March 2015 - Page 3 of 4

Quieting That Cough, Naturally

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Flushing Hospital

Coughing is a common health problem. When there is a blockage or irritant in your throat, your brain thinks a foreign element is present and tells your body to cough to remove that element.

Some reasons you may cough are itchy throat and congestion. Instead of using over-the-counter cough suppressants, you may want to try a natural cough treatment using readily available ingredients in your kitchen.

Ginger tea is one of the most popular cures for a cough and is a proven home remedy.

Follow the recipe below for a simple and effective way to quiet a cough.

GINGER TEA

Cut fresh ginger into small slices and crush them slightly. Place them in a cup of water and bring to a boil. You can also use some lemon juice and honey to taste.

It is suggested to drink this herbal solution three to four times a day for relief from a soar throat, coughing and even chest congestion.

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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.

5 Foods for Healthy Eyes

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Carrots aren’t the only food that will help improve your eyesight and promote healthy eyes. A study from JAMA Ophthalmology links diet to eye health, and recommends adding certain foods to your diet to prevent some eye conditions like macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.

March is Save Your Vision month. Here are 5 foods to add to your diet to promote eye health:

Berries – All berries have been shown to contain antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins that help lower both blood pressure and reduce inflammation that may cause cataracts.
Green leafy vegetables — Spinach, kale, and swiss chard, as well as turnip, mustard and collard greens are all high in lutein and zeaxanthin. Studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
Omega-3 fatty acids — Salmon, halibut and cod, as well as nuts like walnuts, all contain omega-3 fatty acids which may be essential for optimal visual development. Dry eye syndrome also has been linked to omega-3 deficiency.
Orange foods – Orange bell peppers offer the best dietary source of zeaxanthin and vitamin C, which lowers the risk for cataracts and macular degeneration. Other orange foods, including gogi berries, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes and carrots, may have similar benefits. These orange-colored choices also are chock-full of vitamin A, which boosts night vision, and carotene which helps lower the risk of cataracts.
Tea — Green tea, black tea and oolong tea are best for preventing cataracts. Teas may also help prevent macular degeneration by preventing the growth of new blood vessels in the back of the eye.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers a full range of comprehensive medical, diagnostic, and surgical services from annual eye examinations to surgical procedures. For more information or to schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist, please call Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718-670-5486 or All City Eye Care Center at 718-380-5070.

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Diabetic? Blurry Vision? Make Sure to Schedule an Exam

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Blurry vision may happen for a variety of reasons, but for some it can be a precursor to something more serious. According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 20 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes, while an additional 41 million are considered pre-diabetic, a condition that significantly increases their risk for developing diabetes.

Eye issues are the first early warning signs of problems for people with diabetes. In pre-diabetics, blurred vision occurs because the blood sugar levels are elevated, causing the lens of the eye to swell. By maintaining a healthy blood sugar level, vision symptoms can resolve within a matter of months. It is important to make certain lifestyle changes in order to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Managing your diet, exercising daily and maintaining a normal weight can help prevent the development of diabetes and avoid problems associated with being pre-diabetics.

Everyone should have regular eye exams, but if you are pre-diabetic or diabetic, it is important to have your eyes examined annually. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718-670-5486 or All City Eye Care Center at 718-380-5070.

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Fact or Myth? Reading in poor light or reading too much fine print will eventually harm your vision.

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Fact or Myth? Reading in poor light or reading too much fine print will eventually harm your vision.

Answer: Myth

As with sitting too close to the television, you may feel eyestrain or get a headache from reading in the dark, but it will not weaken your eyes.

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What is a Patient Advocate?

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Illness is a stressful time for patients. During this difficult time, it might be helpful to have an advocate to assist you.

An advocate is your spokesperson. Advocates can be a spouse, another family member, or a close friend. Choose someone you trust and who is willing to act on your behalf, as well as someone who can work well with your healthcare team. You might not need someone to choose a hospital or agree to a procedure or treatment, but you might want someone to accompany you to appointments, keep track of your medications, ask specific questions and write down information you receive from caregivers.

Let your healthcare team know who your advocate is and how you want them involved in your care. Make sure they have the numbers for your providers, hospital and pharmacy, as well as anyone else you may want to contact in case of an emergency. Your advocate will ensure that your wishes are carried out if you are not able. Alert your family members as to who your advocate is. This will provide a consistent communication and minimize confusion and misunderstandings.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center can help you assign a patient advocate if you don’t have one. To contact the patient advocate, please call 718-321-6191.

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The Health Benefits of Yoga

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Flushing Hospital

yoga Developed in India thousands of years ago, Yoga is a form of exercise that has gained popularity tremendously over the past 50 years.

Yoga teaches increased flexibility by learning how to stretch your muscles. This can help a person improve mobility, feel less tired and improve their posture.

• Some of the other benefits of yoga are:

• Improved immunity

• Ease migraines

• Improve sexual performance

• Better sleep

• Improve eating habits

Yoga can help you to feel calmer and more relaxed. This is because some forms of yoga teach techniques that focus on breathing.

It has also been shown to lower blood pressure and to lower the heart rate. This can greatly help people who have been diagnosed with heart disease and who either have had a stroke or at risk of having a stroke.

It usually takes a few weeks to start seeing the benefits of yoga. When looking for yoga classes, find an instructor who has proper training and who is certified to teach the class. It can be practiced by just about anyone, and it isn’t just for people who are in good physical condition.

Ways to Fit Exercise into Your Busy Schedule

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Flushing Hospital

It is recommended by the U.S. Department of Health that adults get 75 to 150 minutes of exercise each week; however, many do not have the luxury of time to work out frequently and some are confined to the office for eight hours or more each day. Despite the limitations of a busy schedule, there are ways to fit exercise into your daily routine. Keep in mind that some exercise is better than none and that squeezing in a few minutes each day can be beneficial to your health.

Practical steps you can take in fitting daily exercise are to:

Wake up fifteen minutes earlier each day to work out.
Take 10 to 15 minutes away from time spent on the internet, connecting on social media or texting.
Work out while watching TV- you can simply jog or run in place.
Take the stairs at work instead of the elevator.
Sit up straight at your desk then contract and release your stomach muscles. This will give you a quick abdominal work out.
You can work your legs muscles by squeezing your thighs together or extending each leg in front of you for a few seconds on each side.
Go for a walk during your lunch break
Have fun. Dance to your favorite songs or play a fitness video game.

Exercise is essential to your health. Although your schedule may be hectic, try to find the time for a few minutes of physical activity into your daily routine.

Spring Forward This Weekend with a Good Night’s Sleep

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Daylight savings time begins at 2:00 am on Sunday, March 8. Remember to set your clocks forward and try to get to bed a little earlier to compensate for that lost hour. The food you eat this weekend might be the key to giving you a better night’s sleep.

According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 50 to 70 million people in the United States suffer from a wide variety of sleep disorders.

Studies show that certain foods tend to produce a more restful night’s sleep. Foods that you can pick up at any local grocery store that are likely to give you a deeper sleep are:
• Milk
• Turkey
• Honey
• Nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, etc.)
• Kale
• Rice (or other forms of carbohydrates)

The secret to these foods are the vitamins they contain, as well as the hormones they help the brain produce. The old wives’ tale of drinking a warm glass of milk before bedtime is not all that inaccurate. Calcium is a natural sleep inducer, especially when consumed with magnesium, which can be found in bananas. Melatonin is a hormone the brain produces naturally that also greatly contributes to a good night’s sleep. Calcium and magnesium both naturally produce melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain that promotes sleepiness, so eating dairy products, wheat, and beans can all lead to a more restful sleep. Additionally, some proteins, such as lean meats, produce tryptophan, an amino acid that causes sleepiness. Carbohydrates, such as starches and fibers, can also cause fatigue because the body breaks them down into sugars that become glucose, which ultimately becomes blood sugar. Some healthy carbohydrates can be found in whole grain, cereal, and vegetables.

While some foods can help you get a better night’s sleep, other foods and eating habits can reduce your amount of sleep. Some of these include:
• Eating too much or too little
• Caffeine (after lunchtime)
• Fatty foods (fast food, junk food, etc.)
• Eating late at night
• Alcohol (in large doses)

Try to avoid these bad eating habits and replace them with healthy foods that are high in calcium, magnesium, healthy carbohydrates, and protein.

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March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Did you know that colon cancer is one of the most preventable, and if detected early, most treatable forms of cancer? March is Colon Cancer Awareness month and screening is the number one way you can increase your chances of survival. Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the US. In 2015, the American Cancer Society estimates 93,090 new cases of colon cancer and 39,610 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed.

On average, the lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is about one in 20 (5%), but this can vary according to individual risk factors. All men and women should be screened every five years beginning at age 50, or earlier if you have a personal or family history of colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or are experiencing symptoms. African Americans should begin screening at the age of 45.

Some tests that detect cancer and polyps, growths that occur on the inner lining of the large intestine and protrude into the colon, include:

.Colonoscopy — The inside of the rectum and entire colon are examined using a long, lighted tube called a colonoscope.

.Flexible Sigmoidoscopy — Examines your rectum and lower part of the colon with a lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope.

.Virtual Colonoscopy — Uses x-rays and computers to take 2- or 3-dimensional images of your colon and rectum.

.Double-Contrast Barium Enema (DCBE) — Air and barium are pumped into your rectum. The solution will show polyps or tumors on x-rays.

Screenings for fecal occult blood tests or FOBT, may also be used to test the stool for signs that cancer may be present. They are less invasive and easier to have done but are less likely to detect polyps.

Please discuss all screening options, as well as when to be screened, with your healthcare professional.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center provides a modern, fully equipped endoscopy unit for patients with abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or any other gastrointestinal concerns. Using the newest high-technology video equipment, an expert team provides comprehensive patient care. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Ambulatory Care at 718-670-5486.

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March is National Women’s History Month

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Did you know that Flushing Hospital Medical Center was founded in 1884 by a group of community women who set up a room with one bed in a rented house? Today the hospital is a 293-bed voluntary, not-for-profit teaching hospital. The medical center, located in the city’s most culturally diverse borough, has served the health care needs of the community for more than a century, and has, over the years, become a solid and vital part of the infrastructure of the city itself.

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Early photo of Flushing Hospital