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.

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.

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..

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

The month of May has been designated as “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Spring is the beginning of the peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers. Asthma affects approximately 24.5 million Americans, 6.3 million of them are under the age of 18. More than 50 million people in the United States have some type of allergy and that number is increasing every year.
If a person knows that they have asthma, it is suggested that they avoid things that can trigger an attack. Triggers are anything that the body is sensitive to that causes the airways to become inflamed.
Common triggers are:
• Pollen
• Changes in weather
• Dust
• Stress
• Exercise
• Chemicals
Symptoms of asthma are shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. There is no cure for asthma however there are medications that can help to keep it controlled.
Allergies are a very common chronic illness that lasts a long time or occurs frequently. Allergies occur when the body comes in to contact with a substance that causes the immune system to overreact.
Some of the more common substances people are allergic to are:
• Food
• Insect bites
• Latex
• Mold
• Pets
• Pollen
• Medications
Symptoms of allergies may include watery eyes, sneezing, itchiness, rash, hives and difficulty breathing. Severe cases can lead to anaphylactic shock which is potentially life threatening due to a lowering of the blood pressure and a dilation of the blood vessels, if not treated quickly.
Doctors can perform tests to see how you respond to small amounts of allergens. There are ways to treat allergies, the best method though is to avoid things that you know will cause a reaction in the first place. There are medications available to control allergic reactions and doctors can give injections that act to train the immune system to not overreact to these substances.
To schedule an appointment at Flushing Hospital with a physician to discuss controlling asthma and allergies, please call 718-670-5486.

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National Asthma and Allergy Month

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

The month of May has been designated as “National Asthma and Allergy Month by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Spring is the beginning of the peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers. Asthma affects over 25 million Americans, 6.3 million of them are under the age of 18. More than 50 million people in the United States have some type of allergy and that number is increasing every year.
If a person knows that they have asthma, it is suggested that they avoid things that can trigger an attack. Triggers are anything that the body is sensitive to that causes the airways to become inflamed.
Common triggers are:
• Pollen
• Changes in weather
• Dust
• Stress
• Exercise
• Chemicals
Symptoms of asthma are shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. There is no cure for asthma however there are medications that can help to keep it controlled.
Allergies are a very common chronic illness that lasts a long time or occurs frequently. Allergies occur when the body comes in to contact with a substance that causes the immune system to overreact.
Some of the more common substances people are allergic to are:
• Food
• Insect bites
• Latex
• Mold
• Pets
• Pollen
• Medications
Symptoms of allergies may include watery eyes, sneezing, itchiness, rash, hives and difficulty breathing. Severe cases can lead to anaphylactic shock which is potentially life threatening due to a lowering of the blood pressure and a dilation of the blood vessels, if not treated quickly.
Doctors can perform tests to see how you respond to small amounts of allergens. There are ways to treat allergies, the best method though is to avoid things that you know will cause a reaction in the first place. There are medications available to control allergic reactions and doctors can give injections that act to train the immune system to not overreact to these substances.
To schedule an appointment at Flushing Hospital with a physician to discuss controlling asthma and allergies, please call 718-670-5486

Young girl in autumn park blowing nose. Standing in park in warm clothing.

Hand Hygiene day

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

Since 2005, the World Health Organization has been leading a global effort to improve hand hygiene in order to reduce infections among healthcare workers and the patients that they care for. This initiative is recognized on May 5th every year throughout the world.
Proper hand hygiene is very important in keeping germs from spreading from person to person. Hands should be washed:
• Before, during and after preparing food
• Before eating
• Before and after taking care of a person who is ill
• Before treating a wound
• After using the bathroom
• After sneezing, coughing or wiping a runny nose
• After taking out the garbage
• Before coming in to contact with a baby
• After touching pets
Usually warm water and soap are sufficient to clean your hands. If the cleanliness of the water is questionable, a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol can be used, keeping in mind that it may not remove all chemicals from the skin and doesn’t kill all types of germs.
There is no exact amount of time that hand washing should take but a good rule of thumb is about 20 seconds or about the same amount of time that it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song.

Smoking Cessation and Weight Gain

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

One of the reasons that people don’t want to stop smoking is because they are worried about gaining weight. Smoking increases the rate of metabolism so when a person quits, their metabolism slows and they tend to eat a little bit more than they did when they were still smoking. As a result, people will typically gain four to 10 pounds when they quit. When you snack between meals, over the course of time, you can slowly be adding on the pounds. Nicotine is an appetite suppressant, so it reduces these cravings. Smoking also makes people feel good, so that is another reason that people will eat sweet foods such as cookies and cake to replace cigarettes.

If you find yourself craving something sweet to eat, there are healthy alternatives:

Fruits and vegetables
Fat free or low fat snacks
Sugar free candies

Drinking plenty of water and brushing your teeth frequently throughout the day will keep your breath fresh and will take away the urge to smoke.

Try finding alternate activities that will keep you busy so that you won’t have the desire to reach for a cigarette. It might be helpful to go to a movie theater, take a long walk, use the stairs instead of an elevator when possible, read a book and spend time with people who are supportive and who don’t smoke.

Smoking is a leading factor in heart disease, cancer, stroke, and many other illnesses. Speak to your physician to learn about ways to quit and how to manage the changes your body will experience. If you would like to speak with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486 to schedule an appointment.