The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 35 COVID patients today, down from 43 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 5 with the active virus today, 4 yesterday
- 1 in ICU, 1 yesterday
- 1 on ventilator, 1 yesterday
- 30 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, down from 39 yesterday
Key points from today’s guest:
Dr. Rajesh Pahwa, Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Program at The University of Kansas Health System
- 60,000 Americans are diagnosed each year.
- Parkinson’s disease is disorder of the brain and patients have different symptoms, including tremors and difficulty walking or non-motor symptoms like anxiety or memory disorders.
- A change in handwriting may also be a symptom.
- Any activity is good, but boxing can be a good way to battle Parkinson’s because it is exercise with movements that help them, even with speech and balance.
- It’s a support group without saying you are part of a support group.
- COVID had a detrimental effect on Parkinson’s patients because they had to stay home, but we are seeing them get back and more active.
- This is a progressive disease, so with Parkinson’s, you can still do things. You need to stay active mentally and physically.
- Taking medications and participating in clinical trials can help.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Seeing some upticks in cases in some places around the country.
- Monitoring to see if any of these surges are leading to more hospitalizations as that stat usually lags.
- Mask mandates on planes and trains have been extended, so it’s a good idea to help stay safer.
- Separately, for food preparation, use good hand hygiene and be smart about food prep and infection prevention practices – clean surfaces, cooking meats like chicken thoroughly, etc.
Friday, April 15 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. One state in the Metro no longer considers COVID a pandemic. Instead they are now calling it an endemic. Tomorrow, living with COVID and what our wastewater is telling us now about virus variants, especially after the spring break vacations!
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
