Howard G. Smith, MD, AM
PENTA Medical Network
617-488-9699
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HealthNews RoundUp - 1st Week of December 2020
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College Students As CoVid Long-Haulers
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/VcP6tbgzzGA
Fifty percent of college students suffer long-term effects from CoVid, and that counters the myth that young adults are largely unaffected by the virus. Researchers at the University of Dayton and NY’s Mt. Sinai School of Medicine compared 43 CoVid positive university students with 58 healthy controls.
The half suffering continuing CoVid were 43% more likely to have lifestyle-limiting exercise intolerance and shortness of breath, 24% more like to experience chest pain, 36% more likely to have appetite loss, and 19% more likely to have continuing taste and smell problems.
CoVid is a nasty disease even for the young. Avoid contracting it by masking, distancing, and washing.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.24.20238261v2.full.pdf
#covid #college #longhaulers
covid, college, longhaulers
CoVid Cardiac Disease Can Kill You
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/gre3bXsREcU
More than three-quarters of adults who recovered from CoVid have imaging evidence of significant cardiac damage. German investigators report this conclusion after studying 100 men and women with an average age of 49.
Each patient underwent cardiac MRI imaging an average of 71 days following their CoVid diagnosis. At that time, 76% of the group had elevated troponin levels indicative of cardiac muscle damage. The CoVid group compared with healthy controls demonstrated diminished cardiac function.
If you’ve had CoVid, don’t return to active exercise for 3 weeks after recovery. For extra safety, particularly if you were hospitalized for CoVid, undergo a thorough cardiac examination looking for myocarditis or cardiac inflammation.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2768916
#covid #cardiac #mycarditis #exercise
covid, cardiac, mycarditis, exercise
Obesity Can Make CoVid Lethal
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/juSmZ6Pf9LE
Markedly obese CoVid patients are nearly 3 times more likely than those with normal body masses to require ICU admission, go on a ventilator, or die. An international collaborative team just published these results from their meta-analysis of 335,192 patients treated over the past 11 months.
The investigators suggest 3 explanations for this effect. First of all, excess body weight negatively alters a patient’s respiratory mechanics exacerbating the impact of viral lung damage. Secondly, the additional body fat may serve as a CoVid reservoir as it does for other common human viruses. Finally, obesity may drive underlying low-grade inflammation and immune suppression.
The severely obese must avoid contracting CoVid at all costs.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.27.20239616v1.full.pdf
#covid #obesity #ICU #ventilator
covid, obesity, ICU, ventilator
Preventing Indoor CoVid Air Pollution
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/tcjFIbQAwpU
Analyzing a Chinese restaurant in which a super-spreader event occurred, a UC-Santa Barbara mathematician calculates that it would be necessary to have more than 50 air changes an hour rather than the current 10 to prevent an accumulation of a CoVid-infected cloud in an indoor space. That would feel like a brisk breezing blowing through the restaurant. Furthermore, the residual air in the space would require far more rigorous filtration with MERV-13 or better HEPA filters.
A single CoVid infected diner can generate a dangerously-contaminated aerosol/droplet cloud in a matter of minutes. Indoor dining is categorically unsafe, and safe. outdoor dining requires lots of spacing and a stiff wind.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.11.20173195v2.full.pdf
#covid #restaurants #indoordining #aerosols #droplets
covid, restaurants, indoordining, aerosols, droplets
Can We Reduce CoVid Quarantine Durations?
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/ryz4Ggo2Gkk
If you can obtain an accurate CoVid viral test result within 1-2 days of testing at the conclusion of a quarantine, Yale researchers suggest that the length of quarantine may be safely reduced from 14 to 7-8 days. Their study has just been pre-published online by medrixiv.org.
The researchers studied 4,040 CoVid tests to offshore oil rig workers. They determined that quarantine exit testing versus entry testing was most effective for preventing discharge of infectious persons into the general population.
If you are quarantining, at day 7 get a CoVid PCR test. As soon as you receive a negative test result, it is safe for you to end your quarantine.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.27.20211631v3.full.pdf
#covid #quarantine #test
covid, quarantine, test
CoVid Mutations Not Increasing Viral Transmissibility
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Z2mR6orX_nM
As we find ourselves facing a CoVid tsunami, British virologists give us the reassuring news that the known CoVid viral mutations are not making the virus more dangerous. From University College London comes an analysis of CoVid varieties isolated from over 46,000 patients.
The mutations occur for 3 reasons. First, genetic misfires occur during the viral replication process. Second, CoVid may interact with other human viruses infecting the same cells. Finally, our human cells may modify CoVid RNA as they try to protect us from the virus. The data show that this last mechanism appears to be the most common.
CoVid vaccines may induce mutations, but vaccine modification can meet the challenges.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19818-2
#covid #mutation #vaccine
covid, mutation, vaccine
Recalls On Prairie Farms Chocolate Milk
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/jeF43usxark
The FDA and Prairie Farms have recalled Prairie Farms Premium Flavored Chocolate Milk gallons and Prairie Farms 1% Low-fat Chocolate Milk gallons. Egg protein may be in these products but not labeled as such. Those sensitive to eggs could develop a serious allergic reaction if they ingest these milk products. These were mainly distributed in the Chicago area including the northern Illinois suburbs, Rockford, and southeastern Wisconsin. If you have this product, destroy it or return it to the store for a refund or a product exchange. If you have additional questions, call the company at 1-618-659-5700.
#chocolatemilk #prairiefarms #egg
chocolatemilk, prairiefarms, egg
Fresh Attitude Baby Spinach Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/1pKgDkc4Lrg
The FDA and Vegpro International announce the recall of Fresh Attitude Baby Spinach. This product is contaminated with salmonella. This bacterium can cause a serious and sometimes fatal gastrenteritis in the very young, old, or immune-compromised. This product was distributed in NY, NJ, DE, CT, MD, PA, and eastern Canada. Return this product to the point of purchase for a full refund. For more information, contact Vegpro at 1-877-613-5700.
#spinach #salmonella
spinach, salmonella
Golden Boy Custard Muffin Original and Pandan on Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/8MFki84l8hU
The FDA and Hong Thai Foods Corp have recalled Golden Boy Custard Muffins both Original and Pandan. Both products have undeclared milk allergens. In addition, the original muffins are adulterated with the food coloring uranine-acid yellow 73. Those with milk or food coloring allergies could develop significant allergic reactions. If you have these products, return them to the point of purchase for a refund. More information from the Hong Thai Foods Corp. is available by calling 1-718-237-1511.
#muffins #milk
muffins, milk
Recall on Dark Chocolate Pearls
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/UCJgJ5WDvX4
The FDA and Maribel’s Sweets of Brooklyn have recalled Cacao Market MarieBell Cylinder Dark Chocolate Pearls. This product has undeclared milk. Those with milk allergies may develop a severe allergic reaction if they ingest these chocolate pearls. If you have these chocolate pearls, return them to the store for s refund or destroy them. For more information, contact Maribel’s Sweets by calling 1-718-599-5515.
#chocolate #milk
chocolate, milk
Huffy Ride-On Toy UTVs On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/eEtAOjtOCvY
The CPSC and Huffy have recalled the Huffy Torex 24V Ride-On Toy UTVs. This toy can unexpectedly move when the battery is connected posing an injury hazard. If you have one of the 5,150 units sold, stop using the toy and contact Huffy at 1-888-366-3828 to arrange for a replacement.
#toy #utv #huffy
toy, utv, huffy
Sure Scents 2-1 Peaceful Stream/Moonlit Waves Candles Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/DHUFpj_bADs
The CPSC and the Dollar Tree Co. are recalling Sure Scents 2-1 Peaceful Stream/Moonlit Waves Candles. The flame height may reach above the top of the glass container causing the glass to break and leading to a fire and burn hazard. If you bought one of the 142,740 candles, immediately stop using it. Contact Dollar Tree at 1-800-876-8697 for a full refund.
#candle #burn #fire
candle, burn, fire
Recall on Honda Off-Road Recreational Vehicles
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/3wxNt8N5pro
The CPSC and American Honda are recalling certain Honda Off-Road Recreational vehicles. The models involved include 2017-2019 Pioneer 700, 20126-2020 Pioneer 1000 Side-by-side vehicles. Due to a power steering defect, the vehicles may lose control leading to crashes and injuries. If you own one of the 118,600 units, stop using it and contract an authorized Honda Powersports dealer to arrange for a repair. Call Honda at 1-866-784-1870.
#offroad #honda #pioneer #steering
offroad, honda, pioneer, steering