Monkeypox
Monkeypox is in the news. If it weren't for the pandemic, it might not be as scary. Now we are primed to frightened of any spread of infectious disease, especially ones of which we are unfamiliar. Best thing is to [Read More]
Stroke Awareness
A stroke is a heart attack of the brain. Just like lack of blood flow to the heart causes muscle loss, chest pain, and arrhythmias, lack of blood flow to the brain causes weakness, slurred speech, and paralysis. This happens to 800,000 Americans a [Read More]
Hepatitis in Children
There are just some things you can't explain. The rising cases of acute hepatitis in kids is one of them. In the U.S. about 109 cases have been reported as of Friday May 6, 2022. The median age of the children is 2 and none over age 10. They've all [Read More]
Sleep and Weight
Two of my favorite topics are the benefits of sleep and how to maintain a lower steady state weight. (Notice how I worded that--very technically accurate). So you can imagine my excitement when I ran across this study out of the University of Chicago [Read More]
Tracking COVID Through Wastewater
Everyone poops. I learned that from children's books from when my kids were little. I've also earned a living learning that lesson (i.e I'm a gastroenterologist). Since COVID is shed in poop, one way to track population experience of the pandemic is [Read More]
Omicron Coronavirus Variant
The Delta variant of the coronavirus got it's start in India. Over a billion densely populated humans was good fodder for a SARS-CoV2 mutation that made it more transmissible. We should recall the dark days before vaccination when funeral pyres were [Read More]
Experimental COVID-19 Drug
MOLNUPIRAVIR--the new Merck drug Merck partnering with Ridgeback Pharma has asked for Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for it's oral drug, Molnupiravir (Moll new peer ah veer). If 8 pills a day are taken for 5 days in the early days [Read More]
Dr. Kumar Shares His Journey as an Immigrant With Fox 7
Dr. Kumar was recently featured on Fox 7 News Austin about his journey as an immigrant. You can watch the story here. As lawmakers face pressure to find solutions to U.S. immigration systems, a familiar face to Good Day Austin, shares his journey [Read More]
Coffee and liver cancer
I get to talk about something I love, coffee! If you haven't noticed, any decent study about the benefits of coffee, I discuss. I promote. I make people aware. Coffee is awesome! But in some respects, what I am enamored with is the UK [Read More]
COVID in India
A crazy surge of COVID in India is overwhelming their health care system and wreaking havoc across the country. The previous peak of new cases during their summer surge was roughly 90,000 cases/day, now it's over 300,000 cases/day and the numbers are [Read More]
COVID Variants and Kids with COVID
First, Variants. Why do I feel like I'm on the set of Bladerunner? Cells mutate. They all do. Viruses, while not cells, mutate, too. Coronovirus mutates. When a mutation results in the virus behaving differently or looking differently, [Read More]
Colon Cancer Screenings
March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. But let's not let the transformation occur without recognizing it's finer attributes. Caesar was bludgeoned during the Ides of March. There is the madness of college basketball finales. We spring [Read More]
Mask Mandate
The Governor of Texas has released the mask mandate for our State. I'd prefer to read between the lines. While on the face of it, the new policy risks prolonging the pandemic, allows time for new vaccine resistant strains to erupt, and hampers the [Read More]
A Look at This Year’s Flu Season
While the flu season is not over, enough weeks have passed to assess the impact of the COVID. And this is a much needed small bright spot on the blight of the pandemic. It's a pretty mild flu season. Check out the link. [Read More]
Cedar Fever or COVID-19
It is Cedar Fever season in Central Texas! This year is worse than most. Weird name for it, Cedar Fever, as it is not caused by cedar nor is there a fever. It is caused by Ashe Juniper tree pollen, and the males of the species are to blame. The [Read More]
Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine
The vaccines are here! I gratefully received my first shot Sunday December 20, 2020 at 11:15 am at St. David's South Austin Medical Center. I watched on CSPAN as the FDA had an open panel discussion regarding the data surrounding the [Read More]
The Arrival of the COVID-19 Vaccine
The vaccine is here. The UK has started administering it this week. The FDA has used Emergency Use Authorization to allow it to come to market in the US. There is resistance to the vaccine both in people and in their bodies. From what I hear, more in [Read More]
Increase in COVID-19 cases
The Fall Surge (The Third Wave) The Fall Surge is upon us. It has arrived by all telling. We are early in it's course and there is opportunity for mitigation. The 1918 Pandemic of the Spanish flu also had 3 waves. The Spring, the Fall, and the [Read More]
Coffee and Colorectal Cancer
Colon cancer is in the news these days. A few weeks ago Chadwick Boseman passed away in his early 40's of metastatic colon cancer. In one fell swoop, his tragic passing highlighted three traits of colon cancer: 1) Colon cancer is increasing in [Read More]
Urgency to Get Flu Shots
The seasonal flu shot is starting to become available. The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends getting the flu vaccine optimally between now and the end of October. It can take a few weeks to be fully effective. This year with the [Read More]
Convalescent Plasma
CONVALESCENT PLASMA The story on the news cycle this week is convalescent plasma (which I shall abbreviate CP). CP is the plasma of an infected person who has recovered from an infectious illness. The idea is that if you administer the plasma [Read More]
COVID-19 rising as leading cause of death
SARS-CoVA 2 is now the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States this year. Heart disease and all cancer deaths still exceed the number of Coronavirus deaths. What is frustrating about this is that some Americans feel that this is not a big [Read More]
Cyclospora
Want to worry about something OTHER than the pandemic? Well, you're in luck! Let's worry about Cyclospora! It is a parasite that is increasingly prevalent in Travis County. Over 80 cases have been reported and my Physician's Assistant just got a [Read More]
Coronavirus Vaccine
The first phase 3 vaccine trial is underway! Moderna is the biotech company partnering with the National Institutes of Health that is first off the blocks. Phase 1 trials test safety. Phase 2 trials test efficacy and safety in a slightly larger [Read More]
Importance of Vaccinations
A Return to Normalcy This is what they called the situation after World War II, a return to normalcy. We haven't finished our war with the pandemic and when it's truly over we will have our own Return to Normalcy. In the meantime, it's [Read More]
Treating COVID-19
Is the pandemic still on? Didn't know because I've been on vacation with my family in Colorado for the week. They're still celebrating it over there. We road tripped for the first time as so many Americans are doing. Some friends claim that RV sales [Read More]
IBS & COVID-19
Checking in from the pandemic -- how's it going out there? Yes, I know. We're shuckspod. That realization can cause anxiety. Anxiety often is a trigger for those affected with irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome is a neurologic [Read More]
Rising COVID-19 Numbers
Take a look at the following Austin Dashboard of COVID infections. Cut and copy the following link on your browser. https://austin.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html… According to cell phone data, we were the most locked-down around [Read More]
Blood Clots and COVID-19
I'm getting really tired of pandemics. I wish we could just move on. Sadly we can't. It still here. That's the truth. While I empathize with the protestors during this civil unrest, I fervently wish they all would wear masks, and if they can't stay a [Read More]
Reopening Businesses
States across the Union are re-opening. The future is uncertain and unpredictable. But we have models that can tell us what the future will look like based on how many new COVID infections occur. It appears that the Feds have abrogated [Read More]
COVID-19 and Children
Kids and COVID. First thing, kids also are vulnerable to COVID 19, don't forget. While the news is all about the elderly or those with underlying health condition such as diabetes or obesity, kids also get infected. Good news is that nationwide, they [Read More]
Hesitation to Get Medical Care Due to COVID-19
How's your pandemic going everybody? Yeah, mine, too. Sheesh..... we'll get through it, I hope. It's been a rough ride for everybody. So much so that even people with straight up legitimate emergencies are NOT going to seek care. How do we know that? [Read More]
Reopening Businesses and COVID-19
Businesses are set to re-open with some limitations this week. Personally, I would divide this opening into two segments: Medical and Non-medical. For the medical portion, I believe it is the appropriate thing to do. In Austin and Travis County, [Read More]
Immune Suppression Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis & Inflammatory Bowel Disease
There are about 1.6 million Americans affected with inflammatory bowel diseases and about 4 million with auto-immune mediated arthritis such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis. What these disorders have in common is that they often [Read More]
Should masks be worn in public?
How are y'all holding up in the beginning of Week 4 (in Texas) of the quarantine? My family and I, we're hanging in there. Hope you all are, too. Have you all heard about the spike in cases? I imagine you have. As a result, the CDC is now [Read More]
Latest on COVID-19
Pandemics are exhausting. I'm exhausted. But I better pull up my britches because there's more to go. So now over 100,000 cases in the USA. We're Number 1! We're Number 1! Go USA!! Sadly, this is not the occasion we wanted to be number 1, but it was [Read More]
COVID-19 Update
There are so many sources of information regarding the pandemic so I will refrain from being another source of conjecture, guessing, pollyannism, or pessimism. I will have more to post in the future, but for now, let me assess that sadly there is [Read More]
Coronavirus in the United States
Coronavirus has landed in the United States. There are now 13 states reporting disease and 80 confirmed cases. Sadly one skilled nursing facility in Washington has seen 9 of it's occupants succumb to the disease. The CDC has taken some criticism for [Read More]
Coronavirus Outbreak
Fear of a pandemic from coronavirus continues. Yes, this is a real threat. This is not hoopla or media sensationalism. This is much ado about something. Now over 80,000 cases have been reported, the vast majority in China. 3% of those infected have [Read More]
Gallbladder Cancer Awareness Month
Tired of hearing about the coronavirus? Well, it's Gallbladder Cancer Awareness Month! It's a relatively rare cancer affecting about 20,000 Americans a year. If you're one of the 20,000 it is quite a big deal. Slightly more women than men are [Read More]
Cardiovascular Exercise
February is Heart Month! What better way to keep that ticker ticking than by regular exercise. What I like about running is the price tag--it's cheap! Get on a pair of sneakers and you are good to go. When I used to run for exercise before my gouty [Read More]
Trigger Finger
Trigger finger affects about 200,000 Americans every year. Count me in as one of them! It occurs when the tunnel sheath that allows the tendons of each finger to pass becomes inflamed. The tendons go through but "catch". The finger, or thumb in my [Read More]
New Coronavirus from China
Coronaviruses are species of virus belonging to the subfamily Coronavirinae in the family Coronaviridae, in the order Nidovirales. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses with a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome and with a nucleocapsid of helical [Read More]
Tips for Reaching Your Goals
Healthy Monday Reset. What a great concept! In a collaboration of the universities at Columbia, Syracuse, and Johns Hopkins a brilliant concept has emerged of how to reach the goals we make at the New Year to improve our health. It is reported that [Read More]
New Study Says Chili Peppers Make You Live Longer
Who knew Italians ate chili peppers? Not me. My idea of Italian spice is the red pepper flakes I put on my pizza. But there are those down south of Italy way that consume 4 or more peppers a day. This study published in the American Journal of [Read More]
Flu Season
The flu season has taken a wacky turn this year. There is already widespread report of cases along the southern states including Texas. This is much earlier than usual and the earliest in 15 years. Furthermore, the predominant strain is the Influenza [Read More]
Screentime and Preschoolers
Is your child's brain development affected by too much screen time? Researchers from Cincinnati, OH would have us believe that it is. In an online study published Monday on the JAMA Pediatrics website, they found that preschoolers age 3-5 who had [Read More]
Flu Season is Here
Flu shots are available! Flu shots are available! It is that time of year again. Flu season is upon us! Everyone is at risk, but particularly vulnerable to hospitalization and death from the flu are the young, the elderly, the immunocompromised, [Read More]
Prostate Cancer Awareness
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. While it can affect 3 million American men a year, only a small fraction of those will succumb to the disease. That is because prostate cancer is usually slow growing and usually [Read More]
Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) has been around for a couple of decades. It's benefits in helping to control diabetes and high cholesterol is well established. In an observational study through the Cleveland Clinic and published in JAMA last [Read More]
