Masks critical in fight against COVID

Dear Dr. Roach: A recent column advised readers to wear masks. Please print a study that shows masks work. I can show you 10 studies from the CDC that say they don’t. You should not encourage your readers to do something without proof.

C.W.

Answer: The evidence has become strong that masks are effective at protecting both the wearer and (especially) others from getting sick.

A study in July showing masks to be ineffective was retracted by the authors, noting their experimental data were unreliable. The best type of study, a clinical trial, is not yet available, although at least two are ongoing, despite concerns about the ethics of such a trial.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention affirmed shortly thereafter that “cloth face coverings are a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19 that could reduce the spread of the disease, particularly when used universally within communities.”

I am posting links to a few studies and editorials about mask effectiveness on my page at Facebook.com /keithroachmd.

Dear Dr. Roach: My doctor said that an ultrasound and blood tests show that I have fatty liver. I drink wine and a beer occasionally. What is fatty liver?

E.M.

Answer: Fatty liver is a catch-all term for abnormal fat depositions in the liver. These can come about in people with heavy alcohol use.

For nondrinkers, the major risks are older age, diabetes, being male and being overweight or obese. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is extremely prevalent in the United States: 10% to 46% of people have it.

The major treatments for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are lifestyle changes. Alcohol abstinence is recommended. If you are overweight, weight loss is the primary treatment.

Regular physical activity was found to reduce overall mortality rates in people with NAFLD as well, independent of the effect on body weight.

If you have diabetes, careful control of diabetes is essential.