Tag: covid19

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Psychological Effects of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers

Columbia Icefield (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)
Columbia Icefield (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)

Statistics show as of January 15, 2021, there were 695,704 COVID-19 cases in Canada. Of those, 65,920 (9.5 per cent) were healthcare workers. Twenty-four healthcare workers had died from COVID-19 by that date. Since then, more doctors and other healthcare workers have contracted the disease or have died.

In Alberta, there were 7,986 COVID-19 cases in healthcare workers, which made up 6.9 per cent of the total cases. There were four COVID-19 – related healthcare worker deaths.

That raises the question: How can healthcare workers practice the best possible medicine under extraordinary circumstances?

Every Alberta healthcare worker is exposed through work in in-patient units that are likely to admit Covid-19 patients together with healthcare workers working in family medicine, emergency medicine, ambulatory care or in walk-in clinics.

Besides being exposed to COVID-19 there is psychological burden. Overall wellness of healthcare workers has received increasing awareness, with research continuing to show high rates of burnout, psychological stress, and suicide.

With this kind of burden, health care workers experience emotional exhaustion, which may lead to medical errors, lack of empathy in treating patients, lower productivity, and higher turnover rates. This has been seen not only in Alberta or Canada but all over the world. How is this going to affect them down the road is not known.

What can we do to help healthcare workers?

We should make sure we provide uninterrupted, quality care to healthcare workers when they are sick. They should be encouraged to take care of themselves.

We should understand that when we take care of ourselves, we are helping the doctors and other healthcare workers to take care of people who are sick.

We should follow the principles laid down by our government and healthcare professionals to prevent the spread of the virus: maintain social distance, wear a mask, wash our hands frequently, avoid parties and social gatherings and take care of our family and friends.

We should mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health by protecting and promoting the psychological wellbeing of healthcare workers during and after the outbreak. We should not forget them after the pandemic is over.

Following are key points mentioned in an article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ April 27, 2020) titled “Mitigating the psychological effects of COVID-19 on healthcare workers”:

  1. Combating fears and uncertainties by strong leadership with clear, honest and open communication.
  2. Bolster individual self-efficacy and confidence by providing adequate resources (e.g., medical supplies) and mental health support.
  3. Provide psychosocial support while preserving physical distancing.
  4. Healthcare workers should be complimented for serving for greater good in times of crisis.

Doctors, other healthcare workers and the general public is stressed for several reasons: uncertainty about the duration of the crisis, social misinformation, lack of proven therapies, and shortages of healthcare resources, including personal protective equipment. Add to that are the effects of social distancing balanced against the desire to be present for their families, and the possibility of personal and family illness.

We cannot overlook the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers. Since there are no easy solutions to the current problems, mitigation strategies for all scenarios are vital to ensure psychological wellness and in turn ensure a healthy and robust clinical workforce. We are all in this together.

One for all, all for one. Take care.

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COVID-19 and Increased Use of Cannabis

Lisbon, Portugal. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)
Lisbon, Portugal. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)

Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that is used for recreational and medical purposes. It is a product of the cannabis sativa plant that is used for its psychoactive and therapeutic effects. The cannabis sativa plant is native to tropical and temperate climates but is cultivated around the world.

In the streets, cannabis has many names and comes in many forms: marijuana, weed, pot, bud, green, herb or flower.

The federal government has said recreational use of cannabis would no longer violate criminal law as of October 17, 2018. This legalization comes with regulation similar to that of alcohol, limiting home production, distribution, consumption areas and sale times.

Legalization of recreational cannabis is associated with a significant increase in motor vehicle collisions and fatalities. Drinking alcohol and using cannabis together impairs driving more than either drug alone.

According to a study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, half of cannabis users increased consumption during first wave of COVID-19. This is of concern because it can lead to greater health problems, addiction and other mental disorders. Not to mention domestic and public violence.

The study consisted of three surveys during the early months of the pandemic in May and June of 2020. Survey participants from across Canada were selected from a pool of over one million people maintained by the research technology and consumer data collection.

Averaged over the three surveys, just over half (52 per cent) of those who had consumed cannabis in the previous week said that they were consuming it more than they were before the pandemic, says the article.

The study authors believe cannabis use increased after the pandemic began because of social isolation, boredom, changes in daily routines and additional stress and anxiety about the future. There has also been a consistently high national rate of binge drinking since the pandemic began.

Another study, “Cannabis and COVID-19: Reasons for Concern” published in Psychiatry (December 21, 2020) found regular cannabis users in the Netherlands have increased rather than decreased their use of cannabis in response to COVID-19 lockdown.

The article says worldwide some 192 million people have used cannabis in the last year. Globally, the most prevalent route of cannabis administration remains smoking (with and without tobacco).

In North America, the use of alternative cannabis products, including concentrates, edibles and vaped oils, has increased in states with legal cannabis markets.

In the USA, cannabis use increased among seniors between 2015 and 2018. This is of concern because the most serious complications and highest mortality rates from COVID-19 infection occur in older people. Weakly or unsupported claims on the internet that cannabis use can prevent COVID-19 may encourage its use, says the article.

Chronic cannabis smoking is also associated with increased coughing, which may conceal COVID-19 and spread the virus.

What can we do?

The article in Psychiatry has some suggestions. As smoking is still the most preferred route of cannabis use, specific advice should be given on reducing the risks of spread and severity of COVID-19 via this mode of use. This would include avoiding use of any inhaled cannabis product, including joints, pipes, bongs or vaporisers, and avoiding deep inhalation that may provoke coughing, not sharing cannabis products (e.g., joints) and maintaining physical distancing and thorough handwashing.

Health education should also address misinformation about the alleged protective effects of cannabis against COVID-19 that may encourage users to maintain or increase their consumption or promote initiation for perceived medicinal benefits.

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!

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Atrial Fibrillation and COVID-19

Great Sphinx of Giza on the west bank of the Nile in Egypt. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)
Great Sphinx of Giza on the west bank of the Nile in Egypt. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)

COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people (80 per cent) will develop mild to moderate illness and recover in a week or so without hospitalization. In some cases, it can take up to 14 days to recover.

About 20 per cent will have serious symptoms requiring hospitalization. These patients quite often have uncontrolled comorbidities like atrial fibrillation, heart failure, diabetes and obesity. The serious symptoms are:

  1. difficulty breathing
  2. chest pain
  3. loss of speech or movement

If you have these symptoms, call 911 right away.

The lifetime risk of atrial fibrillation in North America is as high as one in four. Under non-COVID-19 circumstances, the risk of complications for uncontrolled atrial fibrillation can be serious.

Untreated atrial fibrillation puts you at a higher risk for stroke and heart failure.

The risk of stroke depends on several other risk factors including the presence of heart failure, having high blood pressure or diabetes, being over 40 years of age, or having had a previous stroke or a mini-stroke (TIA).

If you have atrial fibrillation then you need to change your lifestyle. A recent article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ November 16, 2020) says, “Weight loss, achieved and sustained through diet and exercise, is associated with fewer atrial fibrillation recurrence.”

Second thing you should remember is recreational exercise confers protective benefits in atrial fibrillation. A useful goal is to progressively increase your exercise to 200 min/week (about 30 min/da) at moderate intensity.

Many public health experts have come to believe, a reasonably effective vaccine will help us reach some degree of herd immunity, and treatments and therapies will continue to reduce suffering, but the virus will likely continue to circulate.

I came across another article titled, “Addressing Atrial Fibrillation in the World of COVID-19” (Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology (DAIC) – January 27, 2021).

It says, “And for those who are vulnerable, it (COVID-19) will likely continue to be a grave danger… So, while it can be soothing to think of a world without COVID, we have to prepare and act now as though it will never go away. And this is especially important for those with or at-risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib).” These individuals are at far greater risk of a catastrophic COVID outcome.

Prevention is better than cure.

Avoid getting into trouble by washing your hands frequently. Wear a mask in public. Even when you are wearing a mask, maintain plenty of space from other people. And avoid gatherings.

Have your blood pressure and blood sugar checked regularly.

Hypertension is not just a cause of AFib for many people — it is also linked to increased risk of mortality in patients with COVID, and may be the most prevalent comorbidity in patients hospitalized for the disease.

The second-most prevalent COVID comorbidity is diabetes, which is found in 24 per cent of people hospitalized with COVID and in 32 per cent of those that ultimately required treatment in an ICU. Your risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 is likely to be lower if your diabetes is well-managed.

Be safe. Follow the guidelines for a healthy living. Hopefully, we will get vaccinated soon and live a new kind of normal healthy life.

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!

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Stress and Rise in Obesity will Worsen Outcomes from COVID-19

Silvertip Golf Course in Canmore, Alberta. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)
Silvertip Golf Course in Canmore, Alberta. (Dr. Noorali Bharwani)

It is one year since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Canadians. Our government had no choice but to shut down all kinds of activities and impose physical restrictions.

These restrictions have saved many lives. Nobody can deny that. But there have been many down sides to these restrictions. We can mention a few: anxiety, loneliness, depression, lack of physical activities and weight gain.

I have FIVE questions for you:
1. Have you put on weight in the last one year?
2. Are you eating a healthy diet?
3. Are you mentally and physically active?
4. How are you coping with stress?
5. Are you getting enough sleep?

Obesity is a common, serious, and costly chronic disease.

Having obesity puts people at risk for many other serious chronic diseases and increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Everyone has a role to play in turning the tide against obesity.

I wasn’t surprised to read Vietnam is the least obese country with 2.1 per cent of the population classified as obese. Among the developed countries, the United States is the most obese (36.2 per cent).

If you are obese then the risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection increases. Obesity decreases lung capacity and reserve and can make ventilation more difficult. Obesity also increases your risk of dying from COVID-19. Studies have demonstrated that obesity may be linked to lower vaccine responses for numerous diseases (influenza, Hepatitis B, and tetanus).

What can we do about obesity? Obesity is a complex disease with many contributing factors. Simple answer would be – eat healthy, eat less and exercise more. This requires lot of patience and perseverance. Other option would be to seek professional help so that you can stick to a rigid protocol.

Eating a healthy diet has many advantages. Plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains as well as the appropriate number of calories is important. This keeps your weight under control and improves your immune system. As everyone knows a healthy diet is also good for your heart and diabetes.

Besides eating a healthy diet, physical activity is one of the best things people can do to improve their health. It is vital for healthy aging and can reduce the burden of chronic diseases and prevent early death. Only half of adults get the physical activity they need to help reduce and prevent chronic diseases. More needs to be done.

Regular physical activity helps you feel better, sleep better, and reduce anxiety.

Insufficient sleep has been linked to depression, as well as chronic diseases that may increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. COVID-19 has made life stressful for millions of people. That will certainly affect your sleep pattern, eating habit and your relationship with friends and family. If that is the case then you should seek professional help.

Take care, eat healthy, lose weight, be physically active, sleep well and get immunized. If stress and depression is affecting your health you must get help from a professional. Sooner you do that, better for you and your family. Everybody wants to be happy and healthy.

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!