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Nearly 5,000 more people in England have died from heart problems than would be expected since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a charity said.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said there were 4,622 “excess deaths” from heart and circulatory disease between the start of the pandemic and mid-October.
With the start of the second wave of Covid-19, the charity urged people not to postpone seeking treatment. He previously called for action after noticing that hundreds of relatively younger adults were dying of heart problems in more numbers than expected.
The BHF calculated that there were more than 800 additional deaths in the age of 65 alone.
He said a number of factors could be behind the excess deaths, including:
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People who put off seeking treatment for fear of “putting pressure” on the NHS.
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People who delay the search for treatment for worrying symptoms for fear of contracting Covid-19 in health settings.
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Delays in surgery and routine heart care.
The BHF said the number of people attending emergency and emergency units with a suspected heart attack had dropped by 50 percent at the end of March, but the number has increased since then.
The charity reminded people that during the second national lockdown in England “the NHS is open for you”.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said: “We know that more heart and circulatory disease patients are dying from them than would be expected since the start of the pandemic. And this is in addition to also having an increased risk of severe Covid-19 resulting in death.
“… I feel that every death is a tragedy, no matter how old you are and what your circumstances are, whether it’s Covid-19 or not.
“Likewise, as we move forward, we need to learn from this pandemic and it seems very important to maintain access to cardiovascular care despite the winter surge and the resurgence of the coronavirus so that we can, where possible, reduce these excess deaths. “.
Babu-Narayan cited a YouGov survey that found that among patients who noticed a deterioration in their health conditions, 56% did not seek help because they did not want to pressure the health service.
He said: “I wouldn’t want people to be so concerned about protecting the NHS that the patient himself doesn’t get protection.
“If you have a heart problem, remember that the NHS is open for you. And it’s here to protect you, rather than you have to worry about protecting it. “
He said anyone who thought they were having a heart attack or stroke should call 999 and go to the hospital.
“Every minute matters in terms of saving your life and avoiding disability from those conditions.”
He added that if people have more chest pain or shortness of breath during activities, or if the pain lasts longer, they should see a doctor. “It may be necessary to anticipate treatment or anticipate investigations,” he said.
“If you are offered your regular checkup or appointment, do not delay or reschedule as it could be a very important test for you to attend and in no way is the blocking meant to mean you shouldn’t go to the hospital appointment when invited.”
Dr Nick Linker, National Clinical Director for Heart Disease for the NHS in England, said: “The NHS continued to offer care for urgent and routine heart problems during the pandemic and the number of people seeking emergency care. it quickly rebounded during the first wave, after some people had initial concerns about coming forward for assistance.
“As we enter the second wave, hospitals are continuing to redesign services so that care can proceed safely, and our message remains the same: if you have symptoms, help us to help you by coming forward so we can provide you with the care of you need. “
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