Holiday Exercise Tips

Posted on December 8, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

During the holiday season, many people fail to keep up with their exercise routines. Here are some helpful suggestions on how to get some exercise in during this busy time of year:

Set goals of what exercises you can realistically do during the day
Plan your workout time in advance so as to not interfere with your other activities
Condense your workout into a time frame that you will be able to maintain
March in place for five to 10 minutes
Do 10 to 20 repetitions of upper and then lower body exercises
Jump rope, which gives you a good cardio workout
Use resistance bands and tubes for strength exercises
Take the stairs instead of an elevator when you are out shopping
Exercise with a friend or family member
Walk as much as you can
Wear a fitness tracker

Keep in mind that even a little exercise is better than none. Always consult with your physician before starting a new exercise routine to make sure that it is safe for you.

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.

November is National Family Caregivers Month

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

November is National Family Caregivers Month. The observance was created by the Caregiver Action Network as an initiative to honor family caregivers across the United States.

Taking care of a loved one with a serious illness can be physically and mentally challenging. Many family caregivers often experience sleep deprivation, poor eating habits, stress, anxiety or depression; all of which can take a toll on their health.

As a family caregiver, it is important to keep in mind that taking care of your own health is equally as important as caring for the health of loved ones. You need to be at your best in order to take good care of others.

Here are a few tips to help you take care of yourself while caring for loved ones:

Recognize when you are stressed-Paying attention to early signs of stress can you help to identify stressors and put a plan into action to diminish or reduce their effects.
Make time for yourself- It is important to take breaks to avoid burnout and help you re-energize.
Take care of your health-Neglecting your health can lead to medical complications. It is important that you eat healthy, exercise and keep up with routine doctor visits.
Ask for help- Caring for a loved one can be overwhelming; feeling alone and overwhelmed can lead to depression or anxiety. It is important that you do not isolate yourself and seek the support of a group or individual that can help you navigate challenges.

Being a caregiver often requires a 24/7 commitment. While this level of dedication can be difficult, there are many resources available to alleviate some of the challenges. The Caregiver Action Network provides helpful tools to help you overcome obstacles you may encounter. Please visit caregiveraction.org for more information.

A Delicious Recipe for Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

Big orange pumpkins are most frequently associated with the Fall season. They can be decorated for display purposes and they can also be used in many recipes. Here is a recipe from The Pioneer Woman magazine for pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls that you will definitely enjoy. https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11247/pumpkin-cinnamon-rolls/

November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Posted on November 2, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated the month of November as National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. This designation serves to bring awareness of the disease to the general public.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that is not a normal part of aging. At the current time, more than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and it is estimated that by the year 2060 this number is estimated to exceed 14 million people. There is no cure for the disease but there are treatments being studied.

If you think that you or a person you know may be experiencing memory loss that could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, speak to your physician about a screening exam. To schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486.

Spiced Applesauce Bread

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

Fall has arrived and we would like to share a recipe from allrecipes using applesauce as one of the ingredients. It is easy to make and everyone will enjoy it. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17683/spiced-applesauce-bread/

What is Chronic Inflammation ?

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

Inflammation is one of the body’s way of healing itself. It is the immune system’s response to an internal or external irritant.

Inflammation can be acute, meaning short-lived or it can be chronic (long lasting).

Chronic inflammation can last for weeks, months or even years, leading to damage of healthy cells, tissues and organs. Eventually in some cases this can result in internal connective tissue scarring, DNA damage and even tissue death. Chronic inflammation is linked to the development of asthma, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms of chronic inflammation include: body pain, anxiety, weight loss or gain, anxiety, gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea or constipation) and general fatigue.

Factors that can contribute to chronic inflammation include:

Long-term stress
Alcohol abuse
Obesity
Smoking
Lack of sleep
Exposure to chemical irritants
Autoinflammatory disease
Acute inflammation that worsens

One way to diagnose chronic inflammation is through a blood test for C-reactive protein (CRP) which shows up when there is inflammation in the body or high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) which shows inflammation of the heart.

Treatment of chronic Inflammation can be achieved with:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
Steroids
Dietary supplements (fish oil and lipoic acid)
Weight loss
Exercise
Stress reduction

Some foods can have an affect on chronic inflammation. Tomatoes, salmon, sardines, olive oil and nuts can help reduce chronic inflammation while fried foods, hot dogs, sausages, highly processed foods like white bread and pastries can make it worse.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of chronic inflammation, consult with your physician to see what treatment options may be helpful to you. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486.

A Fall Recipe for Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

Today is the first day of Fall and a perfect time to prepare a delicious creamy French onion and mushroom soup to welcome in the season. Here is a recipe from halfbakedharvest.com to enjoy. https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/creamy-french-onion-and-mushroom-soup/

Who is Eligible for the Second Covid-19 Booster ?

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

Covid-19 vaccines remain highly effective in preventing severe disease and hospitalizations. However, it is believed that the effectiveness of a Covid-19 vaccine tends to decrease over time. A booster is recommended to help maintain a strong level of protection against the virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a person’s age and medical history are used to determine how many vaccines and boosters are appropriate.

For the most up-to-date CDC recommendations on Covid-19 vaccines and boosters, follow this link to the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html#recommendations

The CDC recommends all who are eligible to get the booster. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Carmen Nunez

Posted on August 24, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

This month we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Carmen Nunez, Dietary AM Server.

Carmen has been at Flushing Hospital Medical Center for 20 years. She grew up on Delancey Street in Manhattan before moving to Laurelton Queens where she currently resides.

Carmen attended P.S. 20 in Manhattan, and graduated from Seward Park High School, also in Manhattan, in 1989. She has two children, a 29 year old son and a 21 year old daughter. She also has a 1 year old grandson.

In her free time Carmen enjoys going to concerts, movies, shopping, museums, spending time with family and friends. In the nice weather she likes going to the beach and also riding her bicycle with her daughter. Carmen likes to travel and some of the places she has been to are Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Florida. She enjoys different types of food, especially Mexican, Italian and sushi. Carmen likes different types of music, especially salsa, merengue, and R&B.

Carmen is a very caring person who strives to make people’s lives better. She is known for having a friendly face and tries hard to make others smile. She believes in treating people with kindness at all times. The most important things in her life are her family, her friends and her faith.

Carmen enjoys working at Flushing Hospital because of all the nice people she works with. People take their jobs seriously and they all work together to make sure that our patients have a good experience. We look forward to having Carmen work with us for many more years to come.

The History of Sunscreen

Posted on August 3, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

The use of sunscreen is highly promoted and protecting our skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays has become a major concern as we learn more about the damages it causes.

Today we are able to choose from many brands that offer the level of protection we need- but did you know the concept of sunscreen is nothing new? In fact, sunscreen was used by ancient Egyptians.

The Egyptians were known to use rice bran extracts, jasmine and lupine extracts as a sunscreen because they realized these ingredients had the ability to absorb the sun’s very strong rays. These chemicals are still used today in some of the modern sunscreen products.

Modern sunscreen products really started to become popular in the 1930’s. A South Australian chemist, HA Milton Blake created a sunburn cream that had some limited success. This was followed by the introduction in 1936 by the L’Oreal Company of a sunscreen product that was very effective at providing protection from the sun’s rays. In 1938 a chemist by the name of Franz Greiter developed a cream called Glacier Cream that provided added protection. He is also credited for identifying the sun protection factor (SPF) that became a standard measurement of sunscreen effectiveness.
In 1944 an American pharmacist patented a sunscreen product that eventually would become Coppertone.

Later developments in this field produced products that would protect the skin from the UVA and UVB rays from the sun. Manufacturing sunscreen is a multi-billion dollar industry that continues to evolve. With more and more literature being published about the sun’s harmful effects on the skin, people will always be looking for better ways to stay protected as too much exposure can lead to skin cancer and other dermatologic conditions.