"Don't Die Of Doubt": Hospital Fears During A Pandemic

In the midst of the global pandemic, a new trend has emerged – a fear of calling 9-1-1 or going to the hospital. Across the country, ER visits for serious medical emergencies like heart attacks or strokes have dropped dramatically because patients are fearful of contracting the coronavirus while in the hospital.

As new COVID-19 cases continue to rise in 23 states and strain emergency departments nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest ER visits in April were down 42% across the country compared to the same period last year.

New data from a survey conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Heart Association, found more than 1 in 4 adults (28%) experiencing a heart attack or stroke would rather stay at home than risk getting infected with COVID-19 at the hospital, and these concerns are higher in Black (33%) and Hispanic (41%) populations.

Dr. Mitchell Elkind, President of the American Heart Association, and tenured Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology at Columbia University, is discussing the growing trend of delaying or avoiding critical care, and why hospitals remain the safest place for medical emergencies and about the American Heart Association’s new education awareness campaign “Don’t Die of Doubt” which helps alleviate fears by debunking myths and misinformation.

For more information:
Heart.org/DontDieOfDoubt