Baylor University Medical Center issued the following announcement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), visits to hospital emergency departments nationwide dropped 42 percent in April at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, from a mean of 2.1 million a week in 2019 to 1.2 million in 2020. Many people experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack, stroke or other emergent condition chose to stay home rather than risk getting infected with COVID-19 at the hospital.
While COVID-19 is and has been a serious medical issue for the local community and the world, concerns over the virus should not keep you from seeking care during an emergency.
With any serious medical or surgical condition, the sooner it is identified and treated, the greater the likelihood of recovery. In some cases, delaying care can hamper our ability to effectively treat your condition.
Emergency symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored
For heart attacks and strokes, early treatment is critical. Heart muscle or brain cells can be rapidly lost with each minute that passes.
Stroke or heart attack
Stroke, in particular, is one of the more time-sensitive conditions we treat. There is a small window of time in which we can deliver clot-busting medications. Untreated heart attacks or strokes can lead to sudden or imminent death, as well as permanent disability and diminished quality of life.
Symptoms that may indicate a potential heart attack include:
- Chest pain
- Sudden shortness of breath or shortness of breath with exertion
- Breaking out in a cold sweat
- Nausea
- Lightheadedness
- Discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
- Sudden headache
- Sudden weakness on one side of the body
- Facial asymmetry
- Speech problems or slurred speech
- Vision changes
- Dizziness or unsteady gait
Original source can be found here.
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