54,239 Deaths And Counting In The U.S.
The devastating loss of life around the world due to COVID19 is unfathomable. In the U.S., to date there have been close to 1 million confirmed cases of COVID19. While the majority of those people have recovered, more than 54,000 people have died so far.
I can’t imagine the sadness and grief the loved ones are experiencing now. They cannot have a funeral or any kind of service to honor the lives of the dearly departed. The age of those who have lost their lives to this devastating virus range from a 6-week old infant to those in their 90s.
Strokes Are Claiming The Lives Of Younger Adults
While it was initially thought that only older adults were susceptible, that has been totally dismissed as younger, healthier people are being felled by this virus. In a WashingtonPost.com article about the number of strokes associated with COVID19, as seen at Mt. Sinai hospital it was stated, “In a letter to be published in the New England Journal of Medicine next week, the Mount Sinai team details five case studies of young patients who had strokes at home from March 23 to April 7…The victims’ ages are 33, 37, 39 44 and 49, and they were all home when they began to experience sudden symptoms, including slurred speech, confusion, drooping on one side of the face and a dead feeling in one arm. One died, two are still hospitalized, one was released to rehabilitation, and one was released home to the care of his brother. Only one of the five, a 33-year-old woman, is able to speak.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/24/strokes-coronavirus-young-patients/?outputType=amp&fbclid=IwAR2qW2S6JEC0uwzQMfh5QhyU9pt5oAglZ0yVIQj38snf8tJ6RIwYlM5A8lw
Strokes Must Be Treated Quickly
Many of the younger adults suffering stroke symptoms are not going to the hospitals which are already overburdened. However, now that it’s clear that stroke symptoms are related to COVID19, it’s important to get to a hospital right away. According to the Mt. Sinai team as reported in the Washington Post article, “The most important thing for people to understand is that large strokes are very treatable. Doctors are often able to reopen blocked blood vessels through techniques such as pulling out clots or inserting stents. But it has to be done quickly, ideally within six hours, but no longer than 24 hours.” The message the doctors are trying to get out is that if you have symptoms of stroke, you need to call the ambulance urgently.
Anyone Over 18 Needs A Will And Advanced Directive
There are going to be more deaths. And if quarantine restrictions are lifted too early, there may be way more deaths than there are to date. Anyone over the age of 18 who is still alive and well and has not created a will, a health directive or an estate plan, now is the time to take action. It’s bad enough if your loved ones have to deal with losing you. It’s even worse if they have to go through painful legal procedures to manage the assets you may leave behind.