Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Hand Hygiene, Pregnancy Brain Changes, and AI's Role in Healthcare

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Hand Hygiene, Pregnancy Brain Changes, and AI's Role in Healthcare · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Welcome back to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I'm Doctor Chi-Ming Chow, your host, and I'm thrilled to have you with us today.
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  As always, we're here to provide you with the most up-to-date medical and health news from
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  around the globe, using the power of artificial intelligence to bring you insights that matter.
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  Today, we're diving into a topic that might seem simple but is incredibly crucial:
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  handwashing.
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  According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, proper handwashing could
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  potentially save a million lives each year.
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  However, there are some common mistakes people make that could actually increase their
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  exposure to germs and viruses.
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  Let's start with the first mistake: relying solely on hand sanitizer.
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  While hand sanitizers are convenient, they are not effective against all types of germs.
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  For instance, norovirus, a highly contagious stomach virus, cannot be killed with hand
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  sanitizer but is easily destroyed with soap and water.
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  It's important to understand that certain viruses have an outer coat that doesn't break
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  down with the alcohol in hand sanitizers, making soap and water the more effective
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  option.
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  The second mistake involves coughing or sneezing into your sleeve.
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  While it's better than using your hands, it doesn't eliminate the risk of spreading germs.
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  You should still wash your hands with soap and water afterward, as germs can be transferred
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  onto your hands when you touch your face or other surfaces.
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  Another point to consider is the seasonal approach to handwashing.
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  Many people tend to wash their hands more frequently during the fall and winter months
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  when colds and flu are more common.
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  However, germs like those causing norovirus and other infectious diseases can spread
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  year-round.
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  Maintaining consistent hand hygiene throughout the year is crucial to staying healthy.
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  Finally, there's the issue of not washing hands at critical times.
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  While most adults wash their hands after using the bathroom or handling food, fewer do so
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  after sneezing, coughing, or visiting public places like grocery stores or doctor's offices.
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  It's vital to reinforce the importance of washing hands during these times to prevent the
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  spread of infectious diseases.
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  In summary, handwashing is a simple yet powerful tool in preventing the spread of
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  diseases.
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  By avoiding these common mistakes, we can significantly reduce our risk of infection and
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  contribute to better public health outcomes.
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  Remember, consistent and proper handwashing can save lives.
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  Pregnancy is one of the most significant periods of change in a person's life, not just
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  physically but also neurologically.
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  During pregnancy, a woman's brain undergoes a remarkable transformation, influenced by
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  fluctuating hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
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  These hormones play a crucial role in remodeling the brain during this period, which
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  is often referred to as "baby brain."
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  Cognitive neuroscientist Dr.
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  Laura Pritschet has been at the forefront of studying these changes.
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  She explains that the brain is not a static organ; it adapts and evolves throughout our
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  lives in a process known as neuroplasticity.
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  This adaptability is particularly evident during three key periods in a woman's life:
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  puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause.
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  During these times, the brain undergoes significant remodeling, which can affect
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  behavior and cognitive functions.
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  Dr.
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  Pritschet's research has uncovered fascinating insights into how the brain adapts during
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  pregnancy.
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  In one study, she tracked the brain changes in a woman from pre-conception through to two
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  years postpartum.
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  Using magnetic resonance imaging and blood samples, her team observed a reduction in gray
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  matter volume across the brain during pregnancy.
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  However, this was accompanied by an increase in white matter microstructure and ventricle size.
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  Gray matter is where most of the brain's processing occurs, while white matter connects
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  different brain areas, facilitating communication.
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  The changes in these areas suggest that the brain is fine-tuning itself to meet the demands
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  of motherhood.
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  This "choreographed dance" between brain structures is thought to prepare women for the
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  cognitive and behavioral adaptations required for parenting.
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  Interestingly, the reduction in gray matter volume is not necessarily a negative change.
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  Dr.
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  Pritschet describes it as a "fine-tuning" process, similar to what occurs during puberty,
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  where the brain becomes more specialized.
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  These adaptations may enhance certain cognitive functions and behaviors that are crucial for
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  parenting, such as bonding with the newborn.
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  Understanding these brain changes is crucial, as they have broad implications for women's
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  health.
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  The neuroanatomical adaptations during pregnancy might influence vulnerability to
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  mental health disorders like postpartum depression and could affect various
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  neurological conditions such as migraines and epilepsy.
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  By mapping these changes, researchers hope to gain insights into not only maternal health but
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  also the lifelong brain development of women.
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  Now, let's turn our attention to the fascinating world of artificial intelligence in
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  healthcare.
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  According to a recent report from Bessemer Venture Partners, Bain and Company, and Amazon
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  Web Services, artificial intelligence is making waves in the healthcare sector.
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  However, it seems many organizations are still at the starting line when it comes to fully
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  adopting this transformative technology.
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  The report draws on a survey of more than 400 leaders across various sectors including
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  payers, providers, and pharmaceutical companies.
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  The findings reveal an interesting dichotomy: while over 80 percent of respondents believe
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  that artificial intelligence will revolutionize clinical decision-making in the coming years,
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  only 30 percent of artificial intelligence pilots actually make it to production.
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  This highlights a gap between the potential of artificial intelligence and its current
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  implementation in healthcare.
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  To shed light on why adoption is falling short, Fierce Healthcare's Executive Editor Heather
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  Landi recently spoke with Sofia Guerra, Vice President at Bessemer Venture Partners.
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  They explored the challenges and what it will take to scale artificial intelligence in
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  healthcare.
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  One of the key issues identified is the need for better integration into existing healthcare
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  systems.
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  Many organizations struggle with the complexity of integrating artificial intelligence
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  solutions into their current workflows and data systems.
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  Another significant hurdle is the lack of comprehensive data.
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  Artificial intelligence systems require vast amounts of high-quality data to function
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  effectively, and healthcare organizations often face challenges in accessing and managing this
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  data due to privacy regulations and fragmented data systems.
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  This can hinder the development and deployment of artificial intelligence solutions.
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  Despite these challenges, there are promising areas where artificial intelligence is showing
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  potential.
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  For instance, artificial intelligence scribes, which assist in documentation, have been found
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  to decrease burnout among healthcare professionals, although the financial return on
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  investment is still limited.
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  Furthermore, as digital health and artificial intelligence investments continue to rise, new
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  opportunities are emerging for innovation in healthcare delivery.
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  As we look to the future, the continued evolution of artificial intelligence in
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  healthcare promises to bring transformative changes.
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  However, to truly harness its potential, healthcare organizations must address these
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  integration and data challenges.
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  With the right strategies and investments, artificial intelligence could significantly
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  enhance patient care and operational efficiencies in the healthcare sector.
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  That's all for today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Thank you for joining me as we explored these critical topics in health and medicine.
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  Remember to tune in tomorrow for more insights and updates.
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  Until then, stay informed and stay healthy.