The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 17 COVID patients today, down from 21 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 6 with the active virus today, up from 5 yesterday
- 1 in ICU, 2 yesterday
- 0 on ventilator, same as yesterday
- 11 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 16 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Greg Nawalanic, clinical psychologist, The University of Kansas Health System
- When we think of the “bliss point” it is the combination of three ingredients: sugar, salt and fat
- Foods are engineered to provide the optimum level of these ingredients to stimulate a dopamine reaction in the brain that makes people feel good. This type of “reward” can lead to addictive or dependent behavior
- Too much sugar intake does have a long-term effect. When we get stressed, we turn to food, which can lead to bad habits and potentially poor health
- Sugar and depression can be linked. During depression, sugar intake can increase, which can lead to poorer health and a vicious cycle of behavior
- It is important to reward yourself when you make a positive choice
Kelsey Ngeh, fitness trainer
- There are two main energy systems that create energy that we need to exercise – aerobic and anaerobic
- Cardio to burn sugar uses aerobic system, which does not actually use sugar as primary source of fuel
- Strength training is a better way to use sugar as an energy source
- Some simple strength training exercises include using exercise bands with resistance, push-ups or using dumbbells. These physical activities burn sugar faster than cardio work
- “Think Before You Eat” – understand what the sugar content in foods means in terms of how much work you would need to do to burn that off
- You can’t “out exercise” a bad diet
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Sugar can cause inflammation. Remember, all good things in moderation. Going too far can cause significant health problems
- One of the healthier diets we are seeing is the Mediterranean diet, with healthy oils and grains and lower sugar content. But again, everything in moderation
- Alcohol is a large contributor to sugar and carb consumption
- On the COVID front, Moderna has applied for emergency use authorization for children six months through five years.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- 75% of kids have had COVID, effectiveness of the vaccines in children is good
- Move out of pandemic thinking and move into being nimble and quick
- We have to react to various COVID waves that come through
Friday, April 29 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. It's a weekend full of galas and events here in the metro. From the AIDS Walk to Beat the Odds for Episelpy, how you can help your neighbors, doctors and researchers in their quest for a cure.
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.
