The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 35 COVID patients today, up from 30 Friday. Other significant numbers:
- 20 with the active virus today, 15 Friday
- 6 in ICU, 5 Friday
- 2 on a ventilator, 2 Friday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Steven Weinman, gastroenterologist and director of the Liver Center, The University of Kansas Health System
- Alcohol has effects on the liver, but it has effects on the brain and the digestive system. It can cause certain kinds of cancers. It can cause diseases of the pancreas, it can interfere with the immune system. So heavy alcohol drinking takes its toll.
- Alcoholism follows a biopsychosocial model, which means if you're biologically predisposed to if you have a genetic composition, where other family members were hurt by alcohol use had medical complications of alcohol use, you potentially might have higher risk.
- Everyone who gets a liver transplant gets scrutinized because it's such a limited resource. And the goal is to save as many lives as possible. People who have diseases and/or are not compliant with guidelines are less likely to receive a transplant.
- CDC data shows that alcoholic liver disease is killing more and more young adults.
- If you are having an alcohol-related problem, get help.
Dr. Roopa Sethi, addiction psychiatrist, The University of Kansas Health System
- The American Medical Association and National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines what is called at-risk drinking. Basically, they're trying to say anything above alcohol intake recommendations, you are putting yourself at risk of medical complications or psychiatry problems related to alcohol use.
- For a man under 65, that is no more than four drinks a day and no more than 14 drinks a week. For a woman under 65 years of age, no more than three drinks a day and no more than seven drinks a week. So that means if somebody's drinking three glasses of wine on a Monday and Tuesday, you're literally almost at the cutoff for the week.
- Alcohol Use Disorder is used instead of “alcoholism.” Cases are divided into mild, moderate and severe use disorder categories with a set of 11 criteria.
- There are medication treatments to help, which are FDA approved for Alcohol Use Disorder.
- Last year, a study looked at overall deaths in the U.S. to alcohol associated liver disease. When the pandemic happened, we saw increasing numbers of people with alcohol addiction coming to our clinic.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, The University of Kansas Health System
- A recent report in Nature described an increase in severe hepatitis in children.
- This was thought to be caused from adenovirus, but after further evaluation, experts think it was caused by a second virus and possibly a genetic component.
- Researchers are currently looking to see if this outbreak had any association with COVID.
Tuesday, April 11 is the next Morning Medical Update. Testicular cancer is surprisingly curable, but only if it is detected early. And too many men are not on the lookout. We’ll give the best advice for self-exams and what to watch out for besides a lump.
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