COVID Response Patient-led Campaign

The message is simple and clear – If you are experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, don’t delay – Every minute counts. If you have chest pain or other heart symptoms – such as shortness of breath, severe pain in the throat, neck, back, stomach or shoulders that lasts for more than 15 minutes – you must call an ambulance. Equally, if you are living with a heart condition and if you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms contact your doctor or go to a hospital as soon as possible.

One of the unintended consequences of the COVID-19 messaging to ‘Stay at Home’ is very high levels of fear of visiting a doctor or going to hospital. A survey on the impact of COVID-19 by the Global Heart Hub across 19 countries reported that the biggest fear of heart patients is contracting the virus and their second biggest fear is visiting their doctor or going to hospital.

In recent months, many people with heart and stroke emergencies have delayed seeking medical help or decided to just ‘sit it out’ and stay at home because of their fear of COVID-19. This delay in taking action has resulted in worse outcomes, ranging from unnecessary loss of life to people being left with disability, chronic heart conditions and poorer quality of life.

Doctors are reporting that those who delay in seeking medical help are in a far worse condition when they finally arrive at hospital and they are often too late to benefit from the life-saving treatments that are normally available to them. Medical advice has always been to act quickly when it comes to symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. “Time is muscle” – the longer you wait with a heart attack, the more damage that occurs to your heart muscle. The same applies in the case of stroke.

Be assured that the risk of coronavirus infection in hospital has been minimised for those being admitted with heart attacks or strokes. Remember that the risk of dying from an untreated heart attack is 10 times higher than dying from COVID-19.

Know the signs and symptoms of heart disease.

Know the signs and symptoms of heart disease. Be informed. If something doesn’t feel right, research your symptoms through a reputable resource like your National Health Service or your local heart group. If you have been diagnosed with a heart condition, it is important to watch out for any new or worsening symptoms.

Track your symptoms. Be aware. It is so important to track the day, time, frequency and intensity of your symptoms. This information will be very helpful to both you and your doctor in tracking your condition. Tracking your symptoms will also help you recognise if your symptoms are worsening and if you need urgent care. Once diagnosed, it’s important to keep track of symptoms and report any sudden changes. Download our symptom tracker here: Heart Disease / Heart Valve Disease / Heart Failure symptom trackers. 

Know when to connect with your healthcare provider. Don’t hesitate or delay. Early recognition of symptoms is key to ensure the best possible treatment and health outcome. If you have signs or symptoms of heart disease, are living with a heart condition and are experiencing worsening symptoms, contact your healthcare provider to arrange a consultation as soon as possible.

• • Note: If you are experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, Don’t delay – Every minute counts. If you have chest pain or other heart attack symptoms – such as pain in the throat, neck, back, stomach or shoulders that lasts for more than 15 minutes – you must call an ambulance.

Prepare for your consultation. Be ready. Once you have a date confirmed with your healthcare provider, it’s important to compile all your medical information and bring it with you to your appointment, including a list of all medications you are on, your symptom tracker with details of all the symptoms you have been experiencing, and any other information to help your healthcare provider provide the best possible care. To help you with your medical appointment, download our virtual consultation guide here. 

Important to keep your appointments and not to delay your treatment. Be on time. Appointments may be rescheduled or cancelled due to COVID-19. When you do get an appointment, it is vital that you attend and be seen by your healthcare provider.

Stay in touch with your healthcare provider. Be Proactive. Keep in touch to ensure your treatment is planned and takes place as soon as possible.

Join us in advocating for heart patients – we need governments and healthcare providers to take unprecedented action to prioritise the treatment of heart patients and clear the waitlists of those in need of treatment and procedures.

COVID-19 has impacted heart patients due to postponed appointments, delayed or cancelled procedures 

Delayed or avoided cardiac care increases the risk of long term irreversible damage and even death.

COVID-19 has resulted in a re-prioritisation of hospital resources resulting in fewer procedures and significantly reduced cardiology services.

Heart Valve surgery and structural heart procedures have been the worst hit by cancellations.

Long term effects of COVID-19 include cardiac complications, such as heart muscle damage, heart failure, irregular heart rhythms

Many heart conditions need urgent treatment – delays result in avoidable disability and death

The repercussions of COVID-19 on the burden of CVD requires unprecedented global health policy action