Category: Medicine Hat News

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Year three of the pandemic – what to expect in 2022.

Hawaii Ocean (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)
Hawaii Ocean (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)

In 2022, it will be year three of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we continue to fight Delta variant, we are now facing Omicron virus. None of the experts expected the pandemic to last this long. Many countries are enduring multiple major waves of infections. This is unusual.

COVID-19 is not going to end soon because it is so transmissible, and it continues to vary. Now we have to deal with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. It is spreading rapidly. The Omicron variant is now in 70 countries.

By the time you read this it may have spread in other countries. Is it dangerous? Early indications suggested it may be less dangerous than Delta, which continues to drive the pandemic. But this information will change as we gather more information. Recently, Britain recorded world’s first publicly confirmed death due to Omicron.

President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, told CNN’s State of the Union that scientists need more information before drawing conclusions about Omicron’s severity.

Reports from South Africa, where the Omicron virus emerged and is becoming the dominant strain in that country, suggest that hospitalization rates have not increased alarmingly.

So far Delta remains the dominant variant, making up more than 99 per cent of cases and driving a surge of hospitalizations. This may not be true anymore. In London, England the Omicron variant now accounts for 40 per cent of infections.

“So, I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus – I think that’s something we need to set on one side – and just recognize the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population,” says Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister. Johnson said people should rush to get booster vaccines to protect “our freedoms and our way of life.”

What does the World Health Organization (WHO) say?

The WHO’s main message is – do not underestimate Omicron.

On December 14, 2021, UN News reported the following:

The Omicron variant is “probably” now present in most of the world’s countries and it would be a mistake to dismiss the COVID-19 strain as “mild”, said the head of the UN health agency (WHO).

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, told reporters from WHO headquarters in Geneva that the variant was now present in 77 countries.

“Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. We’re concerned that people are dismissing Omicron as mild”, he said. “Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril.”

“Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems. I need to be very clear: vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis. Countries can – and must – prevent the spread of Omicron with measures that work today.”

It is worth remembering Omicron is dangerous because it spreads and infects people very effectively than other variants. It is always better to prevent it than to have to worry about treating it.

Will pre-pandemic life ever return?

Unlikely.

We have to be extremely careful. We can transmit COVID-19 before we start showing symptoms or without ever developing symptoms. Evidence indicates that vaccines are effective at preventing serious outcomes due to COVID-19, such as severe illness, hospitalization and death.

Vaccination does not change your risk of exposure to the virus. Vaccination is the best prevention against post COVID-19 condition. So, get vaccinated, wear a mask, clean your hands and keep a safe distance.

Have a wonderful holiday season, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And do not underestimate Omicron.

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Influenza is a serious condition that can be prevented with a flu vaccine.

Pow wow dancers in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)
Pow wow dancers in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)

There is no doubt flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with flu.

Seasonal influenza is the annual influenza that affects people in Canada during the winter, typically between November and April. While you can get influenza at any time, even in summer, it is most common in the colder months.

In Alberta, in 2020-2021, there were zero confirmed flu cases due in large part to the COVID-19 public health measures in place, but many of those measures have since been relaxed. And Alberta has had few cases of flu already.

So far this year, there have been four lab-confirmed influenza cases – three in the Edmonton Zone and one in the Calgary Zone. By the time you read this there may be more cases. As we continue to fight COVID-19, it is safe to have both vaccines (COVID-19 and flu vaccine) at the same time.

Albertans are encouraged to get a flu shot. By keeping flu counts low we can make sure our health-care system has capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and let health-care workers focus on treating people with other illnesses and injuries, says Alberta Health.

All Albertans, six months of age and older, are eligible to be immunized with flu vaccine. There is no charge. It is not difficult to get immunized. Children under five years of age must be immunized at an AHS clinic or participating doctor’s office. All other Albertans can get immunized at participating pharmacies and doctor’s offices.

Vaccine effectiveness varies from year to year but immunization is still the best protection. The effectiveness of the current vaccine is not known when the immunization program begins but is determined as the season progresses.

It is important to get the influenza vaccine every year because the virus changes each year. COVID-19 and influenza have similar symptoms, so getting a flu shot could reduce the likelihood of someone having symptoms that may cause them to have to stay home or get tested for COVID-19.

We know flu shots are not one hundred per cent effective because the virus mutates. Over the years the average effectiveness has been around 43 per cent. That means people who got the flu vaccine over those years were on average 43 per cent less likely to get sick enough with the flu to go to their doctor and get tested.

Although flu shots are not one hundred per cent effective it is still important to get a shot. The flu shot offers protection against the flu for about six months. A person should get a flu shot every year, and the best time to get one is the end of October.

Scientists have been working very hard to come up with the best effective vaccine each year. Starting in the 1930s, it took decades of research to understand the complexities of the influenza virus, and it wasn’t until 1945 that the first vaccine was approved for use in the US.

The health burden caused by seasonal influenza is substantial. It can seriously affect individuals with heart disease, lung disease and type-2 diabetes. Children and elderly are very susceptible.

COVID-19 mitigation measures such as wearing face masks, staying home, hand washing, school closures, reduced travel, increased ventilation of indoor spaces, and physical distancing, likely contributed to the decline in 2020-2021 flu incidence, hospitalizations and deaths. We should continue to follow these measures.

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Are you Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter?

Dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)
Dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)

Winter is here and it is just the beginning of cold weather. This is the time to plan for the next six months. Here are some reminders for you, for your health and your safety.

First, we have to prepare ourselves for our own safety with winter jackets and shoes. Second, we should make sure our home and vehicles are ready for winter. You should prepare for power outage and outdoor activity. We should not forget to check on our older neighbours and relatives.

Install good quality windows. Insulate water lines which are close to exterior walls. Check your heating systems. Have your heating system serviced. Fireplaces and chimney should be checked.

Smoke detector batteries should be tested and replaced twice a year.

Carbon monoxide detectors. If you don’t have one then get one. Change the battery when you change your clocks. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless. Symptoms of poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

Prepare your vehicle for winter. Get it serviced before winter sets in. Keep the gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.

It is a good idea to carry emergency winter kit in your car. Especially, if you do a lot of out-of-town driving for work or pleasure. Prepare a winter emergency kit to keep in your car.

If you are stuck in your vehicle and are waiting for help then run the motor (and heater) for about 10 minutes per hour. From time to time open one window slightly to let in air. Make sure that snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe – this will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Don’t forget to check on your neighbours. Make sure your pets stay inside.

To be safe is important. It is also important to enjoy the winter outdoors. There are many healthy winter sports which are popular in Canada. Especially, in Alberta we are blessed with beautiful mountains and snow.

One can enjoy ice skating, skiing, sledding, snowboarding, snowmobiling, hockey, curling, ice fishing and more. If you don’t like to be out in the snow then you can join a gym and do some indoor workout.

Most common causes of injury in winter sports are falls and collisions. You can substantially reduce the risks with common sense and proper planning, preparation and equipment.

Studies have shown that the participants in the cold-weather games are going through events at faster speeds and spend more time in the air than those competing in warm-weather sports. Risk of injury increases.

Enjoy the winter safely. Make sure you have the right clothings, equipment and training. Be involved in group activity so help is there in case of injury. Have fun!

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Thyroid Malfunction Can Result in Serious Consequences

Exophthalmos. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)
Exophthalmos. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)

It is estimated 200 million people in the world have some form of thyroid condition. One in every three Canadians has a thyroid disorder. Of those, as many as 50 per cent are undiagnosed. Most thyroid disorders are five to seven times more common in women.

Thyroid hormones are produced in the thyroid gland from iodine and an amino acid, tyrosine. The normal function of the thyroid gland is to produce and secrete hormones. There are two hormones which are closely related: T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine).

These hormones have enormous impact on our health, affecting all aspects of our metabolism. They maintain the rate at which our body uses fats and carbohydrates, help control our body temperature, influence our heart rate, and help regulate the production of protein. These hormones are important for normal growth and development of children.

Problems with the thyroid can be caused by iodine deficiency and autoimmune diseases, in which the immune system attacks the thyroid, leading either to hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease) or hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s disease).

Graves’ disease – overactive thyroid

This condition was first described by Caleb Parry in 1786, but the pathogenesis of thyroid disease was not discovered until later. Parry was an Anglo-Welsh physician credited with one of the earliest descriptions of the exophthalmic (bulging eyeballs) goiter, published in 1825.

Now the condition is known as Graves’ disease. It is named after Robert J. Graves, an Irish physician who described it in 1835. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease characterized by hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid gland). We don’t know why this happens.

Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. The condition accounts for at least 90 per cent of all patients with hyperthyroidism. It is an autoimmune condition. The immune system normally produces antibodies to protect us and are designed to target a specific virus, bacteria or other foreign substance. Here, it is attacking our own system. An enemy within us!

Clinically, hyperthyroidism presents with palpitations, nervousness, tremor, heat intolerance, weight loss, muscular weakness and quite often there is goiter.

In Graves’ eye disease, the eyes are painful, red and watery – particularly in sunshine or wind. The eye lids and tissues around the eyes are swollen with fluid. The eyeballs bulge out of their sockets (exophthalmos). Because of eye muscle swelling, the eyes are unable to move normally and there may be blurred or double vision. Some patients have decreased colour vision as well.

With treatment, in most patients, the eyes tend to get somewhat better when the thyroid abnormality has been treated.

Hashimoto’s disease – underactive thyroid

There is another autoimmune thyroid condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It is named after Japanese physician Hakaru Hashimoto (1881−1934), who first described the symptoms in 1912. It affects more women than men.

This condition is characterized by the destruction of thyroid cells by various cell- and antibody-mediated immune processes. This condition is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The treatment of choice for Hashimoto thyroiditis is thyroid hormone replacement.

Hypothyroidism causes many symptoms: weight gain, lethargy, cold intolerance, menstrual irregularities, depression, constipation, and dry skin. Deficiency of thyroid hormones in children leads to dwarfism and mental retardation.

Treatment of hypothyroidism with synthetic thyroid hormone is usually simple, safe and effective. Finding an adequate replacement dosage of thyroid may take a little time.

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