California Hepatitis A Outbreak

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California Is In the Midst of a Hepatitis A Outbreak

          As homeless individuals flock to California cities encouraged by their attractive benefits and undocumented immigrants seek refuge in California sanctuary cities, sanitary conditions in the state have suffered.  As a result, the state is in the midst of a Hepatitis A outbreak that has claimed a number of lives, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency.  Hepatitis A is a serious viral infection of the liver most commonly contracted by eating food or drinking water that has become contaminated with virus containing feces of an infected person.

 

          The California outbreak began in San Diego County almost one year ago and since then the county has documented 500 cases, including 19 deaths from the disease.  Subsequently, the Hepatitis A outbreak has spread to Santa Cruz County (73 cases and one death) and Los Angeles County (10 cases).  All three counties are ‘sanctuary counties’ and accommodate large homeless populations.  For more information visit the California Department of Public Health Website.

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Tobacco’s Global Impact

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Tobacco’s Global Impact

          The World Health Organization (WHO) has reviewed the latest statistics on the total global burden of smoking tobacco and the complete results can be viewed on their website.  They report that tobacco kills nearly half of its users.  Tobacco smoking causes more than six million deaths worldwide each year.  Another 900,000 die from exposure to second-hand smoke. 

The Benefits of Quitting

          In the United States smoking is the leading preventable cause of death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Smoking is responsible for about 480,000 deaths annually in the U.S.  Smoking can cause heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and cancer, particularly lung cancer.  The good news is that quitting smoking can dramatically reduce your risk of developing some of these health problems.   

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Limited Evidence for Medical Marijuana

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Limited Evidence for the Effectiveness of Medical Marijuana

          Two studies published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on 15 August, 2017 found little evidence that marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain or symptoms of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).  The first article by Nugent, Morasco, O’Neil, et al, included patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis and other pain conditions.  They concluded that the medical harms of marijuana use in the general population may include adverse effects on lung function, increased risk of ‘adverse mental health effects’ and increased risk for motor vehicle accidents.  In the same issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, the same authors, O’Neil, Nugent, Morasco, et al, published a study concluding that there is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about potential benefits and harms of cannabis use in patients with PTSD.

Editorial Note

          The Annals of Internal Medicine is published by the American College of Physicians, a national medical organization of internal medicine specialists.  Both the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics are generally opposed to the legalization of marijuana.  This is significant because both of these medical organizations are decidedly liberal on most other social issues.  It continues to be my opinion that ‘medical marijuana’ has been used as a way to bypass the law and as a stepping stone to the eventual full legalization of marijuana, including for recreational use.  I continue to oppose the legalization of marijuana for any purpose.

Links to the Articles

Cannabis and Chronic Pain

Cannabis and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

 

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The Human Microbiome

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The Human Microbiome

          The term ‘human microbiome’ refers to the collection of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses) that inhabit our bodies, taking up residence in various tissues, cavities and body fluids.  These microscopic hitchhikers are vital to our health, helping to break down food, protecting against germs, processing toxins and even producing vitamins.

Six Pounds of What?

          There are around one trillion microbes in or on the human body and bacterial cells actually outnumber the cells in the body by ten times.  It is estimated that the average human body contains 10 to the 14th power bacteria and up to 160 different species of bacteria.  Taken all together, this could be up to 6 pounds of bacteria that we host in our bodies.

A Delicate Balance

          While there is some evidence that the fetus is first exposed to microbes in utero, the GI tract of the newborn infant is sterile.  Newborns becomes quickly colonized soon after exposure to the world around it. The composition of the human microbiome evolves throughout infancy and childhood and can be affected by many factors including diet, illness and use of antibiotics.       

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AMA Reports Hallucinogenic Mushrooms Safest Recreational Drug

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Really?

          With the medical literature replete with reports of the dangers of psilocybin, the active hallucinogenic ingredient in mushrooms, it’s hard to understand why any responsible medical group would use the words ‘hallucinogenic mushrooms’ and ‘safe’ in the same sentence.  The danger of picking the wrong mushroom alone is enough reason not to legitimize the recreational use of psilocybin.  In fact, the CDC just reported that 14 individuals including a child were recently poisoned by ingesting the aptly named death-cap mushroom in California.  While all 14 survived, three required liver transplants and the toddler sustained permanent brain damage.

Are We Gradually Reintroducing the Drug Culture?

          In recent years we have seen a gradual reintroduction of the drug culture into the American mainstream.  The first step was to promote the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.  Many recognized that this was just a way for drug culture enthusiasts to get their foot in the door, since there has been no convincing confirmation that cannabis can do anything that legitimate pharmaceuticals can’t do.  The next step was legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, as we have seen in a growing number of states.  One must now wonder if this recent attempt to legitimize the use of magic mushrooms (affectionately known as ‘shrooms’ to those who trip out on them) isn’t just the next step in bringing back the drug culture that flourished during the 1960s.  It was that same drug culture that lead to so many unintended negative consequences like Hepatitis C, early death from overdosing, homelessness and so on.  In light of the current opioid addiction crisis, every responsible medical group must work together to stem the tide of this ‘recreational drug creep’ that seems to be insinuating itself back into our society.

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Hepatitis C No Longer Just for Baby Boomers

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Hepatitis C Is a Serious Blood Borne Infection

          Hepatitis C is a serious, chronic liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus.  It is acquired through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected individual.   The most common way the virus enters the blood stream is by sharing drugs or needles, but it can also occur as a result of an accidental needle stick or through sexual transmission.  In addition, it can be spread from mother to child during childbirth.  Often there are no symptoms until many years later after the liver has sustained serious damage.  It is estimated that there are about 3.5 million people in the United States infected with the Hepatitis C virus, many of whom may not be aware that they are infected.  For those with risk factors, testing is important since there are effective treatments for Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C Infections on the Rise

          Up to this point, Baby Boomers have accounted for the largest number of cases of Hepatitis C infection.  In most of these cases the infection was acquired by sharing infected needles when injecting drugs during the 1960s and 1970s…the halcyon days of the ‘hippie’ generation.  But there is a disturbing new trend in the epidemiology of Hepatitis C due to the opioid epidemic.  The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reports that the number of new cases of Hepatitis C has nearly tripled in the past five years with 34,000 new cases in 2015 alone.  If you were born between 1945 and 1965, have ever injected drugs, received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992 or are on kidney dialysis, you should talk to your physician about being tested for Hepatitis C even if you do not have symptoms.       

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