This week's Health Matters Presented by SSM Health takes a look at the latest coronavirus developments -- including how long till home testing is available for COVID-19, how safe is it to eat out these days and the dangers of half-masking. We also talk with SSM Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alexander Garza who volunteered to take part in St. Louis University's clinical trial of the new Moderna vaccine. Health Matters also explains the new age guidelines for cervical cancer screening and finds out about a new less-invasive surgical approach to treat carotid arteries called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization. --available now at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital in St. Charles.
Here is the link to this week's show:
Here is the complete rundown of the topics discussed:
1. Dr. FRED BUCKHOLD, SLU Care general internist at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Dr. Buckhold says new COVID cases are holding steady. Still about 500 new cases a day in the STL metro area. Dr. Buckhold also talks about the prospect of at home testing -- and what are the challenges there. A new CDC study finds many COVID adult patients say they ate out at a restaurant before before coming down with the illness. Dr. Buckhold explains the dangers with dining in these days -- in enclosed settings with limited airflow. And Dr. Buckhold talks about the danger of half-masking -- people who wear their mask over their mouth only -- leaving the nose exposed. Dr. Buckhold says that is really dangerous because most of our exposure to the COVID virus comes through the nose.
2. Dr. ALEXANDER GARZA, Chief Medical Officer for SSM Health and head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force. Dr. Garza has volunteered to take part in the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trial now underway at Saint Louis University's Center for Vaccine Development. Dr. Garza says he advocates for vaccines and he wanted to put some skin in the game and show people that participating in these trials is very important, they're safe, and very well done. Phase 3 testing he says is critical to make sure a possible COVID-19 vaccine is both safe and effective. He will be followed for two years now as part of this trial. Since this is a blinded trial, he does not know if he got the Moderna vaccine or a placebo. Dr. Garza says we may see some vaccine by the end of the year for a few select groups -- health care workers and those at high risk for exposure or serious complications. But he thinks it is more realistic that the masses will get the vaccine by spring or early summer next year. Dr. Garza also says there is some concern about people coming down with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. That's why he says getting a flu shot this year is so critical.
3. Dr. LESLIE McCLOSKEY, a SLU Care OB-GYN at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital. The American Cancer Society changes its age guidelines for cervical cancer screening. Raising the age from 21 to 25 -- because so few women are getting cervical cancer before age 24. Another reason is because HPV vaccination rates are increasing and progress is being seen as more women are getting that vaccine. The new guidelines recommend the screening start with primary HPV testing as the preferred method of testing every five years through age 65. The new guidelines also suggest the need to phase out cotesting and cytology. Some of Dr. McCloskey's patients are leery anytime changes in guidelines are announced. She says it's also important for women not to get the wrong idea that they shouldn't go to an OB-GYN until age 25. That needs to start earlier, she says.
4. Dr. TJ SCHNEIDER, vascular surgeon at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital in St. Charles. Dr. Schneider says they have a new technology called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization -- or TCAR -- to surgically treat patients with carotid artery disease. They've been using it since earlier this year. He says this less invasive approach is safer than any other procedure. Dr. Schneider says the procedure uses a sheath inserted directly in to the carotid artery through a small incision at the neckline, creating a reversal of blood flow. That allows them to safely insert the stent to open blood flow and prevent future strokes. This allows for a quicker recovery time and back to routine much quicker than those who have the traditional surgical approach. The procedure was recently approved by the FDA.