Doctors see a decline in heart attack-related hospital visits
CARBONDALE, IL -- Most of us are worried about coronavirus symptoms, but doctors don't want you to forget about your heart health.
Dr. Gangadhar Malasana with SIH Prairie Heart Institute said nationally, there's been a 50% drop in people seeking help for heart attacks.
"Heart attacks don't stop for pandemics, they still happen," said Malasana. During the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer people are seeking help for heart attack symptoms
It's not because they aren't happening, it's because patients are scared. David Willard was one of them. He suffered a heart attack while power washing his house."That evening when I finished my chore, I noticed there was some pain in my upper chest area and it seemed to persist most of the evening, and I assumed it was caused by overexertion," said Willard. Willard didn’t want to go to the hospital during the pandemic. He tried to rationalize the pain away and waited three days before seeking help.