Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Matthias Salathe, clinical services chief, internal medicine, The University of Kansas Health System; vice chancellor of research, The University of Kansas Medical Center
- We have a “vaping robot” to simulate vape use in human lungs. Vaping creates more mucous, more inflammation, and less hydration in the lungs.
- The vapor includes byproducts that are detrimental to health.
- That vapor is not just water – it is liquid made out of propylene glycol – so an antifreeze vegetable glycerin which is basically a fatty substance.
- In kids who are vaping, we are seeing them start to have these symptoms that we see with smokers – chronic bronchitis.
- We know that there is inflammation in the airway, and there is a decrease in the clearance.
Dr. Mitchell Douglass, child & adolescent psychiatrist, The University of Kansas Health System
- We're doing a full assessment for substance abuse habits, whether that's marijuana, which is on the increase, whether it's nicotine, alcohol, psychedelics, fentanyl, opiates, assessment, all that is all the stuff that can really affect the mental health.
- With marijuana, we're seeing a significant increase in that, but marijuana is not okay for kids.
- Gets are getting addicted quicker to vaping because the nicotine concentration is higher.
Dr. Danielle Johnson, Ph.D., clinical pediatric psychologist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Young kids who are vaping are also making other poor choices to get money for vaping.
- These are highly addictive substances, so it typically requires professional treatment.
- We need to start the conversation at age 10 or 11. Kids are vaping at very early ages.
- The effects of vaping are actually changing their brain structure.
Matthew Biggart, Ph. D., post-doctoral fellow, The University of Kansas Medical Center; used e-cigs to quit tobacco
- He tried e-cigarettes to stop smoking traditional cigarettes.
- But then it became a matter of convenience because he could vape indoors, unlike smoking.
- He ended up consuming twice as much nicotine with vaping vs. smoking.
- It took him a while to realize this was not just “steam,” it’s a complex series of chemicals.
Special Segment on Post-Shooting Mental Aspects for Kids
Dr. Danielle Johnson, Ph.D., clinical pediatric psychologist, The University of Kansas Health System
- I was at the parade with my family.
- I anticipate the kids and adults I see will have a lot of questions and struggles with something that's family event that should pretty safe.
- The people who attended this or watched this happen will have feelings of our safety being violated. This is our city and we all felt that that that violation.
- What I will say to a 7- or 8-year-old will look a little different than a 10-12-year-old or a 16-17-year-old, so it's going to be age appropriate.
- We need to open the door to a conversation. How are you feeling?. What are you thinking?
- Let them know that it's a safe place to talk. Check in and let them know it's OK to feel whatever it is that they feel.
- Silence is not OK.
Dr. Mitchell Douglass, child & adolescent psychiatrist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Don’t get into the mindset of if my kid doesn't bring up an issue to me, they must be fine.
- Well, we know for a lot of our teens, they're not always all right just because they don't say anything.
- If we don't check in, we don't know and can’t help.
- I think the key is opening the door to a conversation frequently and often.
- If they need help, get help
COVID Updates
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- The hospital COVID count for this week is steady at 24 inpatients.
- A CDC long COVID survey found that the national average for long COVID in the U.S. is 6.4 percent, but that number goes up to 7.4 percent in Kansas and 7.9 percent in Missouri.
- Looking at 6-7 percent of the population with long COVID symptoms is pretty significant so be sensitive to that fact that it does continue to affect many people on a daily basis.
Monday, Feb. 19 at 8 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. When a man needed a life-saving stem cell transplant to fight his leukemia, he thought he’d have to search the country for a donor. Turns out that donor was a lot closer to home.
ATTENTION MEDIA: Please note access is with Microsoft Teams:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 235 659 792 451
Passcode: 6CSfGE
Download Teams | Join on the web
Or call in (audio only)
+1 913-318-8863,566341546# United States, Kansas City
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.