KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — One of the least noticed health impacts of COVID-19 is the fact that many people have been avoiding going to their doctors for routine checkups, including very important follow ups for issues like diabetes, high blood pressure and preventive screening.
There are many reasons for this.
First, the concern that there might be an increased risk of infection exposure at the doctor's office.
The second is that for many people, finances are tighter than ever and people often ignore their own health at these times.
The final reason is that it is human nature to come up with excuses to avoid doing things you may not want to do.
As a result, hospitalizations are up for issues not related to COVID-19, and the length of time people are staying in the hospital is also increasing.
