SALISBURY TWP., Pa. - The coronavirus pandemic has many institutions holding off on elective surgeries, but Dr. Ron Freudenberger, the Physician in Chief at Lehigh Valley Heart Institute warns when it comes to serious matters, like heart attack and stroke, time is of the essence.
He fears the death toll is climbing throughout the world because people are heeding advice to stay away from emergency rooms, even when their life depends on it.
"Some of the reports that are coming out of New York City, Italy and China have indicated that people have died at home and many people have attributed this to COVID-19, but it is certainly possible that people are not paying attention to their symptoms, afraid to come to the hospital and actually having heart attacks at home and unfortunately, passing away from that," said Dr. Freudenberger.
LVHN isn't the only hospital system seeing a decline in patients, Dr. Freudenberger has talked to other practitioners across the country seeing the same disturbing shift.
Doctors stress the importance of seeking medical attention by calling 911 if you feel you may be having a stroke or heart attack.
