Protect your health: Don’t avoid the doctor during COVID-19
In a San Antonio Express-News opinion piece by State Representative, Ray Lopez, he shares his first-hand experience of suffering and recovering from a silent heart attack, which he thought was heartburn.
Instead of letting the fear of contracting COVID-19 stop him from getting care, his wife quickly called Cindy Sickora, DNP, RN, a COVID-19 administrator at UT Health San Antonio, who urged him to seek medical attention. With the quick, safe care Lopez received from his medical team, he was able to quickly recover. And today, even after a week in the hospital, he remains COVID-19 free.
However, for those who delay getting screenings or receiving care, crises may not be so easily avoided.
“We have observed that for patients who delayed care, their conditions worsened, leading to much more serious heart damage,” said Lopez’s cardiothoracic surgeon, Dawn Hui, MD, from UT Health San Antonio. “In some cases, the damage was made permanent and ultimately required much more complex treatments and surgeries to remedy.”
Lopez said he felt “blessed” to have suffered a relatively minor issue that was easily mended.
“But many who do not seek medical attention won’t be as lucky,” he said. “The facilities and providers available to San Antonians are among the best in Texas. If you sense a health problem of any kind, be ready to consult a health provider. We must not allow this pandemic to kill us through the fear.”