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Sharon Hinchey put herself under quarantine last March.
				And it wasn&rsquo;t too difficult during the warmer weather, when the Kingston woman was able to enjoy fresh air and sunshine while tending her garden.
				But the recent deep freeze kept her completely indoors, and she admitted that was a challenge.
				&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t go out for walks because the cold weather isn&rsquo;t good for heart patients,&rdquo; she told a reporter during a telephone interview.
				Hinchey, who is a retired kindergarten teacher, has survived two heart attacks. She knows that if she were to contract COVID-19, she is more likely to have a severe case of the virus than if she did not have heart issues.
				That&rsquo;s why, no matter how much she misses meeting friends in person or taking yoga class in person, Hinchey has been determined to keep herself safely away from just about everyone except her husband, Michael.
				Dr. Martin Matsumura, who is chief of cardiology at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for the Geisinger Heart Institute, said she&rsquo;s doing the right thing.
				&ldquo;What we&rsquo;ve learned about COVID patients with pre-existing heart and vascular problems,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;is that they are more likely to have a tough go of it.&rdquo;
				Data released over the summer by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates patients with chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease are six times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and 12 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than patients with no underlying conditions.
				One way COVID-19 can affect the heart is by causing respiratory distress, which forces the heart to work harder to pump blood.
				But researchers are learning the virus can also attack the heart directly by causing myocarditis, an inflammation that damages the heart&rsquo;s muscle tissue. And, the body&rsquo;s own immune response to the virus can also cause damaging inflammation, Matsumura said.
				That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s best for people with cardiovascular problems to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
				&ldquo;The CDC guidelines are to put them toward the front of the line,&rdquo; Matsumura said.
				Hinchey was happy to say she received her first shot in January; she was a little disappointed to say that her second dose had been delayed because of inclement weather.
				Noting that many shots have been delayed, the doctor said he knows some people are concerned about not receiving the second dose within the recommended three or four weeks.
				&ldquo;There&rsquo;s been a lot of excitement and anxiety about that,&rdquo; Matsumura acknowledged, but he offered some reassurance.
				&ldquo;In the worst case scenario it would be a neutral effect&rdquo; to receive the second shot a bit later. &ldquo;At best, it may be even more effective.&rdquo;
				If you do have cardiovascular issues, Matsumura said, it&rsquo;s important to follow the social distancing guidelines and to be vaccinated. At the same time, you should stay active, for the sake of your physical fitness and emotional health; you shouldn&rsquo;t let concern about the virus keep you away from needed medical attention, and you shouldn&rsquo;t panic.
				&ldquo;The last thing we want is for people to be paralyzed with fear,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;More and more people are getting vaccinated all the time, and then we can feel more at ease. There is light at the end of the tunnel.&rdquo;

Heart patient vigilant about COVID precautions