National Primary Care Week

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

National Primary Care Week is celebrated from October 6^th through October 11^th. It is a time to raise awareness about family medicine and to thank the doctors, physician assistants, nurses, and healthcare teams who help keep us healthy every day.

Primary care is the first stop you make when you’re sick, require a checkup, or have any questions about your health. These are the family doctors, pediatricians, or nurse practitioners who know you best and help you to stay healthy, catch problems early, and guide you when you need more care. They don’t just treat you when you are ill; they help keep you well.

Primary care providers do more than administer shots or check blood pressure. They listen to a patient’s concerns, help manage long-term conditions such as diabetes or asthma, and refer you to specialists when needed. They also help with mental health, food and housing needs, and other factors that may affect your well-being.

Here are some ways you can participate in National Primary Care Week:

Schedule a checkup if you haven’t had one in a while
Update your health records to make sure your healthcare provider has your latest information
Thank your doctor or nurse for the care they give
Learn more about what your primary care provider can do for you
Talk to family and friends about the importance of having a primary care provider

If you would like to receive a checkup, you can receive treatment from a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

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.

How Having a Sedentary Job Contributes to a Higher Risk of Insomnia

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

According to a study published on January 7^th, 2025, by the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, people with sedentary jobs, an estimated 80% of the workforce, have a much higher risk of experiencing insomnia compared with people who are active at work. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. A sedentary job is any job that requires an employee to sit for about six hours of an eight-hour workday.

Researchers surveyed nearly 1,300 people twice over a span of ten years, inquiring about their job schedules and physical activity levels while at work. They also asked about the participants’ sleep habits, identifying three sleep health categories: good sleepers, insomnia-like sleepers, and catch-up sleepers.

Good sleepers are people who exhibit optimal sleep patterns, such as regular sleep cycles with low levels of daytime tiredness.

Insomnia-like sleepers are people who experience short sleep cycles and higher levels of daytime fatigue.

Catch-up sleepers fall between both groups and often rely on naps or extra weekend sleep to compensate for irregular sleeping patterns.

Compared to active work, sedentary work was 37% likely to lead to a variety of insomnia symptoms, such as difficulty falling asleep, interrupted sleep, and frequent daytime tiredness. The findings of the study also indicated that workers who fall into a pattern of poor sleep due to their job design (defined as elements such as the amount of technology used at work, levels of physical activity, and work schedules, and specifically the time of day when the employee works) can end up stuck in such unhealthy patterns for many years. Insomnia-like sleepers, for example, reported their symptoms persisted ten years later, at the end of the study.

Those experiencing insomnia may have the following symptoms:

Having a hard time falling asleep at night
Waking up during the night
Waking up too early
Feeling tired or sleepy during the day
Feeling cranky, depressed, or anxious
Having a hard time paying attention, focusing on tasks, or remembering
Making more errors or having more accidents
Having ongoing worries about sleep

If you are experiencing insomnia, there are several ways you can improve your sleep, including:

Taking short breaks throughout the day to move
Unplugging smartphones and computers two hours before bedtime
Using light exposure to readjust your circadian rhythms if you work a night shift

If you are experiencing symptoms of insomnia, you can learn more about our outpatient mental health services at Flushing Hospital Medical Center. To schedule a virtual appointment, please call (718) 670-5316 to speak with our intake coordinator or (718) 670-5562 to reach the clinic.

Mental Illness Awareness Week

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

October 5th-11th is observed as Mental Illness Awareness Week, with World Mental Health Day being celebrated on October 10th.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), is at the forefront of advocating for those who are struggling with their mental health. NAMI’s goals are to raise awareness of mental illnesses, fight discrimination, and provide support through Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Through NAMI’s advocacy, Congress officially established the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week, as the need to raise awareness and address mental health challenges was recognized.

Mental Illness Awareness Week has become a time when mental health advocates across the country come together as one unified voice to raise awareness, fight stigma, and support mental health.

Millions of people live with a mental illness. One in five adults in the U.S. experiences a mental health condition annually. Mental illness not only affects the person who has the illness, but it also affects everyone around them, such as their friends, family, coworkers, and others who support them.

No one should face their mental health challenges alone. To learn more about our outpatient mental health services at Flushing Hospital Medical Center or to schedule a virtual appointment, please call (718) 670-5316 to speak with our intake coordinator or (718) 670-5562 to reach the clinic.

What Are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition where the immune system reacts to gluten, a protein sometimes found in foods containing wheat, barley, and rye.

When a person has celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response to the gluten protein in the small intestines. The immune system sends inflammatory cells and antibodies to destroy the gluten molecules. Over time, this reaction can damage the lining of the small intestine, which prevents it from absorbing nutrients. This condition is called malabsorption. It can also lead to malnutrition and many other conditions that follow from the lack of different nutrients.

The symptoms of celiac disease can vary greatly. They can also be different in children and adults. Digestive symptoms for adults include:

Diarrhea
Fatigue
Weight loss
Bloating and gas
Belly pain
Nausea and vomiting
Constipation

However, more than half the adults with celiac disease have symptoms that are not related to the digestive system, including:

Anemia
Osteoporosis
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Mouth ulcers
Headaches and fatigue
Nervous system injury, including numbness, tingling in the feet and hands, as well as possible problems with balance, and cognitive impairment
Joint pain
Hyposplenism
Elevated liver enzymes

Children with celiac disease are more likely than adults to have digestive problems, including

Nausea and vomiting
Chronic diarrhea
Swollen belly
Constipation
Gas
Pale, foul-smelling stools

For children who aren’t able to absorb nutrients, it may cause:

Failure to thrive in infants
Damage to tooth enamel
Weight loss
Anemia
Irritability
Short stature
Delayed puberty
Neurological symptoms, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, headaches, lack of muscle coordination, and seizures

Celiac disease is most commonly found in people of Northern European descent. It is estimated to affect 1% of the populations of Europe and North America. A person has a 10% chance of developing the disease if they have a first-degree relative, such as a parent or child, who has it. About 97% of people diagnosed with celiac disease have a recognizable gene variant associated it with it.

A person’s genes, combined with eating foods with gluten and other factors, can contribute to celiac disease. However, the precise cause isn’t known. Sometimes celiac disease becomes active after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional distress.

Several risk factors cause celiac disease to be more common in people who have:

A family member with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis
Type 1 diabetes
Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, or Turner syndrome
Autoimmune thyroid disease
Microscopic colitis
Addison’s disease

Many people with celiac disease don’t know they have it. However, two blood tests can help diagnose it:

Serology testing
Genetic testing

It is important to be tested for celiac disease before trying a gluten-free diet. Eliminating gluten from your diet might make the results of the blood tests appear in the standard range.

The first and most important step in treating and the only way to manage celiac disease, is to stop eating gluten and adopt a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet. You can’t change the way your body reacts to gluten, but you can prevent gluten from triggering a reaction. Additional treatments may include:

Nutritional supplements
Specific medications
Corticosteroids
Continuous follow-up care

To schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist or dietitian at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486.

What Are the Healthiest Oils to Cook With?

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

When you are cooking with oil, it is important to choose the right cooking oils, as it is essential for both flavor and health.

An easy way to do this is to choose non-tropical vegetable oils to cook and prepare food. Nontropical oils are oils that come from plants that grow in temperate climates and are healthier alternatives to tropical oils, and are rich in unsaturated fats. Tropical oils are oils that come from plants that grow in warm tropical climates, such as palm oil, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil.

When you are shopping for healthy oils, choose oils with less than four grams of saturated fat per tablespoon and no partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), some common cooking oils that contain more of the “better for you” fats and less saturated fat include:

Canola oil
Corn oil
Olive oil
Peanut oil
Safflower oil
Soybean oil
Sunflower oil
Vegetable oil

Blends or combinations of these oils, which are often labeled “vegetable oil”, and cooking sprays made from these oils are also good choices.

Some oils have distinctive flavors, so it is important to try different types to determine which oils you prefer. Additionally, some oils are better for certain types of cooking than others, so you may want to have more than one type of oil in your pantry.

Some ways you can use healthy oils include:

Making your own salad dressings, marinades, dips, and sauces
Grilling, sautéing, baking, or roasting foods
Coating pans to keep food from sticking
Lightly drizzling them on foods for flavor
“Seasoning” cast-iron cookware
Substituting oil for butter, stick margarine, or solid fats

Here are some tips for cooking with healthy oils:

If your oil starts to smoke or catch fire, don’t use it. Oil starts to degrade once it reaches its smoking point
If the oil smells bad, don’t use it and throw it away. When oil is stored for too long, it can become oxidized or rancid, and it has a distinct smell
Do not reuse or reheat any cooking oil
Buy oil in smaller containers if you don’t use it frequently. This will allow you to use it before it expires
Store your healthy oils in a dark, cool place

If you would like to learn more about Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s nutritional services, you can visit the Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Stomatitis

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Stomatitis, or oral mucositis, is inflammation in the mucous membranes, or mucosa, that line the mouth or lips. The most common types are cold sores and canker sores.

Other less common types of stomatitis include:

Angular cheilitis
Thrush
Contact stomatitis
Denture stomatitis
Gingivostomatitis
Nicotine stomatitis

Stomatitis can have many causes, including:

Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections
Mouth injuries
Allergic reactions or mouth irritation
Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy
Certain medications
Systemic conditions such as Bechet’s disease and celiac disease
Skin conditions such as Bullous pemphigoid and lichen planus
Nutritional deficiencies

Signs and symptoms of stomatitis include:

Redness and swelling inside the mouth
A tiny blister, or cluster of blisters, that appears on or around the lips
One or more sores inside the mouth that are usually white, gray, or yellow, with a red border
White or gray patches on the tongue, the roof of the mouth, or inside the cheeks
The sensation that the tongue and the roof of the mouth are burning
Mild to severe pain or discomfort that may make it difficult to eat, swallow, or talk

Many factors put you more at risk of developing stomatitis, such as:

Not regularly cleaning your teeth
Having dry mouth

Stomatitis can cause various complications. The pain and swelling that stomatitis causes can be so severe that it hurts to eat or drink. This can cause someone to skip meals. However, not getting the nutrients or fluids you need can pose serious health risks such as malnutrition and dehydration.

Although infections can cause stomatitis, they can also cause another complication that can make you more vulnerable to germs, which can trigger more inflammation and tissue damage when you have an injured mucosa.

To diagnose stomatitis, a healthcare provider may look for visible signs of more recognizable types of stomatitis, such as canker sores and cold sores, just by looking at them. Reviewing your symptoms and medical history can help as well. For instance, if you are receiving cancer treatment, your doctor may conclude that your oral stomatitis is a side effect of treatment.

You may also need tests to diagnose stomatitis, such as:

Tests to check for viruses, bacteria, and fungi
Blood tests to check your overall health or for signs of systemic diseases
Allergy tests to check for allergens causing stomatitis
A biopsy to check for unusual cells that may be signs of a more serious condition

The treatment for stomatitis depends on what is causing it. The only way to cure stomatitis is to treat or manage the issue that is creating the problems. Treatments can include:

Over-the-counter medications for canker sores and cold sores
Prescription medications for infections such as antivirals, antibiotics, and antifungals.
Vitamins or supplements that give you the nutrients you need
Staying away from foods or products that trigger inflammation
Practicing good oral hygiene to keep your mouth free of harmful bacteria while your mouth heals

All causes of stomatitis can’t be prevented. However, you can reduce your risk of developing it by doing the following:

Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and getting regular dental cleanings
Eating balanced meals and drinking enough water daily
Choosing not to smoke or use tobacco, or quitting if you do
Avoiding sharing foods, drinks, or lip balm, and intimate contact with someone with a cold sore

If you’re experiencing symptoms of stomatitis, it is important to visit a dentist to ensure you’re receiving the most effective treatment possible. To schedule an appointment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Dental Medicine, please call (718) 670-5521.

How Making Lifestyle Changes Can Reduce the Risk of Chronic Diseases

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases, also known as non-communicable diseases, are conditions that tend to have a long duration and result from a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors.

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. These diseases include:

Cancers
Cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks and strokes
Chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma
Diabetes

A person’s lifestyle and daily habits can increase their risk of developing a chronic disease. About 80% of chronic diseases are driven by a person’s daily habits. These include:

Tobacco use, including the effects of exposure to second-hand smoke
Unhealthy diets, including excess salt, sugar, and fats
Excessive alcohol use
Insufficient physical activity

These habits can contribute to metabolic changes that can increase a person’s risk of chronic disease, including:

Hypertension
Obesity
Diabetes
High cholesterol

Making the following lifestyle changes is one of the best ways to address harmful habits and help prevent chronic diseases.

Dietary changes include eating whole, unrefined, and minimally processed plants. Eating plant-based foods can help reduce diabetes, heart disease, and the risk of cancer
Increasing physical activity by engaging in a recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week
Getting a good, restful night’s sleep of about seven to nine hours. This can be achieved by:
- Having a consistent bedtime and waking up on time, even on weekends
- Being physically active
- Limiting alcohol and caffeine
- Putting digital devices away 90 minutes before bedtime
- Keeping your sleeping area cool, dark, and comfortable
Reducing stress by practicing mindfulness, meditation, and gratitude can help relieve stress and improve your physical and mental health.
Staying socially connected with friends and family can help keep you emotionally and physically healthy.
Quitting smoking, or never starting, lowers the risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease, cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and lung disease, as well as premature death
Limiting alcohol use can reduce health risks that excessive drinking can lead to, such as high blood pressure, various cancers, heart disease, stroke, and liver disease

By avoiding these risks and getting good preventive care, you can improve your chance of staying well, feeling good, and living longer.

For more information on how you can make lifestyle changes, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.

Caring for a Loved One with Bipolar Disorder

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental condition that causes intense shifts in mood, energy levels, and behavior. These shifts can last for hours, days, weeks, or months and can interrupt a person’s ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

Many people with bipolar disorder experience both manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes. These changing mood states don’t always follow a set pattern, and depression doesn’t always follow manic phases. A person may also experience the same mood state several times, with periods of a state of mental tranquility and stability that’s free of mood disturbances, called euthymia, in between, before experiencing the opposite mood.

Mood changes in bipolar disorder can happen over weeks, months, and sometimes years. An important aspect of mood changes is that they are a departure from a person’s regular self and that the mood change is sustained for a long time. It can be several days or weeks in the case of mania and several weeks or months in the case of depression.

The severity of the depression and manic phases can differ from person to person and in the same person at different times. Some people with bipolar disorder will have episodes of mania or hypomania many times throughout their lives, while others may rarely experience them. Signs and symptoms of a manic episode include:

Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement
Sudden and severe changes in mood, such as going from joyful to angry and hostile
Restlessness
Rapid speech and racing thoughts
Increased energy and less need for sleep
Increased impulsivity and poor judgment
Making grand and unattainable plans
Reckless and risk-taking behavior, such as drug and alcohol misuse
Psychosis, such as experiencing hallucinations and delusions (in the most severe manic episodes)

Most of the time, people experiencing a manic episode are unaware of the negative consequences of their actions. If a person is having an intense manic episode, especially if they’re experiencing hallucinations and delusions, they may need to be hospitalized to protect themselves and others from harm. With bipolar disorder, suicide is an ever-present dancer, with some people becoming suicidal in manic episodes, not just in depressive ones.

Some people with bipolar disorder can have milder manic-like symptoms called hypomania. When experiencing hypomania, they may feel great and feel like they can get a lot done. They may feel like nothing is wrong during an episode; however, family and friends may notice their mood swings and activity level changes and think they’re unusual for them.

After a hypomanic episode, a person might experience severe depression. The symptoms of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder are the same as those of major depression, including:

Overwhelming sadness
Low energy and fatigue
Lack of motivation
Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
Loss of enjoyment of things that were once pleasurable for you
Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
Uncontrollable crying
Irritability
Increased need for sleep
Insomnia or hypersomnia
A change in appetite that causes weight loss or gain
Thoughts of death or suicide

When caring for a loved one with bipolar disorder, it is important to be patient and understanding, and offer them stability, consistency, and practical help through mood shifts.

There are several ways you can help a loved one through a manic episode. They include:

Creating a calm environment
Spending quality time together
Having honest conversations
Preparing easy-to-eat meals
Encouraging them to rest
Setting limits on their risky behavior
Involving a mental health professional if necessary
Encouraging medication adherence

There are several ways you can help a loved one through a depressive episode. They include:

Listening to and communicating with them
Encouraging small steps in self-care
Reducing external stressors
Suggesting low-energy activities for them to participate in
Monitoring them for any signs of crisis
Encouraging them to seek professional care

Caring for a loved one with bipolar disorder can be stressful and challenging. However, it is important that before you take care of anyone else, you should take care of yourself. You can do this by setting boundaries, not taking things personally, finding support for yourself, such as through friends, family, mental health professionals, or a support group, seeking family therapy, and practicing self-care.

Call, text, or chat 988 to speak to a trained crisis counselor offering support 24/7/365. And to learn more about our outpatient mental health services at Flushing Hospital Medical Center or to schedule a virtual appointment, please call (718) 670-5316 to speak with our intake coordinator or (718) 670-5562 to reach the clinic.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging early detection, supporting those facing prostate cancer, and funding research for better outcomes.

Prostate cancer is a cancer that develops in the prostate. It starts when cells in the prostate develop changes in their DNA.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancers that affect men. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the United States.

Each year, approximately 299,010 men will be diagnosed with the disease, which means that one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.

Certain groups face a higher risk of prostate cancer, including:

Men over the age of 50
Black men
Men with a family history of prostate cancer
Men who have been exposed to certain chemicals
Military veterans

One of the challenges of prostate cancer is that the early stages of the disease usually have no symptoms. Signs and symptoms of early-stage prostate cancer include:

Blood in the urine, which makes it look pink, red, or cola-colored
Blood in the semen
Needing to urinate more often
Trouble getting started when trying to urinate
Waking up to urinate more often at night

Unfortunately, by the time a man may notice changes, the cancer may already be advanced. Signs and symptoms of advanced prostate cancer include:

Accidental leaking of urine
Back pain
Bone pain
Erectile dysfunction
Fatigue
Losing weight without trying
Weakness in the arms or legs

To diagnose prostate cancer, a healthcare provider may use a physical exam and screening tests to show whether you have signs of the disease that require more testing. These tests include:

A digital rectal exam
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test
An MRI or transrectal ultrasound
A biopsy of the prostate

Treatment for prostate cancer depends on multiple factors, such as your overall condition, whether the cancer has spread, and how fast it is spreading. Most prostate cancers diagnosed in the early stages can be cured with treatment. If your cancer is slow-growing and hasn’t spread, your healthcare provider may monitor it instead of treating it right away. Your healthcare provider will monitor your cancer by using active surveillance.

Surgery as a treatment for prostate cancer most often involves removing the prostate with a surgical procedure called prostatectomy. There are three ways a prostatectomy can be performed. They include:

Laparoscopic prostatectomy
Robotic prostatectomy
Open prostatectomy

Additional treatments for prostate cancer include:

Radiation therapy
- External beam
- Brachytherapy
Ablation therapy
- Cryoblation
- High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
Hormone therapy
Chemotherapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy
Radiopharmaceutical treatments

To schedule an appointment with an oncologist at our MediSys Health Network Cancer Center, or to learn more about our cancer care program, please call (718) 206-6742.

How Many Steps Do You Need to Walk Every Day to Be Healthy?

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Ten thousand steps per day is a commonly cited goal when it comes to improving your health. However, factors such as age, sex, and occupation may influence the best step count for you.

Researchers examined how the number of steps people take affected their risk for disease and their lifespan. They found that 10,000 steps per day doesn’t always mean people are healthier. Additionally, there is a point at which the number of steps taken per day levels off when it comes to improving health.

For adults younger than 60 years of age, 8,000 and 10,000 steps per day were associated with a decreased risk of death.

For adults older than 60 years of age, 6,000 to 8,000 steps per day achieved a lower risk of mortality.

Researchers also found that people who lose more than 10% of their body weight over 18 months walk approximately 10,000 steps a day. At least 3,500 of those steps were at least of moderate-to-vigorous intensity in short, 10-minute bursts.

Walking is excellent for the heart, as it can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and help prevent a cardiovascular event such as a stroke or heart failure.

The American Heart Association reports that older adults who take 4,500 steps per day have a 77% lower risk of having an adverse cardiovascular event than people who take fewer than 2,000 steps. Each time you add 500 steps to your daily average, you incrementally lower your risk by 14%. However, this benefit can plateau between 6,000 and 8,000 steps.

Walking can have many health benefits for your mind, as it can help preserve your cognitive function. The more steps you take each day, the more your risk of developing dementia. Once you hit 9,800 steps per day, that benefit can plateau. However, you can begin seeing significant benefits at just 3,800 steps daily, and getting that many steps consistently may lower your risk of dementia by 50% over time.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), walking at least 30 minutes per day, five days a week, can significantly lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Whether you walk it all at once or you split it into smaller walks doesn’t matter. Exercises such as walking increase insulin sensitivity and help lower your blood sugar.

A short burst of 10 minutes of brisk walking can increase your energy, mood, and mental alertness. You can also use walking to significantly lower your risk of depression.

According to the American Psychological Association, people who walk at a moderate pace for 75 minutes weekly have an 18% lower depression risk than people who don’t get any physical activity. Walking for 120 minutes weekly can lower your risk by 25%.

Walking greatly benefits your overall health. It doesn’t matter if you do most of your walking during the day, at night, during the week, or on the weekends. You are still helping your health.

It is recommended that you consult your doctor before starting or adding new exercises to your routine. You can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.