Year after year, one of the most frequently heard New Year’s resolutions is the one to “Quit Smoking”.  It is a hard one to fulfill and unfortunately, has a high rate of failure. Finding the right resources, however, can increase one’s success. Flushing Hospital, in partnership with the Queens Quits Initiative, is dedicated to helping people who currently smoke take the necessary steps to help them succeed at quitting.

The Queens Quits Initiative suggests the following steps to making this resolution work:

• Switch to a brand of cigarettes that you would never smoke
• Set a quit date within two weeks from today
• Exercise!! It will help combat stress and possible weight gain
• Try stop-smoking medications such as NRT, Chantix or Zyban
• Keep your hands occupied with a pen, bottle of water or even a straw
• Stay away from cigarette smoke
• Stay away from alcohol, if you drink and smoke together
• Remove all cigarettes from your home, car, office and anywhere else you spend time
• Tell your friends and family that you are quitting
• Read motivational stories about how others quit smoking on nysmokefree.com
• Don’t quit trying to QUIT! Most people have over seven quit attempts before they quit for good
• Call the NYS Smokers Quitline (1-866-NY-QUITS) for free counseling and educational material

Speak to your physician for suggestions or call Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718-670-5795 to make an appointment with a Pulmonary specialist. These physicians, through a thorough exam and pulmonary testing, can determine which treatment option is best suited for each patient. Let us try to help you fulfill your wish to quit smoking this year.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

It is estimated that as many as half a million people in the United States experience winter-onset depression, a type of depression associated with cold-weather months. With a physician’s help, however, winter-onset depression is a treatable condition.

Winter-onset depression is the most common form of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression associated with changing seasons. The cause of the condition is unclear but it may be related to changes in an individual’s circadian rhythm that result from reduced exposure to sunlight in winter.

Winter-related SAD typically lasts from late fall or early winter to the beginning of summer. SAD usually appears in people ages 20 or older and is more common in women. SAD is more likely to occur as a person ages, and individuals living in northern regions are more vulnerable to winter-onset SAD.

Every person’s experience with inter-onset SAD is different, but common symptoms include:

• Change in appetite
• Weight gain
• Low energy level and fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability and anxiety
• Avoidance of social situations
• Lack of interest in favorite activities

Winter-onset SAD is fairly predictable, as symptoms tend to occur at the same time each year.

“Many people with winter-onset SAD may benefit from seeing a psychiatrist, who can assess their symptoms and formulate a treatment plan,” says Dr. Seeth Vivek, Chairman of Psychiatry at Flushing Hospital. “Possible treatments include medication, behavior therapy, and light therapy.”

Light therapy acts a substitute for the limited sunlight during the winter months. Patients receiving this treatment sit in front of a light box or wear a light visor for 30 minutes per day, and if the therapy proves effective, they continue until spring.

When it comes to preventing winter-onset SAD, it is important to stay active. Search for activities to do around the house and guard against isolation by scheduling get-togethers with friends.

For more information about winter depression or to make an appointment to speak with a member of Flushing Hospital’s Psychiatry Department, please call 718-670-5316.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.