Over 10,000 Australians have died from heart attacks in just 8 months as a result of a dramatic “surge” in fatal cardiac events, according to a report by 9News Queensland.
The Australian news outlet cast blame on the COVID-19 pandemic as a whole for the sharp rise in cardiac deaths nationwide.
“The pandemic has helped fuel a rise in helped fuel a rise in the number of fatal cardiac arrests across the country, according to a new report,” 9News reported on Friday.
According to Australian reporter Aislin Kriukelis, medical experts are alarmed at new data showing that over ten thousand Australians died from heart problems in the first 8 months of the year 2022.
“They say the data is concerning and that’s because it shows in within the first 8 months of 2022, more than 10,200 Australians died due to heart-related disease, and that number is considered 17% higher than what would be considered normal,” Kriukelis said.
Woman receives her COVID-19 vaccine (Public Domain)
According to medical experts, COVID-19 infections, delayed medical treatments, and busy hospitals are to blame.
“Health experts say quite simply the pandemic increased risk factors. They include the virus itself, some studies show that some people have a higher likelihood of heart disease or stroke after COVID-19 infection.”
“Then there’s the fact that some people delayed medical treatment and therefore delayed going and getting their usual health checkups and getting diagnosis and then treatment,” she added.
“And then, to a lesser extent, there’s the fact that hospitals were extremely busy during this time. Perhaps reassuringly though, the Heart Foundation says 2022 also led to a surge in people getting heart checks,” Kriukelis noted.
This news and commentary by Andrew White originally appeared on Valiant News.
