials and has lectured widely in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia on cholesterol metabolism.Dr. McGowan has served on the alumni board at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, the National Lipid Association Foundation Board, The National Lipid Association Board of Directors, and the NH Affiliate of the American Heart Association Board.
Dr. McGowan lives in Bedford, NH with her husband. They have three children.
