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 COVID cases are coming from all over the region now -- not just the St. Louis metro area. Dr. Kathleen Flick with SSM Health Medical Group in St. Charles County says there's been a drop in women getting their annual well-woman checkups. SLU Care cardiac surgeon Dr. Giovanni Speziali -- director of cardiac surgery at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital -- tells us all about another surgery to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger's bicuspid aortic valve. And SLU Care hepatolgist Dr. Adrian Di Bisceglie at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital talks about this year's Nobel Prize winners for Medicine -- three scientists he has worked with over the years on Hepatitis C research.
Health Matters Presented by SSM Health-- November 7, 2020
1. Dr. FRED BUCKHOLD, SLU Care general internist at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Surging COVID cases all across the area -- including record setting days in Illinois for new cases. Dr. Buckhold says cases are now being seen equally in STL City and County, the immediate counties of Jefferson, St. Charles and Franklin counties -- and now more coming in from areas even farther out like St. Francois County. Not necessarily more hospitalizations but it is headed that way -- and with influenza soon to hit the STL area, Dr Buckhold says that is a big problem. All the more reason to get a flu shot and wear a mask, he says. Dr. Buckhold also talks about burnout for all of us -- people are fatigued. A couple cases of co-infections in the United States -- patients with BOTH the flu and coronavirus -- at the same time. Dr. Buckhold says it is possible, but rare, although he expects we will see more of it over the next few months. St. Charles County poll worker dies from COVID-19 -- two days after the election -- and worked Tuesday in defiance of doctors orders to quarantine. Dr Buckhold says this shows a lack of discipline that explains why we are having so many problems with spread of the virus right now. A new study finds 20-percent of COVID patients come in with gastrointestinal problems or abdominal pain. Dr. Buckhold says he's seeing a lot of that in COVID patients.
2. Dr. KATHLEEN FLICK, OB/GYN with the SSM Health Medical Group in St. Charles County. COVID 19 has led to many people putting off their regular health checkups. Dr. Flick says it is critical for women to not ignore their annual well woman exams -- where a woman's vitals are taken, breast exam, pelvic exam and a physical. She says she is definitely seeing women missing their annual wellness check. Dr. Flick says it is safe to go to the doctor's office -- all COVID safety precautions are being taken. She says these exams catch all kinds of dangerous health concerns in the earliest stages. New CDC report says pregnant women are more likely to get serious COVID 19 cases than other women and can lead to preterm births. Dr. Flick says more of her pregnant patients are coming down with COVID 19 but she hasn't seen severe outcomes herself yet. She says pregnant women need to take all necessary precautions to avoid COVID 19. Dr. Flick talks about the timing for PAP smear tests -- and about the guidelines for breast cancer screenings. And she talks about the importance on getting the HPV vaccine.
3. Dr. GIOVANNI SPEZIALI, SLU Care cardiac surgeon and director of cardiac surgery at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is recovering from another heart surgery. The 73 year old actor was born with a congenital heart defect known as bicuspid aortic valve. What is? Very common condition many patients are born with -- says Dr. Speziali. Symptoms include heart murmur, shortness of breath upon exertion, lightheadedness or fainting, fatigue and chest pain. Can be treated in numerous ways including open heart surgery, minimally invasive through a small incision between the ribs and by implanting a new valve using a catheter and going up through the groin. Dr Speziali does all three types of surgeries -- depending on the patients condition and needs. How long does these valves last? Mechanical forever. Tissue valves 8 to 10 years. Recovery process is longer for open heart surgery - about a week in hospital and off work for six weeks to two months. For minimal invasive surgery, recovery must faster -- returning to work in a week. Catheter insertion of the valve, patients can go home day or or the next day. Dr. Speziali also talks about pulmonary valve replacement surgery. Dr. Speziali says heart surgery is scary but very safe now -- with survival around 98-99 percent today.
4. Dr. ADRIAN Di BISCEGLIE, SLU Care hepatologist and a professor of internal medicine at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Three scientists behind a major discovery in hepatitis C research have been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Dr. Di Bisceglie has worked with all three men and tells us about their ground breaking research on Hepatitis C. Dr. Charles Rice used to work at Washington University School of Medicine -- he cloned the virus and put it into an animal model. Dr. Di Bisceglie says all their research has been critical in saving countless lives. He also updates us on treatments for Hepatitis C -- a pill now can eliminate the virus in nearly everyone they treat. Prevention tips -- this is a blood borne disease -- exposure to blood or blood products could be a risk factor -- like injection drug use. We are now seeing a resurgence of new cases in drug users. Dr. Di Bisceglie says the bottom line is there is a treatment and it is curable, but you need to know you have it so get a blood test to find out at least once in your lifetime.