What Are Mosquitoes Attracted To ?

Posted on July 29, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

Have you noticed that some people get mosquito bites more often than others? There are several factors that may explain why they are more attractive to mosquitoes. They include:

Blood type – people who are Type O and Type B
Sweat – contains lactic acid, uric acid and ammonia
Color of clothing – dark colors as well as red are more attractive
Pregnancy – because of higher output of exhaled carbon dioxide and higher body temperature
Heavy breathing – mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide emitted in exhaled air
Skin bacteria – certain areas of the body have more dense bacteria such as the feet and ankles

There are some aspects that we cannot change. The ones that we can change are

wearing long sleeve garments and long pants when going outdoors, wearing Environmental Protection Agency approved insect repellants, and wearing light colored clothing.

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.

The Effects of Summer on People With Asthma

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

It is a fact that breathing difficulties associated with asthma can be made worse due to hot weather. One possible cause of this is due to the hot, humid air irritating the airways and causing inflammation which will lead to symptoms of an asthma attack. Another reason is that hot and humid air is heavier and therefore a person may have to struggle to breathe.

Some people with asthma experience more frequent problems with their breathing during the summer due to seasonal allergens and other fine particles that are in the air that can cause existing respiratory conditions to worsen, especially in the very young and elderly.

Additional environmental factors that affect the respiratory system are:

• Higher levels of carbon dioxide and higher temperature can lead to more spores and mold in the air.
• Higher temperatures can lead to more greenhouse gases being produced.
• Environmental production of pollutants from vehicles and factories become trapped in the atmosphere.

These environmental conditions can cause chest pain, wheezing, and coughing, and reduced lung function for those who suffer with asthma.

To help avoid asthma attacks in hot weather it is recommended to:

• Stay indoors as much as possible in an air conditioned environment
• Avoid strenuous activity
• Keep hydrated
• Try to limit being outdoors during the hottest time of day

To schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center who can help treat breathing difficulties, please call 718-670-5486.

Employee Spotlight Shines On Ivy Gosine, RN

Posted on June 30, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Ivy Gosine RN, the Clinical Nurse Manager for the Mother/Baby and Labor & Delivery Unit at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Ivy has been at Flushing Hospital for ten years. She is a native of Queens, having grown up in the Corona and Briarwood communities of the borough. She attended elementary school at P.S. 143 and is a graduate of Flushing High School. Ivy attended the CUNY Graduate Center and graduated with a degree in Psychology of Women and Children. She then went on to obtain her RN degree.

Ivy currently lives on Long Island in Suffolk County. She has two children, a son who is in high school and a daughter who will attend middle school in the fall. She also has a three-year-old Goldendoodle named Kobe. Family is very important to Ivy and spending time with them is a priority.

In her free time Ivy enjoys gardening, cooking, entertaining at home and also likes watching sports. Whether cooking at home or when she goes out, she enjoys all types of cuisine. Her taste in music varies and ranges from classical, to soca, including whatever is new and exciting today.

Ivy enjoys traveling to places in the Caribbean that have warm weather and beautiful beaches. One of her favorite places to go on vacation is to the island of Aruba.

Working at Flushing Hospital has been a great learning experience for Ivy. Everyone at the hospital is very supportive of one another. She enjoys being able to educate patients on how to care for themselves and their newborns during their stay. She also takes great pride in the fact that the hospital serves such a diverse community.

We are very proud of the contributions Ivy makes to Flushing Hospital and we look forward to her continuing on with us for many more years.

June is Cataract Awareness Month

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

June is recognized as Cataract Awareness Month. The purpose of this recognition is to bring attention to an eye condition, which is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 30 million people in the United States today have cataracts and that by the year 2032 this number will grow to 39 million.

A cataract occurs when the lens of either one or both eyes become cloudy. The symptoms include blurry vision, faded vision, or a halo effect around lights.

The most commonly used technique to correct a cataract is the surgical removal of the affected lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.

If you are experiencing vision problems, you should schedule an appointment with an eye doctor as soon as possible. You may schedule an appointment with an eye doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center by calling 718-670-5486.

Asthma and Allergies

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

The most common form of asthma is caused by an allergic reaction. More than fifty percent of people who suffer from asthma have this type of disease. Asthma is an airway obstruction caused by inflammation and is a reaction that people have when they are exposed to substances that they are allergic to. Some of the offending substances are pet dander, pollen, dust mites, mold, and some foods. An asthma attack has three components:

• The bands of muscles surrounding the airways in the lungs tighten. This is called bronchospasm.

• The lining of the airways becomes inflamed and swollen.

• There is an increase in mucous production in the lining of the airway.

All of these factors make it harder for air to pass through the lungs, and breathing becomes difficult.

Treatment for allergy-induced asthma requires testing to see what a person is allergic to. Once these allergens have been identified the patient will be advised to avoid them. There is no cure for asthma but, there are several medications available that can help control it. Antihistamines are often administered, which help reduce the allergic reaction.

A physician may prescribe corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation of the airway and make breathing easier. Some medications are given for immediate relief of symptoms. Such as bronchodilators which are inhaled as needed to help to relax the airways.

Other medications are used for long-term control of symptoms and are taken on a daily basis. Speak to your physician if you experience difficulty breathing after coming in contact with certain substances. There are different treatment options available and you want to learn about the one that will be best for you. You can also schedule an appointment with a pulmonologist at Flushing Hospital by calling 718-670-5486.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Pedro Degante

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

This month we are proud to shine our employee spotlight on Pedro Degante, mailroom coordinator. Pedro has been working at Flushing Hospital Medical Center for 13 years and is a very familiar face around the hospital.

Pedro is a native of Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in the Williamsburgh section of the borough and currently resides in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood. He attended Eastern District High School. and Washington Irving High School. Pedro then went on to attend the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

In his free time, Pedro likes to ride his bicycle around the city, especially on the West Side Highway in Manhattan. He enjoys listening to different types of music, especially dance music. He also enjoys going to the beach at Coney Island in nice weather. Pedro enjoys all types of food, his favorite dishes are shrimp parmigiana and lobster. His family is very important to him and he enjoys visiting his relatives that live in North Carolina. Baseball and basketball are the two sports that he enjoys playing when he gets the opportunity.

Pedro likes working at Flushing Hospital because the people are all supportive of one another. It is a great place to come to every day. We are very happy to have Pedro as a member of our team and we look forward to him working with us for many more years.

May is National Osteoporosis Awareness Month

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens the bones, making them more susceptible to breaking. Approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 44 million have an increased risk due to poor bone density. In fact, one in two women over 50 years of age will develop osteoporosis and one in four men will too.

To raise awareness about this disease, May has been designated as National Osteoporosis Month by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF).

According to the BHOF, one of the ways to combat osteoporosis is through bone-strengthening exercise. Additional diet and lifestyle recommendations for maintaining bone strength are:

Getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D in your diet
Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption

To schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center to discuss osteoporosis, please call 718-670-5486.

World Hand Hygiene Day 2022

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

May 5^th has been designated as World Hand Hygiene Day by the World Health Organization (WHO). The slogan for this year’s campaign is “Unite for safety: clean your hands.” This year’s theme focuses on recognizing that we can all contribute to healthcare facility’s culture of safety and quality by cleaning our hands.

Practicing good hand hygiene helps with infection prevention and control. This is why the WHO is encouraging people to clean their hands at the right time and with the right products. Furthermore, healthcare workers at all levels and all others who visit healthcare facilities must unite by cleaning their hands, not just on World Hand Hygiene Day, but every day.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Joy Batoon

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

This month we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Joy Batoon, a medical technologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Joy has been employed at Flushing Hospital for 13 years and prior to that worked at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center from 1992 until 2008.

She was born in Cebu, Philippines where she attended elementary through high school at Saint Catherine’s. Joy then attended Southwestern University where she obtained a bachelors of science degree in medical technology. Prior to moving to New York in 1992, Joy lived for a few years beginning in 1977 in Honolulu. She has a daughter Jowin and a 16-year-old cat named JoJo that she has had since it was a kitten.

Joy has a third degree blackbelt in Taekwondo and in her free time volunteers as a teacher of Taekwondo. She also enjoys horseback riding, rock climbing, indoor skydiving and attending rock concerts. Her favorite place to travel to is Hawaii, and she has also enjoyed vacations to Aruba, Austin Texas, and Los Angeles. Joy enjoys many different types of food, especially Filipino. She also enjoys Indian, Jamaican, Italian and Ukrainian food.

Joy states her colleagues have become like family to her. They are all very supportive of one another. We look forward to her continuing to work at Flushing Hospital for many more years.

What to Expect in Couples Counseling

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

One or both people involved in an intimate relationship may feel as though communication is lacking, their emotional or physical needs are not being met or may feel that there is no longer a real connection with their partner.

Typically, one of the people in a couple will feel the need to get help for their relationship and will act on it first. However, bringing up this topic with the other person is often very difficult, it can provoke feelings of anxiety, and be met with hesitation or even resistance at first. Here are a few tips to help with having that conversation:

Gently approach the topic of going to therapy
Speak with love, understanding, and compassion
Inform them that therapy is not to place blame or pick sides
Focus on the benefits of therapy
Give your partner time to consider all options

What should you expect to happen in couples counseling? The purpose of couples counseling is to help partners communicate issues, express their emotions, resolve conflicts, or improve intimacy with the guidance of a licensed therapist. Couples therapy typically includes individual sessions to learn about each person, and meetings together as a couple.

The focus of couples counseling includes improving:

Communication skills
Stress management
Selflessness
Honesty and Trust
Forgiveness and Patience

Couples therapy often involves giving homework to partners to work on between sessions. This may involve keeping a log of what they are feeling.

To make couples therapy successful both partners should go in with an open mind, agree to disagree about certain issues, and both should be active participants in the therapy process.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers outpatient counseling. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 718-670-5316.