Doctors warn Sheffield people may be mistaking heart attacks for coronavirus
They say some aren't seeking help for chest pains early enough
Last updated 27th Mar 2020
Leading cardiologists in Sheffield tell us they're worried people aren't seeking medical help when they're having a heart attack, because they're mistaking it for coronavirus.
Doctors say they're getting people not wanting to put pressure on the NHS during the outbreak, so aren't coming forward for help if they get chest pains.
Professor Rob Storey's a consultant cardiologist in Sheffield - he says it's worrying:
"Some people are developing chest pain due to heart attack and maybe not responding to that as they should, in terms of seeking advice and sometimes calling an ambulance.
"That may be because they're worried about bothering the health service at this very busy time or they think the symptoms, incorrectly, are due to the coronavirus."
The latest stats show there are 240 confirmed cases of the virus in Sheffield - the most of any area in Yorkshire.
But Professor Storey says there's an important distinction between the symptoms of coroanvirus, and of a heart attack:
"Chest pain due to a heart attack often comes on quite quickly, it tends to be spread across the chest, maybe going into the arm or into the neck.
"It's not made worse by breathing in, as opposed to some viral infections which make it uncomfortable to take a breath in - so there are ways to differentiate them.
"People don't want to bother the health service because they know it's under stress. But it's important people realise that for their own good, to allow us to provide very effective treatment, they need to seek help early rather than early rather than wait.
"Potentially then it can create more problems if there's significant damage to the heart muscle."
There's more information on what to do if you get chest pains on the NHS website.
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