National Depression Screening Day

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Andrew Rubin

October 8^th has been designated as National Depression Screening day, an annual event held during Mental Illness Awareness Week. This event was started 27 years ago as an effort to provide people with mental health education materials and give them resources for support services. National Depression Screening Day was also created with the hope of removing the stigma from mental illness.

The World Health Organization estimates that 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The organization states that early recognition and treatment of the disease offer the best opportunity for successful outcomes. If depression is left untreated it can lead to destructive behaviors and possibly suicide.

Depression screenings help to distinguish between short term feelings of sadness and stress due to transient life episodes, and more severe cases that can go on for months and years. The tests usually last between two to five minutes and the scores will indicate whether a further evaluation by a mental health professional is needed. It is important for people to know that help is available.

To schedule an appointment with the Mental Health Department of Flushing Hospital
Medical Center, please call 718-670-5562.

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.

Hypertension and Headaches

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Andrew Rubin

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. If left uncontrolled for a long period of time, it can cause strokes, heart disease and heart attacks.

In addition to these conditions, there is some correlation to very high blood pressure and severe migraine headaches. According to the American Heart Association, these headaches are known as malignant hypertension headaches. They typically occur when blood pressure is above 180/120, and there is an increase in pressure within the skull.

Malignant hypertension headaches usually affect both sides of the head at the same time, and we often accompanied by nausea, chest pain or blurry vision.

Ways to treat headaches that may be due to hypertension include:

Improving circulation through exercise
Reducing stress
Eating leafy vegetables
Taking minerals such as potassium and magnesium

Medications may also have to be administered intravenously to control high blood pressure. These medications include nitroglycerin, nicardipine. labetalol, and sodium nitroprusside.

If someone is experiencing headaches due to high blood pressure they should seek immediate medical care by calling 9-1-1. If left untreated they can have very serious consequences, including death.

World Heart Day

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Andrew Rubin

September 29th has been designated as “World Heart Day”. This observance serves to bring international attention to the dangers of cardiovascular disease. According to the World Heart Federation, over 17.3 million deaths occur each year due to cardiovascular disease. By the year 2030, it is expected that this number will rise to 23 million. This makes it the leading cause of death in the world.

The most common cardiovascular diseases include coronary heart disease (heart attack) and cerebrovascular disease (stroke).
Ways to control heart disease and protect the heart:
• Keep active – a minimum of 30 minutes a day of physical activity or exercise
• Do not smoke – if you do smoke, quit and if you don’t smoke, don’t start
• Healthy eating – A healthy diet includes fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat and fish
• Maintain a healthy weight – keep away from food that is high in sodium and sugar or contains unsaturated fat
• Keep blood pressure under control
• Take medication as prescribed to control cholesterol, pressure, and diabetes if present

It is very important to know the warning signs of heart disease. For instance, a person who is experiencing a heart attack will often experience chest pain (fullness, squeezing, pressure), discomfort in areas of the upper body ( neck, jaw, arms, back), shortness of breath, and may also experience nausea, lightheadedness, and cold sweats. A person who is experiencing a stroke may have sudden trouble seeing, sudden confusion, a severe headache, loss of balance, trouble speaking, and sudden numbness and weakness of the face, arms and legs that is often just one-sided.

It is very important to receive a medical check-up at least once a year to ensure that your heart is healthy. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital please call 718-670-5486

Kawasaki Disease

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Andrew Rubin

Kawasaki disease is found most often in children under the age of five. Children of Asian descent are affected more often than other ethnicities and it occurs more frequently in boys than girls. The cause of the disease has not been established.

Kawasaki disease was first described in Japan in 1967 and the first case diagnosed in the United States was in Hawaii in 1976. It is a disease that causes inflammation of the medium sized arterial blood vessels, primarily those that supply the heart with blood.

There are three phases of the disease.

Phase 1

Fever of 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit that lasts more than three days
Very red eyes
Rash on the body, and around the genitals
Swollen tongue that is very red in color
Irritation of the mouth and nose
Swollen hands and feet that become very red
Swollen lymph nodes

Phase 2

Skin peels on the hands and feet
Body rash
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Irritability
Joint pain

Phase 3

After a few weeks the symptoms usually start to go away

To diagnose the disease a doctor will do a complete physical exam and look for four out of five of the following symptoms: red eyes, red lips and mouth, rash, enlarged lymph nodes and red swollen limbs. Other tests that may be necessary are an EKG, blood test and possibly an angiogram of the heart.

Treatment of Kawasaki usually will include medication such as aspirin to relieve discomfort and to help prevent blood clots. It also may be necessary to administer intravenous immune globulin to help fight the infection. If the disease is left untreated, it can cause damage to the heart. It is also possible for blood clots to form due to weakening of the walls of the blood vessels. Follow up visits with a doctor are recommended to make sure that there is no long lasting heart problems.

If your child has a fever of 101 degrees F to 103 degrees F for more than three days and any of the signs of this disease are noticed, it is important to see a doctor right away. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486 or go to your closest Emergency Room.

Facts About Hand Sanitizer

Posted on September 17, 2020 by Andrew Rubin

People have been using hand sanitizers for many years. However, their use has increased tremendously during the past few months due to the current pandemic.

There are a few different accounts on how hand sanitizers were developed and entered into general use. One of these accounts traces the origins to a married couple, the Lippmans, in Akron, Ohio back in the 1940’s. They created a waterless hand cleaner used by workers in rubber plant factories. In 1988 the Lippmans invented Purell, which is made of 70% ethyl alcohol as the main ingredient and also contains propylene glycol. It wasn’t widely used by consumers until 1997 and the results became the world’s leading hand sanitizer.

In 2002, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its guidelines to allow alcohol based hand sanitizers as a way to clean hands and eliminate germs in the absence of soap and water, In 2009 the World Health Organization also recommended them as an alternative to soap and water.

Hand sanitizers typically contain anywhere from 60 – 95 percent isopropyl or ethyl alcohol mixed with water and gels such as glycerin.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows a product to be called a hand sanitizer if it contains ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or bensalkonium as the active ingredient. Alcohol breaks down disease causing bacteria and viruses. The higher the concentration of alcohol, the more effective the hand sanitizer will be.

Hand sanitizers are effective against many bacteria and viruses, but not all of them. They generally don’t work well against norovirus, Clostridium difficile or Cryptosporium.

Hand sanitizers don’t typically expire but the alcohol can evaporate. They are considered generally safe for use on the skin, however using too much can cause skin irritation. Susan Weiser, the Director of Infection Control at Flushing Hospital Medical Center tells us that hand washing with soap and water is recommended after every four or five uses of the hand sanitizers to reduce the risk of irritating your skin.

World Suicide Prevention Day

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Andrew Rubin

September 10th is designated by the International Association for Suicide Prevention as World Suicide Prevention Day.

The World Health Organization reports that approximately every 40 seconds, someone takes their own life around the world, and in the United States it is one person every 12 minutes. Suicide is the leading cause of death in people between the ages of 15 to 29. Women are more likely to attempt suicide, but men are more likely to be successful. For every successful suicide attempt, there are 25 attempts that are not successful.

Suicide is preventable, and we can all do our part to help those who may be in distress or are having suicidal thoughts.

Here are a few ways you can promote suicide prevention::

Help raise awareness
Learn the warning signs
Know the resources that are available
Show compassion for those who need help

It takes a team approach to help people who are thinking of suicide. This includes family, friends, health professionals, clergy, colleagues at work and the community in general. Help is also needed for the families and loved ones of those who are at risk for committing suicide.

If you or someone you know needs help, do not wait to take action. Encourage them to seek the immediate care of a professional. The trained professionals in the Mental Health Department at Flushing Hospital Medical Center can also help. You can make an appointment by calling 718-670-5562. If there is imminent danger, bring the person to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible.

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on September 6, 2020 by Andrew Rubin

The month of September has been designated as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to bring attention to this very common form of cancer that affects so many men. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in men and is the second leading cancer-related cause of death in men. Although it is not known exactly what causes prostate cancer some risk factors for developing it are:

• Older age (more than 65% of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65)
• Race (African-American men are 60% more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men)
• Family history (having a father or brother with prostate cancer)
• Obesity

The prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive system that produces a fluid that mixes with sperm and other fluids during ejaculation. It sits just below the bladder and is normally about the size of a walnut.

Prostate cancer, especially in its early stages, may not have any symptoms. When symptoms are present they may include difficulty starting urination, less force to the stream of urine, dribbling at the end of urination, needing to urinate frequently, urinating frequently at night, pain while urinating, blood in the urine or semen, difficulty starting or maintaining an erection, pain with ejaculation, pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, pelvis and upper thighs, or unintended weight loss.

When screening is done there are two tests that are available. The available tests are a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. To perform a digital rectal exam your doctor uses a gloved finger, inserted a few inches into your rectum, to check your prostate gland. A prostate-specific antigen test is a blood test that measures the level of PSA in your blood. Many men who have prostate cancer have elevated levels of PSA, however PSA can also be elevated for less serious causes such as prostate enlargement or infection. Further testing is needed to diagnose cancer. Additional tests that your doctor may recommend to diagnose cancer include an ultrasound of the prostate and a biopsy of the prostate. A biopsy is when a small piece of the prostate is removed to look for abnormal cells.

Treatment of prostate cancer depends on many factors including your age, your overall health and the growth and spread of cancer when it is diagnosed. Some men who have slow-growing tumors may not need treatment right away and some may never need treatment. Other types of prostate cancer are aggressive and can quickly spread to other parts of the body making treatment difficult. Common treatment options include watchful waiting or expectant management (regular testing and checkups to assess for new signs or symptoms), radiation therapy (high-energy x-rays used to kill cancer cells), chemotherapy, surgery (having the prostate gland removed), and hormone therapy.
To schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital to discuss a prostate cancer screening, please call 718-670-5486.

Coping With Substance Abuse and a Crisis

Posted on September 3, 2020 by Andrew Rubin

The worldwide crisis of the coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone. The way we work, socialize, and care for our health have all been impacted. For many these factors are cause for tremendous amounts of stress; for others, they are triggers for alcohol and substance abuse.

The stress of living with the pandemic has led to more people leaning on drugs and alcohol abuse to cope with uncertainty and adversity. This is reflected in an increase in sales of alcoholic beverages over the last few months, as well as an increase in the number of patients treated in ERs for drug overdoses.

The rise in alcohol and substance abuse can be partly attributed to an increase in people who were once occasional users of alcohol or illicit drugs, now making it a daily habit, and addicts who relapsed due to challenges they faced during the pandemic.

Challenges encountered by those needing help for addiction include fear of seeking health in treatment centers due to fear of exposure of the coronavirus, limitations affecting in-person support groups or the decline of treatment centers due to a lack of funding.

Although the coronavirus pandemic may pose a few challenges for those seeking help with addiction, there are still many resources available to provide assistance with recovery. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) www.samhsa.gov offer helpful information to individuals and families facing mental health and substance abuse disorders on their websites (include links)

Those who are suffering from addiction are also encouraged to seek help from their doctor or any trained alcohol and substance abuse professional.

If you are having substance abuse issues and would like to speak to a trained professional at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, You can schedule an appointment by calling 718-670-4416.

Gestational Diabetes

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Andrew Rubin

Gestational diabetes is the term used to describe a high level of blood sugar that develops in pregnant women who never had diabetes prior to their pregnancy. The exact cause is not certain, but it is thought to be due to the placenta blocking the body’s ability to use insulin, causing the blood sugar level to rise. The body simply can’t manufacture a high enough quantity of insulin to keep blood sugar under control.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes:
• Women over the age of 25 who become pregnant
• Family history of diabetes
• Excess weight before and during pregnancy
• Race and ethnicity (African Americans, Hispanics, Asian and American Indians are at higher risk)

Gestational diabetes usually affects the mother after the 24th week of pregnancy. Babies born to mothers who have gestational diabetes tend to be heavier than babies born to mothers who have well-controlled blood sugar. There is also the chance that women with gestational diabetes will deliver their babies pre-term. Later on in life, these babies may develop diabetes on their own. After the baby is born, the mom’s blood sugar often returns to normal but there is a higher risk of developing type II diabetes later in life.

Treatment for gestational diabetes includes regular daily testing of blood sugar, a rigorous diet, and a regular schedule of exercise. Medication may be necessary to control blood sugar in some cases.

There are a few ways to lower the risk of diabetes. This includes:
• Watch your weight
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables

If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant and would like to schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital, please call 718-670-5486.

Bee Stings

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Andrew Rubin

It is summertime and we all spend more time outdoors. Whether it be in our gardens, the park, or at the beach, the potential to get bitten by a bee is always there.

Bees are typically attracted to flowers because of their scent and bright colors. They can be attracted to a human if they are wearing brightly colored clothing or have a particular scent.

Getting stung by a bee is not the most pleasant experience to say the least. In the event that you are stung by a bee here are a few helpful steps to follow:

Remove the stinger as soon as you can, as it only takes seconds for the venom to enter your body. You can remove the stinger by scraping it off the best way you can. (example: fingernail, tweezer, credit card ).
Wash the sting area with soap and water.
Apply cold compresses or ice to relieve pain and ease swelling.

The treatment steps for minor reactions to bee stings are not as effective for those who have severe allergic reactions. If you are allergic to bee stings, contact your primary care provider or seek emergency medical care immediately. Severe reactions may need epinephrine, by way of an Epi-Pen.

If you are stung by a bee, you should seek medical attention as quickly as possible if you are having any sort of reaction.