Heart Attack, Stroke Patients Should Not Avoid Medical Care Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
Hospitals and clinicians have reportedly seen a drop in heart attack and stroke patients in emergency rooms. In response to concerns that patients are avoiding essential care, The American College of Cardiology issued guidance urging patients who experience heart attack or stroke symptoms to still seek medical attention.
"Due to fears of contracting COVID-19 or taking up space in hospitals, patients experiencing a heart attack or stroke are delaying their essential care, causing a new public health crisis," said Martha Gulati, editor-in-chief of CardioSmart.org, according to a press release.
Gulati emphasized that it is critically important for heart attack and stroke patients to seek treatment quickly. "The faster a patient is treated, the higher the outcome of survival and lower the risk for complications. No patient should delay their care," she said.