Is there a connection between COVID-19 and strokes?
Dr. Colleen Lechtenberg, neurologist and director of The Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center, said that one in five stroke activations at the University of Kansas Health System during the peak of the pandemic was for a patient who was ultimately diagnosed with COVID-19.
“COVID-19 played a major role in strokes during the peak time of the pandemic,” Dr. Lechtenberg said.
She said she and colleagues are seeing a number of patients in the long-haul COVID-19 clinic who have neurological problems, including brain fog, headache, fatigue and malaise.
The number of COVID-19 patients now has dropped off, but whether or not there is a pandemic, a stroke still is a challenge, with 2 million brain cells dying per minute. It is important to get treatment for the stroke as soon as possible, to reverse the symptoms with TPA, a clot-busting drug, and other interventions.
Most hospitals can offer first-line treatment. The University of Kansas Health System also can offer the next level treatment, she said.
Dr. Lechtenberg recommended that people get vaccinated and seek medical care immediately at the first sign of a stroke.
Dr. Matt Jones, internal medicine, said not only is it important to recognize the early symptoms of stroke, it’s more important to prevent strokes.
He offered Simple Seven tips: stop smoking; eat a healthy diet; exercise daily; understand body mass index; control blood pressure; keep cholesterol low; and control blood sugars.
Dr. Jones said that e-cigarettes and vaping are not safer alternatives to cigarettes, as they are designed to get tobacco and nicotine into the body at a higher rate. E-cigarettes and vaping are not recommended for people trying to quit smoking, he said.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at KU Health System, said reports show that vaccinated health care workers who are routinely exposed to COVID-19 patients have shown up to 94 percent effectiveness in resisting the disease.
Dr. Hawkinson said it is important to be watchful for a virus mutation coming from India, which seems to be spreading. Also, he believes churchgoers will be safer when they are vaccinated, and until they are, they should keep wearing masks and socially distancing. He encouraged everyone 12 and older to get vaccinated.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, said medical marijuana has the same risk as any other kind of smoking because a foreign substance is being inhaled. He said the same was true about cigar smoking. Cigars can cause throat and mouth cancer even for those who say they don’t inhale.
Dr. Stites wondered if it was too soon to have full attendance at Royals games. While it’s not too soon for someone fully vaccinated, it’s different for someone who is not, and those who are not vaccinated need to wear a mask to protect others who have not been vaccinated, he said.
“If you haven’t been vaccinated and you have a chronic health condition, be careful out there,” he said. He would hesitate to go back for another month if that was the case, he said.
Testing is down, so hospitalization rates are more of a bellwether for disease spread. It’s good that hospitalization numbers are down, he said, and the data should be observed for another month to make sure it is down. If it is, he’s in favor of returning to the ballpark.
It’s more of a personal question, he said.
“How healthy are you, how willing are you to take risks, and how willing are you to give that risk to somebody else,” he said. “If you’ve been vaccinated, I’d definitely take it safe.”
As soon as he can get there after May 31, he’s going to the K, he said, because he’s been vaccinated. While he would be comfortable going to an outdoor event, he’s not ready yet for indoor events.
Dr. Hawkinson said if he goes out and later has symptoms, they would probably be mild because he has had the vaccination. However, he would have to get tested and then he would probably miss 10 days of work, he said. For that reason, he would be more cautious.
Free vaccinations available Thursday
Free walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations will be available for everyone 12 and older from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 100 S. 20th, (near 18th and Ridge), Kansas City, Kansas, and at the former Kmart, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. People also can schedule vaccinations at WycoVaccines.org.
The former Best Buy at 10500 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, will be closed on Thursday.
The schedule of vaccinations changed recently. To see the new schedule and more information about vaccinations, visit WycoVaccines.org or https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
Those who receive vaccinations are asked to consider bringing an ID to make the process go faster.
The Health Department is doing more mobile vaccinations, and people may request vaccines to be given at different sites in the community by going to WycoVaccines.org and clicking on “mobile vaccine request.” People also may request a ride to vaccination sites on the same page.
UG Health Department vaccinations are now open to people from other counties and states. People may walk in for vaccinations or can schedule them.
Those who wish to schedule an appointment may use the Health Department’s self-scheduling tool at WycoVaccines.org and click on a blue button that says, “Click here to schedule an appointment online.” The page is available in Spanish by clicking at the top of the page. Walk-in appointments also are welcome.
Those who don’t have an internet connection may call 3-1-1 or 913-573-5311 for assistance in scheduling their vaccination appointment time and date.
To see more information about Health Department vaccinations and next week’s schedule, visit WycoVaccines.org.
Other sites available for vaccinations
Vaccinations at KU Health System are open to the public. Current patients may use MyChart to make an appointment. Others may call 913-588-1227 or visit kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine to make an appointment to get vaccinated. KU Health System currently is vaccinating residents of Kansas and Missouri who are 12 or older, by appointment only. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the appointment.Other sites available for vaccinations
There are also pharmacies giving free COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County by appointment, when available. These include Price Chopper and Hen House pharmacies, which are now also accepting walk-in vaccinations or appointments, and are starting vaccinations for age 12 and up at those pharmacies that are giving Pfizer vaccine (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/).
CVS has announced walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccine at some of its stores. Those interested in getting a vaccination at a CVS pharmacy are asked to visit a CVS website in order to make sure there is vaccine available. The website is at www.cvs.com/. Walgreens and Walmart also were listed on www.vaccines.gov as giving vaccinations.
Other pharmacies and sites giving vaccines are listed at www.vaccines.gov.
Case numbers reported
The University of Kansas Health System reported that the number of COVID-19 inpatients is steady. Eleven persons with the active virus were being treated on Wednesday, an increase of two since Tuesday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Two of those patients were in the intensive care unit, a decrease of one since Tuesday. Both of those patients were on a ventilator, an increase of one since Tuesday. There were an additional seven patients still hospitalized because of COVID-19, but out of the acute infection phase, a decrease of four since Tuesday. There were a total of 18 COVID-19 patients, a decrease of two since Tuesday. The doctors were pleasantly surprised with the lower COVID-19 numbers at the hospital and in the nation.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 10 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, May 19, for a cumulative 18,667 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 292 deaths reported, no change.
The UG Health Department reported 31.44 percent of Wyandotte County residents, or 52,015, have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. About 26.08 percent, or 43,148, were fully vaccinated. Of Wyandotte County residents age 12 and up, 38.7 percent had at least one dose.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 173,390 cumulative COVID-19 cases, an increase of 32. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 60.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 312,591 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Wednesday, May 19, an increase of 518 cases since Monday, May 17. There were a total cumulative 5,053 deaths reported statewide, an increase of 13.
Johnson County had a cumulative 58,864 cases on Wednesday, an increase of 188 since Monday, according to the KDHE. Leavenworth County had a cumulative 7,238 cases on Wednesday, an increase of one case since Monday. Sedgwick County had a cumulative 56,960 cases on Wednesday, an increase of 122 since Monday.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Wednesday night reported 33,026,290 cumulative COVID-19 cases in the United States, with 587,867 total deaths reported nationwide. There were 27,851 new cases nationwide and 857 new deaths nationwide.
States with the highest number of new cases were Texas, 3,092; Florida, 2,805; Pennsylvania, 1,641; Michigan, 1,535; and New York, 1,525.
Countries with the highest number of new cases were India, 267,334; Brazil, 75,445; Argentina, 35,543; U.S., 27,851; and France, 17,223, according to Johns Hopkins information.
Free testing available Thursday
Free COVID-19 testing will be available from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at the Vibrant Health – Argentine location, 1428 S. 32nd St., Kansas City, Kansas. The testing is in conjunction with Vibrant Health and the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force. Appointments are not necessary.
Free COVID-19 testing will be available from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at the National Guard Armory, 100 S. 20th, (near 18th and Ridge), Kansas City, Kansas, and at the former Kmart, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. For more information about UG Health Department COVID-19 testing sites and hours, visit https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19. To see if there is any change to the schedule, visit https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept. Appointments are not needed.
One of the WellHealth sites for free COVID-19 testing is open beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 20, at Lowe’s at 6920 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Appointments are required. For more information, to see other testing sites and to make an appointment, visit https://www.gogettested.com/kansas.
The Health Department’s general contact page is at https://www.wycokck.org/Health/Contact.aspx. The department’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
Testing sites are at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19. There are more test sites listed on this page.
Saliva testing is now offered at the UG Health Department. For more information, visit https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/02042021-ugphd-saliva-testing-available.pdf.
The KU doctors’ news conference is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/118132960329572.
The University of Kansas Health System COVID-19 update page is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/330310795391910.
A vaccine report for the state of Kansas is at
https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/123/Vaccine-Historical-Document-22521?bidId=.
Information about the mask ordinance passed April 29, which loosened restrictions in Wyandotte County, is online at https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/updatedwycomaskorder04302021.pdf. The mask order is online at https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/amend-lho-may-6-2021.pdf.
The KDHE’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/.
The KC Region COVID-19 Hub dashboard is at https://marc2.org/covidhub/.
The Wyandotte County page on the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 website is at https://bao.arcgis.com/covid-19/jhu/county/20209.html.
The Johns Hopkins Data in Motion, a presentation on critical COVID-19 data in the past 24 hours, is at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/covid-19-daily-video.