Thursday Morning Medical Update: Giving Parkinson’s a One-Two Punch

The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 35 COVID patients today, down from 43 yesterday. Other significant numbers: 5 with the active virus today, 4 yesterday 1 in ICU, 1 yesterday 1 on ventilator, 1 yesterday 30 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, down from 39 yesterday Key points from today’s guest: Dr. Rajesh Pahwa, Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Program at The University of Kansas Health System 60,000 Americans are diagnosed each year. Parkinson’s disease is disorder of the brain and patients have different symptoms, including tremors and difficulty walking or non-motor symptoms like anxiety or memory disorders. A change in handwriting may also be a symptom. Any activity is good, but boxing can be a good way to battle Parkinson’s because it is exercise with movements that help them, even with speech and balance. It’s a support group without saying you are part of a support group. COVID had a detrimental effect on Parkinson’s patients because they had to stay home, but we are seeing them get back and more active. This is a progressive disease, so with Parkinson’s, you can still do things. You need to stay active mentally and physically. Taking medications and participating in clinical trials can help. Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System Seeing some upticks in cases in some places around the country. Monitoring to see if any of these surges are leading to more hospitalizations as that stat usually lags. Mask mandates on planes and trains have been extended, so it’s a good idea to help stay safer. Separately, for food preparation, use good hand hygiene and be smart about food prep and infection prevention practices – clean surfaces, cooking meats like chicken thoroughly, etc. Friday, April 15 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. One state in the Metro no longer considers COVID a pandemic. Instead they are now calling it an endemic. Tomorrow, living with COVID and what our wastewater is telling us now about virus variants, especially after the spring break vacations!