Diabetes, cancer, heart diseases, and other chronic conditions have not disappeared during the pandemic. On the contrary, health experts have voiced their concerns, as patients are delaying their care for fear of catching COVID-19.
Consequences of neglecting your health
The consequences of delaying health care can be severe and endanger patients’ lives and well-being. For example, for people with uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes, this deterioration in their health could result in a heart attack, a stroke, or kidney damage. Any of these could be devastating.Preventive care is always a priority
An annual check-up, blood sugar testing, a mammogram, or colonoscopy can provide early warning when something is not right and will allow us to take action.Moreover, as we approach the influenza or flu season, it’s important to get vaccinated when the new annual vaccine becomes available. This protects against the spread of influenza, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when there have been reports of people having both viruses at the same time.
It is also vital that those who are not vaccinated against pneumococcal disease get vaccinated. This illness can cause severe infections in the lungs (pneumonia), blood (bacteremia), and the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).
Five steps to take care of yourself during a pandemic and always
- Continue your treatment and take your medications
- Stay in contact with your physician
- Get preventive testing
- Get an annual influenza vaccine and keep the rest of your vaccinations up to date
- If you do not feel well, don’t wait and get help
Do not neglect your health; our doctors, laboratories, testing centers, and hospitals have the safety protocols necessary to care for their patients.
