As We Face Unprecedented Times Amidst A Global Pandemic
Ragui W. Sadek, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is a well-versed bariatric surgeon who diagnoses and treats patients at Advanced Surgical & Bariatrics of NJ in Somerset, NJ. He is the Director of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and the Director of the Adolescent Metabolic and Bariatric Program... more
As we face unprecedented times amidst a global pandemic, I want to discuss a few points with our patients. COVID-19 or coronavirus is a human-to-human transmitted virus that causes respiratory distress in affected patients. The first cases were identified in Wuhan, China and then spread to the world creating one of the worst pandemics in modern history.
The World Health Organization designated the disease COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus, in February. The coronavirus study group has proposed that this virus is designated as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2 (SARS-COV-2). The period of infectivity is variable based, but based on many studies, it ranges between 5 days post-infection and lasts up to 15 days post-infection.
This long asymptomatic infectious period is what renders the virus its ability to infect a large number of people and spread on a global level. The infection mainly occurs in two phases, phase two doesn’t necessarily have to occur.
Phase one of this infection includes high fevers/cough/sore throat and muscle aches that can last up to 7 days. Then phase two may start, characterized by severe respiratory distress and the potential for ICU admission. ICU and potential complications are not uncommon in COVID-19 infections, fatality rates are 5.8% based on the WHO data.
Obesity is one of the most serious health issues an individual can face. Obesity is usually associated with the following:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Asthma
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Fatty Liver Disease
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Malignancies, e.g. Uterine Cancer
Studies show that 70% of ICU admissions from COVID-19 are related to obese patients, the above chronic medical conditions are the same underlying causes for poor outcomes in COVID-19 infections.
Again, metabolic and bariatric surgery proves to be one of the most important life-saving operations. Surgical and metabolic weight loss will cure all the above medical conditions with a 75-80% rate. Losing weight is a significant weapon against life-threatening conditions, COVID-19 infection, pandemics, and malignancies.
Metabolic and bariatric surgery can add years to a patient’s life.
Please stay safe, follow social distancing guidelines, and wash your hands.
