Vital Signs

KERA’s Sam Baker talked about the virus with Dr. Trish Perl, a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in general infectious diseases.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability and dementia worldwide. But a new study found those at high genetic risk for stroke could reduce their chances through better lifestyle choices. KERA’s Sam Baker talked about some recommendations from the American Heart Association with Dr. Ryan Cheung of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano.

Cases of uterine cancer are increasing so rapidly that it’s expected to displace colorectal cancer by 2040 as the third most common cancer among women. A recent study also found sharp spikes in mortality rates among Asian, Hispanic, and the highest among Black women. KERA’s Sam Baker talked about this with Dr. Jayanthi Lea. She’s an OB-Gyn and Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

A report from UT Southwestern Medical Center says two omicron sub-variants, BA.4 and BA.5, account for more than 75% of the COVID samples tested by its researchers. Dr. James Cutrell, Program Director of the center's Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, said the resurgence wasn’t a complete surprise, but there were some unexpected aspects of BA.4 and BA.5.

Removing a child’s tonsils for recurrent throat infections or obstructive sleep-disordered breathing is a common procedure. About 350,000 tonsillectomies are performed each year. But complications can occur in some cases, even death. KERA’s Sam Baker discussed a new study about this with Dr. Romaine Johnson, an Associate Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology at UT Southwestern Medical Center who is Director of both the Children's Health Airway Management Program and the Pediatric Voice and Swallowing Clinic at Children's Medical Center Dallas.

The CDC continues to rank heart disease as the leading cause of death in Texas. But that and other chronic diseases don’t have to be killers. So said Dr. David Winter with Baylor, Scott and White. The internal medicine specialist explained why to KERA’s Sam Baker.

The CDC has given final approval to COVID vaccines for children younger than 5. The agency's backing followed an earlier FDA recommendation of the Pfizer and Moderna versions. Dr. Philip Huang, Health Director for Dallas County Health and Human Services, talked with KERA’s Sam Baker about how vaccinating kids so young will impact local efforts to control COVID.

The seven-year study of about 120,000 middle-aged people suggested those who drank coffee with or without sugar over that time had a lower risk of death than non-coffee drinkers. Dr. Ruby Shah, an internist and obesity expert with Texas Health Plano, told KERA’s Sam Baker the results didn’t surprise her.

Liver cancer is one of the hardest diseases to detect. KERA’s Sam Baker talked with Dr. Yujin Hoshida, a professor of internal medicine and head of the Liver Tumor Translational Research Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center, about the significance of the project he leads.

It’s considered rare compared to other types of cancer and is highly curable. But testicular cancer is also the number one form of cancer among males, ages 15 to 44. KERA’s Sam Baker talked about why with Dr. Waddah Arafat, an expert in testicular cancer at Parkland Hospital, and a professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

A string of unusual, severe cases of hepatitis in mostly small children in the U-S and abroad has more than tripled over the past couple of weeks to 348. Tarrant County recently reported a case to the CDC. KERA’s Sam Baker talked about this with Dr. Norberto Rodríguez-Báez, a Professor of Pediatrics with UT Southwestern Medical Center and director of the Hepatology Program at Children’s Medical Center Plano.

The Food and Drug Administration has begun a 60-day public comment period on its proposal to stop using menthol in cigarettes and cigars. Dr. David Balis, director of the nicotine cessation program at UT Southwestern Medical Center, tells KERA’s Sam Baker why he thinks the ban is important.