The Benefits of taking a Vacation

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

We live in a stressful society that is full of situation. It is very important for people to take a break in order to stay healthy. Studies have shown not taking a vacation for a few years can increase the risk of heart disease and the potential for a heart attack. People who take vacations have an easier time to breaking bad habits such as nail biting, smoking, and eating poorly because stress the triggers for these bad habits aren’t present.
There are many benefits to taking a vacation:
• Betters outlook on life
• Allows the body to unwind
• Increases happiness
To really benefit from a vacation a person has to leave their work environment at home.
Today, with electronic devices so prevalent, it is important to not check them more than
once or twice a day.

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.

Bariatric Surgery – Lap Band Procedure

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

Diagram of an adjustable gastric band

Losing weight is not easy, whether it be just a few pounds for a special occasion or to look good at the beach or considerably more weight in order to make a dramatic change in your health. Bariatric surgery is a popular weight loss choice for those people who would like to make a dramatic change in their life.
Bariatric surgery is performed on the stomach or intestines to induce weight loss. The basic principle of the procedure is to restrict food intake and reduce absorption of food by the stomach and intestines.
The criteria for bariatric surgery are:
• Body mass index (BMI) over 40
• Disabling pain in weight bearing joints
• Over 100 pounds or more above ideal weight
• Previous attempts at weight loss through diet and exercise have failed
• Obesity related disorders such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes, degenerative joint disease
One procedure that people speak about frequently is Lap Band surgery. This is one of the simplest forms of bariatric surgery. It is a minimally invasive technique and is performed laparoscopically. The surgeon places an inflatable silicone band on the upper part of the stomach; this is secured by sutures. The band will be adjusted by injecting a small amount of saline solution into a port. A small pouch will be created which will restrict the amount of food that a person who has this procedure is able to eat. The procedure usually takes one to two hours to perform.
Advantages of Lap Band surgery:
• Reduction in the amount of food that the stomach can hold
• Weight loss is usually 40 – 50 percent
• Short hospital stay
• No cutting or stapling of the stomach or intestines
• It is reversible
• Low rate of post-op complications
• Low risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies
If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital to discuss if bariatric surgery is right for you, please call 718-670-8908

Today is World Hepatitis Awareness Day

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

Liver Protected Against Hepatitis Virus

In 2010 the World Health Organization ( W.H.O. ) designated July 28th as World Hepatitis Day. This serves to increase awareness about viral hepatitis and to influence change in disease prevention, testing and treatment. The goal for 2016 is to adopt a plan that will eliminate hepatitis as a public threat by 2030.
Hepatitis is a virus that causes an inflammation of the liver. The liver is an organ in the body that processes nutrients, filters the blood and fights infections. The most common forms of hepatitis are A, B, and C. Hepatitis B and C kill close to 1.4 million people each year and cause almost 80 percent of all liver cancer cases. Many people have the hepatitis virus and are unaware of it.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis B include:
• Fever
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Jaundice
• Abdominal pain
• Fatigue
Hepatitis is spread from person to person through contact with bodily fluids. It is possible that people remain without symptoms for many years but during this time the disease is slowly destroying the liver. It can take many years for the symptoms to appear. Blood tests are available that can detect the virus at an early stage.
Ways to reduce infection:
• Use only sterile equipment for injections
• Test all donated blood for hepatitis
• Practice safe sex
• Encourage people to get hepatitis B vaccine
Medication exists that can cure hepatitis C and can control hepatitis B infection. When given properly, people are less likely to die from liver cancer and cirrhosis and also are less likely to transmit the disease to others. The hepatitis B vaccine is given in three doses over a 6 month period and it is recommended that it be initiated right after birth if possible.
To make an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital to discuss the vaccine, please call 718-670-5486.

The Benefits of Taking a Vacation

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

Family on beach

Synthetic Marijuana

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

Synthetic marijuana, or K2, is another name for synthetic cannabinoids and it refers to a number of man-made chemicals that are applied to dried, shredded plant material. The substance can be either smoked in the herbal form or inhaled as a vapor in its liquid form. These mind altering chemicals are very closely related to the chemicals found in marijuana, however, the effects on the brain are much more intense and can have unpredictable and sometimes even life threatening consequences. Synthetic marijuana is known to be addictive.
Some of the reasons people like synthetic marijuana are:
• Elevated mood
• Relaxation
• Changes in perception of surroundings
Using synthetic marijuana can have psychotic effects which can lead to extreme anxiety, confusion, paranoia, and hallucinations. People under the influence of this substance are often brought in to hospital emergency rooms with signs and symptoms including rapid heart rate, vomiting and violent behavior.
When people try to stop using synthetic marijuana they often experience headaches, anxiety, depression and irritability. If you or a loved one has a substance abuse problem and would like to receive help, Flushing Hospital has a program that may be able to help. Please call 718-670-5078 to schedule an appointment with a professional counselor who will evaluate and offer suggestions on treatment plans.

Lung Cancer and Robotic Surgical Intervention

Posted on June 28, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 224,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2016 and that more than 150,000 will die from the disease this year. Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer identified in both men and women. A history of smoking definitely contributes to a higher risk of being diagnosed with the disease, though non-smokers also can develop lung cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer include:
• A cough that doesn’t get better
• Coughing up blood
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Wheezing
• Hoarseness
• Headache
• Weight loss that isn’t intentional
If lung cancer is suspected, a physician will usually order a few tests to make the diagnosis definitive. A chest x-ray will be performed and if there are any lesions found on the lung a CT scan will to get a better view of the lungs. An exam of the sputum can sometimes reveal lung cancer cells and to complete the diagnosis a lung biopsy will be done to examine the cells to see if they are cancerous.
Depending on the stage of the cancer, treatment options vary and can include chemotherapy, radiation and / or surgery. A common surgical option is called a lobectomy, removal one of the lobes of the lung. Flushing Hospital’s expert team of surgeons now perform this procedure robotically, with the assistance of the latest da Vinci robotic surgery system. This highly advanced, minimally invasive technology offers patients at Flushing Hospital a high success rate and a quicker recovery time.
To schedule an appointment with a surgeon at Flushing Hospital who specializes in minimally invasive robotic surgery, please call 718-670 – 3135.

Learning to Swim

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

It is summertime and many of us will be spending days off from work or school at the beach, the lake or at a pool getting away from the hot weather. While everyone is having a good time getting wet, are you the person standing by the edge afraid to go in beyond your ankles? If you don’t know how to swim maybe now is the time to learn.
Here are some tips for beginners:
• Don’t swim alone
• Learning in a pool is easier than the ocean
• Only go in up to where you can stand comfortably
• Practice floating by holding on to the sides of a pool
• Always stay calm
• Walk around in the shallow end to get comfortable being in the water
• Put you face in the water and try to blow bubbles
• Swim only where there is a lifeguard on duty
• Once you feel comfortable floating, get a kick board and try moving your feet away from the bottom of the pool
• The key to swimming is all about feeling comfortable in the water. It is great exercise,
Like riding a bicycle, once you learn how to do it, you never forget. All it takes is some confidence, a good teacher to show you proper technique, and time to practice. The local YMCA or high school may even offer classes that you can join.

Men’s Health Month

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

The month of June has been recognized as Men’s Health Month. The reason for this designation is to bring awareness of preventable health issues and to encourage early detection and treatment of diseases prevalent in men.
The leading causes of death among men are:
• Heart Disease
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Lung Disease
• Injuries
• Stroke
• HIV/AIDS
Some of the reasons that men tend to have more serious chronic illnesses is because more men than women don’t have health insurance, men tend to have more physically demanding jobs with greater safety risks. Additionally more men smoke than women and they also tend to take greater risks with unsafe behavior.
Women tend to live five years longer than men and one of the reasons for this is that women usually take better care of their health. Men are often guilty of waiting until a disease has progressed to a more serious level before they seek help. There is an old adage that if a man is in a doctor’s waiting room, most likely a woman brought him there for an exam.
During the month of June, organizations across the country hold health awareness campaigns to educate men about various health issues that they may be at risk for and to encourage them to see a doctor regularly. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital, please call 718-670-5486.

Stroke

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Almost 800,000 people have a stroke in the United States each year and it is responsible for approximately 130,000 deaths. The risk of having a stroke is twice as high in African Americans than in Caucasians, and it occurs more frequently in men than in women.
There are two types of stroke, hemorrhagic and ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke is either a brain aneurysm or a weakened blood vessel that leaks thus creating swelling and pressure in the brain that damages the cells. This type of stroke occurs about 15 percent of the time but is responsible for about 40 percent of all stroke deaths. The other type of stroke is an ischemic stroke and it occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot. The blockage may occur when a blood clot or fragment of plaque travels from another part of the body through the blood vessels into the brain and blocks the flow of blood. When blood flow is blocked, oxygen can’t reach the brain cells and they die and it causes loss of function in that part of the brain.
Warning signs of a stroke can be remembered by the acronym “FAST”.
Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
Arms – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Stroke warning signs are characterized by sudden numbness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body. Strokes are accompanied by confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, and sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Anyone who is exhibiting signs of a stroke should call 9-1-1 immediately and be brought to the nearest hospital. The sooner a person can be evaluated and treatment started, the more hope there is that the effects can be minimized, and potentially reversed.
Flushing Hospital recently was recognized by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for its Gold Plus level of participation in the “Get With The Guidelines Stroke and Target; Stroke” program. They were recognized for applying the most up-to-date evidence based treatment guidelines to improve patient care and outcomes in the community.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital, please call 718-670-5486.

Invitro Fertilization

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

On July 25, 1978 the first baby was born that had been conceived invitro. These babies were referred to as “Test Tube Babies” because they were essentially created in a laboratory in a glass tube. Invitro Fertilization is the process where the egg harvested from a female is combined with the sperm obtained from a male in a lab and in a glass tube. This was the culmination of many years of research performed by Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Dr. Robert Edwards during the 1960’s and 1970’s in England.
The invention of the microscope in the 17th century really helped scientists understand how fertilization takes place. For hundreds of years following this development, research was done on how to implant fertilize eggs artificially, but while still within the body. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 20th century that fertilization outside of the body was begun. In 1959 the first rabbit to be conceived invitro was born, followed in 1963 by a hamster and in 1972 by the birth of a mouse. The technique that really helped advance IVF was the use of laparascopic surgery. This allows the gynecologist to remove the follicles from the ovary very precisely.
It is estimated that now over 200,000 babies have been conceived using IVF. The procedure has been improved upon tremendously in the last few years. Many times this process leads to multiple eggs being fertilized and more than one baby being conceived.
To speak to a physician at Flushing Hospital about IVF and pregnancy in general please schedule an appointment by calling 718-670-5486..