West Newsmagazine 5-6-20

32 I HEALTH I
May 6, 2020
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
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Early data are showing that asthma may not be as dangerous a preexisting
condition for COVID-19 as was first thought – but people with asthma should
have a plan to keep the disease in check.
[Source: Adobe Stock]
Health
Capsules
By LISA RUSSELL
Asthma and COVID-19:
What are the risks?
Health experts have repeatedly warned
of the potential for more serious outcomes
from COVID-19 for people of all ages with
asthma and other preexisting lung problems.
These warnings now coincide with National
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month in
May, the height of the spring allergy season
and generally the most challenging month of
the year for the 7.7 million American adults
and children with asthma … even without the
added threat of a global pandemic. A current
shortage of asthma inhalers in certain parts
of the country, caused by a spike in their use
to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients, may
be adding to anxiety among asthma sufferers.
However, it is important to note that so far
at least, there is little evidence of increased
infection or death rates in people with asthma.
In April, New York officials began releasing
data about patients in that state, far and
away the nation’s hardest-hit by the virus.
Asthma did not appear on its list of the top 10
chronic health problems suffered by people
who had died from coronavirus.
A recent report published by researchers
in Europe also stated that asthma has been
“underrepresented” among preexisting health
problems in COVID-19 patients in those
nations so far, a fact they called “striking.”
Another small study of seriously ill patients
in Washington state showed that only a small
percentage had asthma.
According to both the American Academy
of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology
[AAAAI] and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention [CDC], the best way for
people with asthma to minimize their risk
for COVID-19 is to keep their asthma under
control, along with following stay-at-home
and social distancing guidelines.
Are pets in danger from
coronavirus?
Despite extremely limited data on coronavirus
infections in cats and dogs, a few
reports have suggested that it’s possible for
our four-legged family members to contract
the illness.
So far, though, it seems highly unlikely.
There have been only a few officially confirmed
cases of pets with SARS-CoV-2, the
virus that causes COVID-19, worldwide
to date. Two household cats in New York
recently tested positive for SARS-CoV-2;
they developed mild respiratory illness, and
no people in the household has developed
COVID-19. A dog in North Carolina also
tested positive, developing mild symptoms
after his human family members had the
virus.
Other confirmed cases in the U.S. also
have been diagnosed in cats – big ones. A
female tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York
City, along with six other tigers and lions
at the zoo, tested positive for the virus after
showing respiratory symptoms and coughing.
Only one study to date has investigated
whether domestic animals are in danger from
the virus. This study, which was published
in the journal Science, found that it was significantly
more likely to spread in cats than
in dogs.
The risk for cats seems very low as well,
however – those in the study which became
infected did so only after exposure to very
large quantities of the virus, and displayed
only mild symptoms. The low risk to both
cats and dogs involved potential human-topet
transmission, and transmission between
pets; but there was no evidence for pet-tohuman
transmission found in the study.
When it comes to caring for pets during the
pandemic, the CDC advises that they should
be treated in the same way as human family
members, and prevented whenever possible
from close interactions with people or animals
outside the household. Cats should ideally
be kept indoors, and dogs kept on a leash
outside during walks – while maintaining the
proper 6 feet of “social distance” from other
pets.
If a person inside the household becomes
sick, that person should be isolated from pets
along with other family members, the CDC
guidelines state. And if people who live
alone develop coronavirus symptoms, they
On the calendar
Community health events remain on hold
Cancellations of community events
sponsored by area hospitals will continue
indefinitely as part of their efforts
to protect public health during the pandemic.
BJC Healthcare has announced cancellation
of classes and events at least
through May 15. This includes one-onone
events such as bike helmet fittings,
should wear a cloth face covering and wash
their hands before and after interacting with
their pets.
Deaths from cancer continue
to decline
Amid all the health-related doom and
gloom that surrounds us recently, a bit of
good news: The most recent Annual Report
to the Nation on the Status of Cancer found
that cancer death rates are continuing a significant
downward trend in the U.S.
This year’s report showed that overall
cancer death rates for all types of cancer combined
decreased 1.5% on average per year
from 2001 to 2017. The rate has decreased a
bit more rapidly among men [1.8% per year]
than among women [1.4% per year], and is
also decreasing among adolescents and children.
Decreasing death rates were seen in all
major racial and ethnic groups.
Highlights from the report’s findings from
2013 to 2017 include:
• Death rates among men decreased for 11
of the 19 most common cancers. For women,
the rates decreased for 14 of the 20 most
common cancers, including the top three
[lung, breast and colorectal].
• Among children from birth to age 14,
overall cancer death rates decreased by an
average of 1.4% per year. Among adolescents
and young adults between ages 15 and
39, death rates decreased by 1%.
• Melanoma death rates decreased by just
over 6% per year, among both sexes.
• Lung cancer deaths decreased by 4.8% per
year among men and 3.7% per year among
women. However, lung cancer remains the
leading cause of cancer mortality.
all hospital-based classes and fundraising
events. St. Luke’s Hospital also has
canceled classes and events through at
least the end of May, including the annual
Tour de Wellness recreational cycling
event scheduled for Sunday, May 31.
Updates about future events will be
provided on the hospitals’ individual
websites and at westnewsmagazine.com.