Doctors around the region are starting to worry that people aren’t going to the hospital when they should, or might otherwise need to – if not for the pandemic.
They’re saying that patients shouldn’t be afraid of getting basic treatment at the hospital – if they need it – because of the virus. They’re worried that people with serious illnesses are refusing to go out of fear.
“People were fearful of coming to the hospital because of contracting COVID from people who were already in the hospital,” said Dr. Russell Silverman. He’s a cardiologist at St. Joseph’s Health.
“They’re just toughing these things out at home. We don’t know whether they’re living or dying because we don’t have enough data yet. It’s only been three or four weeks,” added Silverman. “Patients coming in with congestive heart failure, maybe patients coming in with other complications of heart attacks that could’ve been avoided had they come to the hospital with their chest pain.”
He added that paying attention to your body – beyond coronavirus symptoms – remains important.
“It’s a safe place to go. Do not ignore your chest pain, do not ignore your belly pain, do not ignore your other health issues,” Dr. Silverman concluded.
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