Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Dr. Kevin Most joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss the combo COVID & flu shot entering its final stage of testing, why Daylight Saving Time may trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder, and potential harmful effects of consuming red dye #3.

Dr. Kevin Most’s Steve Cochran Show Notes:

New lung cancer screening guidelines released by the American Cancer Society

• Only a small fraction of those individuals who qualify for lung cancer screening get it done.
• New guidelines released this week will open that screening to millions more
• The change highlighted a flawed premise- the longer it had been since a person quit smoking the lower the risk for cancer
• A deeper look at the data showed that the risk of lung cancer rose as individuals aged, even for those who had stopped smoking 15 years or more
• The new guidance says heavy smokers who quit 15 years ago or more should get yearly scans
• The previous guidance was those aged 50-80, who had smoked at least 20 pack years and were still smoking or had quit within the last 15 years should be tested annually
• The data showed that the risk of cancer continued to rise even if you had quit smoking more than 15 years ago
• The previous guidelines impacted 14.3 people in the US, the new guideline would add an additional 5 million people
• More than 80% of those who had their lung cancer caught early through this screening were still alive 20 years later, whereas those who were identified in late stage, the 5 year survival rate is much lower

Combo Covid and Flu shot showing good success – enters the final stage of testing.

• Pfizer, Moderna, BioNtech all have combo flu and Covid vaccines in clinical trials
• The trials are focused on patients aged 18-64 yrs. old
• The vaccine carries the 4 flu strains as well as the 2 Covid strains BA 4 and BA 5
• Results so far show robust immune response
• Very safe and effective.
• Results this far are silent on side effects, but this will be documented as they expand their final trial
• Moderna is now stating they feel this will be ready for 2024 flu season, so I year from now.

Daylight savings time has ended, what can you expect this week

• Your clocks were set back on Sunday morning, did it turn you upside down?
• Your circadian rhythm has been shocked, even though an hour does not seem like much
• We now have reduced daylight during our waking hours, it may trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder- seasonal depression
• We see an increase in individuals with headaches both cluster headaches and migraine headaches this first week, it is thought the time change actually causes this
• You may find yourself more sluggish in the afternoon and evening as the change in sunlight will trigger changes
• This change gives us earlier sunrise and thus more sun in the morning when individuals are driving more and kids are walking to school, which is a safety concern
• Time changes impact our sleep patterns, as our body looks for natural lighting to prompt sleep time
• Try to stay with your normal sleep pattern
• Consider taking a multivitamin and Vitamin D, as we will see less sunlight

Red dye #3 banned in California, Countrywide next?

• Red dye #3 is found just about everywhere in food, beverages, yogurts, snacks, candy, frozen desserts, children’s medications ……the list goes on, with over 3,200 products
• Red Dye #3 was banned last week in California, The Governor signed a bill that forbids the sale of food with 4 different food avidities with Red dye#3 being one of them
• it will take a few years for the complete ban to be in place in California
• The California ban could potentially disrupt the food supply to California
• 1990 – FDA banned Red Dye #3 in cosmetics as it was found to cause cancer in rats. Further studies have shown the cancer risk is specific to rats
• Studies over the past few decades have linked Red Dye #3 to behavioral issues in children, including hyperactivity this is what made California place the ban
• Studies to actually show a dose-related response to Red dye in children are thought to be unethical
• Red Dye is severely restricted in the European Union, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and other countries

Do you use OTC eye drops?  You may want to check on them now.

• The FDA is warning of unsanitary conditions in a facility that makes many types of eye drops
• The eye drops may contain harmful bacteria that may cause infection
• Symptoms may include, eye pain, discharge, blurred vision, , redness, swelling of the eyelid
• 27 OTC eye drops have been identified as potentially contaminated  by the FDA due to bacteria being found in some that can lead to eye infections and in some cases blindness
• There are no reports of injuries at this time but the FDA is telling individuals to discard them,  stop using them and look for symptoms
• If any symptoms are noted follow up with your physician immediately
• Target, CVS, Walmart and Rite Aid are removing the products from their shelves
• These are over the counter eye drops and not those prescribed and used to treat other eye disorders.
• Individuals who use artificial tears for dry eyes, may want to talk to their doctors and switch to single use vials for a short time
• Go on line and Google Eye Drops Contaminated and the list of the 27 specific drops will be found.