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 says new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to increase all across the St. Louis metropolitan area. Family Medicine physician Dr. Stanley Sachak with the SSM Health Medical Group in Troy, Missouri, has some safe voting tips. SLU Care Cardiologist Dr. Stephanie Windish at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital tells how ketogenic diets affect our heart. And the Injury Prevention Nurse Coordinator at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital -- Lori Winkler -- has some advice for new parents during this Safe Sleep Awareness Month.
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1. Dr. FRED BUCKHOLD, SLU Care general internist at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Dr. Buckhold says there has been a big increase in local COVID cases - he says numbers are surging in St. Louis City and County -- as are hospitalizations. Not yet at the point of being overwhelmed but it is noticeable. And he says if the annual onslaught of the flu occurs, he's not feeling good about it. He again is calling for a mandatory face mask policy statewide. He's also worried about bars and restaurants that don't adhere to the rules and says those can be big spreaders of the virus. Closed environments are still a big risk, he says. New studies on immunity and how long does it last -- Dr. Buckhold says the findings are a mixed bag but it appears immunity may last a few months -- maybe up to six months or longer. A new study out of Spain finds many COVID patients have a vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Buckhold says this is an association, not a cause and effect relationship. He says Vitamin D does play a role with the immune system, so it wouldn't hurt to take a thousand units of Vitamin D a day. New colon cancer screening guidelines are out. Dr Buckhold says the new advice is to start screening at age 45. This is smart he says before we're seeing a lot of people coming down with cancer at an earlier age. This week's apparent suicide death of local attorney Ed Brown prompts new focus on severe depression and suicidal thoughts. Dr. Buckhold says we should be on the look out for changes of mood, someone being more withdrawn than usual, joking about suicide or when people start to put together a plan for suicide. Dr. Buckhold also goes over his Halloween tips for a safe night of trick or treating. Keep you distance from trick or treaters. Maybe leave your candy on a table or on a tray. Avoid places that are not safely distancing. Wear a mask.
2. Dr. STANLEY SACHAK, Family Medicine Physician with the SSM Health Medical Group in Troy, Missouri. If you are planning on voting at your election polling place on Tuesday, Dr. Sachak says there are several things we need to do to stay safe. Wear a mask and be sure we try to stay six feet apart where possible and remember to sanitize your hands after coming into contact with any items or surfaces. Hand sanitzers are good enough -- at least 60 percent alcohol based solution. Avoid wearing gloves, that can carry germs that we end up getting on our faces. Try to stay two arms lengths from the next person in line. Going on off peak hours is helpful as well. Dr. Sachak says this year, keep the kids at home or with someone else while you vote. The general rule for going back out in the public after being sick -- is ten days after the onset of symptoms and 24 hours after fever goes away. Dr. Sachak says this is a virus that we are still learning about. He says many of us are tired and fatigued from this pandemic and he encourages us all to be kind to one another and act in a civil manner.
3. Dr. KYLE McCOMMIS, assistant professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Saint Louis University and Dr. STEPHANIE WINDISH, SLU Care cardiologist at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. New research at Saint Louis University -- led by Dr. McCommis -- finds that high fat or "ketogenic" diets could completely prevent or even reverse heart failure caused by a metabolic process. A ketogenic diet is high in fats and low in carbs. Dr. McCommis says this study was done in mice -- and it found that drastic heart failure was bypassed by switching to high fat or ketogenic diets. Dr. McCommis says we need to be cautious when translating these findings to humans, but he says perhaps limiting dietary carbohydrate intake could help fight or prevent heart failure but testing needs to be done in humans to verify that. Dr. Windish says each person's diet depends on their individual body chemistry. It really needs to be individualized to each person's dietary needs. Habits more than diets, she says, are important. Also try to cut out refined sugar as much as possible. Diet is important and has long term consequences. Be aware, she says, of what you are putting into your body.
4. Dr. LORI WINKLER, Injury Prevention Nurse Coordinator for SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and Coordinator for the Safe Kids St. Louis program. October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month. Winkler has the ABCs of safe sleep for infants -- A - babies need to sleep Alone. B - Babies always need to sleep on their Back. C - Babies need to sleep in a safety approved Crib. D - Do not overheat the baby and don't expose to any smoke or vapors. And E - we need to remember these ABCs Every time we put an infant down to rest. She says about 3600 babies a year will die from sudden unexpected infant death. Most kids under age 1 die from accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. Grandparents really need to be aware of this. In Missouri there were 90 sudden unexpected infant deaths last year. Winkler says set your alarm on your phone while breast feeding so you don't fall asleep while breast feeding your baby. She says babies can be safely swaddled. Cardinal Glennon offers virtual baby safety 101 classes -- call SSM Docs phone number 314-776-3627 to register. Safe Kids St. Louis phone number is 314-678-5474.