Many people put off having regular checkups and screenings due to the pandemic, and healthcare providers are now seeing the consequences. Dentists are witnessing damaged and rotten teeth and oncologists are encountering cancers that may have been prevented with timely screenings and treatment.

According to Kaiser Health News, cardiologists noted a drop in heart attack patients early in the pandemic when patients were afraid to visit emergency rooms because of COVID-19. Gastroenterologists said there was an 80% to 90% drop in colonoscopies that could easily spot and prevent deadly colorectal cancers. Mammograms declined, leading some physicians to worry about the potential increase in breast cancers.

''People put off routine breast examinations, and there are going to be some cancers hiding that are not going to be identified, potentially delaying intervention,'' said Dr. James P. Valin, of SCL Health.

Dentists are seeing a double whammy from COVID-19. People are coming in with problems due to neglect during the pandemic and issues caused by COVID-19 itself. Patients are literally grinding down their teeth from the stress and anxiety triggered by the disease. The grinding and clenching could necessitate root canals, dental implants and night guards to prevent further damage, according to KHN.

A recent survey by the American Dental Association found that stress-related dental conditions continue to rise. More than 70% of dentists surveyed by the ADA said they are seeing an increase of patients experiencing grinding and clenching associated with stress.

Unfortunately, even pediatricians are reporting that their patients are suffering from stress because of ''their inability to get out.'' British researchers warned that the mental effect of COVID-19 lockdown on children should not be underestimated and that many already suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. The investigators from the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families reported that children are suffering from ''increasing levels of worry, fear, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress'' due to lockdowns.

According to Newsweek, the researchers cited the impact of school closures, increased time away from their peers and worries about their own health as possible causes for the emotional and mental distress. The experts said that the effects of coping with these issues could have lasting consequences.

KHN said that optometrists are noticing more cases of eye strain as people indulge in more screen time. They are also reporting worsening eye conditions such as glaucoma because people are not taking their medications faithfully.

Researchers report that COVID-19 has literally caused an increase in back and neck pain in people working from home. Experts say that the uptick is due to a combination of poor posture, stress, and lack of physical activity, according to CNBC.

The psychological stress of the pandemic can trigger neck and back pain, said Dr. Eric Robertson, spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, and an expert on low back pain.

''Things like depression and anxiety, and fear about work can all translate to very strong predictors of who has back pain,'' he said. Robertson adds that many people working from home have less than ideal ergonomic work centers and may be sitting slouched over their laptops or on an uncomfortable kitchen chair.