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A new study confirms that more than 40 percent of Americans are not seeking treatment for serious medical conditions like heart attacks and strokes due to fear of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The study, published by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, found that people were more comfortable going to the beach, hair salon, or concert rather than going to a hospital.
Not all people decide to wait. Jim Woodard, from Brooklyn, knew he couldn鈥檛 wait when he started to experience palpations in his chest. 鈥淚t was just very clear this was something I needed to do, and I needed to do it quickly,鈥 Woodard says.
He found his way to 好色tv Langone鈥檚 Heart Rhythm Center and鈥攁fter a series of tests鈥攔eceived a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and had a catheter ablation to correct his irregular heart rhythm.
Doctors urge patients to act quickly鈥攍ike Woodard did鈥攊f they experience serious symptoms.
鈥淚f we get to patients having heart attacks, get to patients having arrhythmias within minutes as opposed to days, we can make a substantial impact upon mortality鈥攍iterally can save lives by intervening early,鈥 says Larry A. Chinitz, MD, director of the Heart Rhythm Center.
Dr. Chinitz reassures patients that 鈥渢he healthcare system has taken this very seriously from the beginning. And we have, in fact, created a healthy and safe environment. In many ways, hospitals can be amongst the safest places to be right now.鈥
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