Health Matters Presented by SSM Health this week takes a look at some of the top medical stories impacting our lives today. SLU Care General Internist Dr. Fred Buckhold at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital helps us better understand why St. Louis City and County leaders have increased coronavirus restrictions in the area. The manager of Behavioral Health Services at SSM Health DePaul Hospital -- Amy Konsewicz - tells us why women are especially nervous, anxious or depressed more than men during this pandemic. After Alex Trebek's tragic death, SLU Care gastroenterologist Dr. Jason Taylor at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital brings us up to date on the latest in pancreatic cancer research. And Al Roker's prostate cancer has urologist Dr. Kevin Enger with the SSM Health Medical Group in St. Charles County explaining the different types of treatments for prostate cancer.
A complete rundown of this week's show is below:
1. Dr. FRED BUCKHOLD, SLU Care general internist at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. New COVID restrictions in the STL area -- STL County Executive Sam Page introduces the Safer at Home Initiative, encourages ten person bubbles, updates mandatory mask order for everyone over age 5 when away from home, limits restaurants and stores to 25-percent capacity, prevents gatherings of more than 10 people, no more indoor dining or drinking at restaurants or bars. Also new quarantine guidelines if you get COVID or have been in close contact with someone who has it. St. Louis City Mayor Lyda Krewson limits small gatherings to ten people or less. Dr. Buckhold says this is tough, but cases have certainly gone up in the area and are out of control in the state, he says. Many cases coming here from outlying areas.
He says we need a statewide mask mandate. Hard to keep that discipline of avoiding small gatherings says Dr. Buckhold but we have to do it. He says we are in for a long haul and a lot of his colleagues are worried. He says the new Prizer vaccine sounds promising with a 90-percent efficiency rate -- and while that sounds good, he'd like to see more about the numbers. This will be a two shot vaccine which must be stored at extremely cold temperatures which may cause a problem with distribution he says.
2. AMY KONSEWICZ, manager of Behavioral Health Services at SSM Health DePaul Hospital. New CDC data shows women are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than men. Women are at a higher risk, Konsewicz says, even before the pandemic. But the pandemic has blown up the anxiety level for women because of so many tasks are now falling on women. She's seeing a lot more female patients these days -- especially over schooling concerns and caregiver concerns. She encourages women to reach out to others for support. SSM Health recently opened the Behavioral Health Urgent Care on the DePaul campus -- where you are able to walk in and get connected with needed help. Amy says there are social barriers that can make mental health assistance harder to get -- like transportation, insurance, and poverty. She says SSM Health is breaking down those barriers. Anxiety can present differently in different people, she says. In some it is heart racing and sweating and doing everyday things, nervousness and fear that kind of overwhelms the mind. Lack of sleep. Coping mechanisms include getting to the cause of the anxiety and then processing through that. 314-344-7200 is the number for the SSM Health Behavioral Health Urgent Care at SSM Health DePaul Hospital.
3. Dr. JASON TAYLOR, SLU Care gastroenterologist at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. In March of 2019, legendary game show host Alex Trebek bravely told his fans and followers that he was just diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and that he would fight it as long as he could. Trebek died last Sunday at the age of 80. Dr. Taylor calls Trebek an inspiration. He says about 45-50,000 people a year are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the prognosis is never very encouraging. 24% of patients live one year, 5% live 5 years after diagnosis. It's the fourth largest cause of cancer death in men - behind prostate, lung and colorectal. The disease is commonly diagnosed in its latest stages -- says Dr. Taylor. Not many early warning signs. And says there are no great screening tools. Symptoms include jaundice, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and new onset diabetes later in life. Healthy lifestyle habits help prevent pancreatic cancer -- as it does in most cancers -- including no smoking, limited alcohol intake, eating fruits and vegetables and getting regular exercise. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Trebek had immunotherapy.
4. Dr. KEVIN ENGER, urologist with the SSM Health Medical Group in St. Charles County. Today Show co-host and weatherman Al Roker recently told viewers he's dealing with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that was caught early. Dr. Enger says 200,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with it. Roker had his prostate removed. Dr. Enger says prostate cancer is very dangerous and can kill people -- despite what some people saying it is slow moving and only needs to be monitored. He disagrees. Especially in African American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer. Not all prostate cancers are slow growing. Screening should be every year -- PSA and a digital exam. Dr. Enger is a big advocate for the PSA test. Start talking with your doctor at age 45 about starting screening, earlier if you have a family history or are an African American. Two most common risk factors are family history -- or being an African American male. Symptoms include difficulty with urination or maybe blood in the urine -- those are extremely rare -- usually there are no symptoms. That's why getting a blood PSA test is so important. Early diagnosis is critical. The earlier it is detected, the better the chance for a cure -- and allows you a better choice of options in how to deal with the cancer -- including minimally invasive therapies.