The Benefits of Tai Chi

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that has been practiced for thousands of years. This low-impact, mind-body exercise combines breath control, meditation, and movements that stretch and strengthen muscles.

The practice of tai chi involves meditation and fluid movements in conjunction with deep breathing that focuses on the area just below your navel. Tai chi theory believes that this area is the body’s storage point for energy, or chi. Tai chi can be gentle or vigorous, depending on the style you practice (there are several different types).Tai chi can be done either in class or at home once you learn the postures, but group sessions are usually preferred.

Some health benefits of tai chi include:

. Improved balance and coordination

. More flexibility

. Increased muscle strength

. Better stamina

Tai chi also helps relieve stress and can even ease chronic lower back pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and tension headaches.

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.

Healthy Whole Wheat Pumpkin Beer Bread

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Sage Robinson

October conjures up images of falling leaves, Halloween and fall cuisine. Try this healthy, light whole wheat pumpkin beer bread courtesy of SheKnows.

Yields: 8 slices

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2-3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons white sugar
12 ounces beer (I used Sam Adams Oktoberfest)
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons melted margarine (*optional)
Cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan with cooking spray.
Combine flours, baking powder, salt, pumpkin pie spice and sugars. Gradually add the beer and canned pumpkin. Mix until fully combined. Add additional pumpkin pie spice for flavor.
Pour mixture into the loaf pan and then pour melted margarine over it.
Bake for 50-60 minutes until loaf is fully cooked (a toothpick comes out clean when inserted).

Skin Changes During Pregnancy: What to Expect

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Flushing Hospital

470822057 pregnant woman During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes a complete transformation. Many of these changes are due to hormonal shifts and altered blood flow. Women may experience several changes in their skin.

Often, changes in pigmentation are among the most pronounced skin changes during pregnancy. Dark patches may begin to appear on a woman’s face, particularly along the cheekbone, forehead, nose, chin, and upper lip. This is known a chloasma, or the mask of pregnancy. This occurs because estrogen and other hormones stimulate glands that produce more pigment, but since the pigment is not produced evenly, it results in a blotchy look. While chloasma is not preventable, the effects can be minimized by avoiding exposure to the sun or using sunblock.

Many women also develop acne during pregnancy. This is due to hormonal changes, but is usually not as severe as during adolescence. To combat pimples, simply wash your face with a mild, oil-free cleanser multiple times a day. Avoid abrasive scrubs and exfoliants because your skin during pregnancy is often more sensitive. Check with your physician before using ante-acne prescription medications.

Other skin conditions that women experience during pregnancy include stretch marks, heat rash, spider veins, and the development of a reddish hue to the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, known as palmer erythema.

Regardless of the issue, skin conditions during pregnancy will improve or resolve within weeks or months after your baby is born.

To minimize adverse skin conditions during pregnancy, try following the “pregnancy diet”, a diet that offers women just the right balance of nutrients during pregnancy. Other suggestions include drinking plenty of water and only using “noncomedogenic” and unscented makeup and skin care products. A supplement of B6 might also be helpful for someone with severe skin issues.

For more information about changes to your skin during pregnancy, speak to your obstetrician. If you do not have one, you can make an appointment at Flushing Hospital’s Women’s Health Center by calling 718- 670-8994.

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Backpack Comfort and Safety Tips for Parents

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Backpacks are essential back-to-school items for kids. Available in all different colors, sizes and shapes, they are the preferred way for most children to carry their belongings.

Backpacks are preferred by many in comparison to shoulder bags because when worn correctly, they evenly distribute weight across the body. However, if worn incorrectly they can cause back pain or injuries and eventually lead to poor posture.

To prevent problems associated with improper backpack use, parents should first purchase a backpack that is lightweight and has the following features:

Wide and padded straps
Multiple compartments
Padded back
Waist belt

A backpack should also be the correct size for your child, it should never be wider or longer than your child’s torso. Practicing these safety tips will further reduce the chance of back pain or injuries caused by backpacks:

When packing, heavier items should be placed to the back and center of the backpack. Lighter items should be in front. Sharp objects such as scissors or pencils should be kept away from your child’s back. Utilizing different compartments can help in distributing weight.
Do not over pack. Doctors recommend that children should not carry backpacks that weigh more than 10-15% of their body weight.
Ensure that children use both straps. Using a single strap can cause muscle strain.
Adjust the straps so that the backpack fits closely to your child’s back and sits two inches above the waist. This ensures comfort and proper weight distribution.
Encourage children to use their lockers or desks throughout the day to drop off heavy books.

The Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America recommends that parents should always look for warning signs that indicate backpacks may be too heavy. If your child struggles to put on and take off the backpack, they are complaining of numbness or tingling or if there are red strap marks on their shoulders -It may be time for you to lighten their load.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels. One in every 691 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, making it the most common genetic condition. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material alters fetal development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome like low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm.

The cause of the extra full or partial chromosome is unknown, but maternal age is linked to an increased chance of having a baby with Down syndrome. A 35 year old woman has about a one in 350 chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome, and this chance increases gradually to 1 in 100 by age 40. At age 45 the incidence becomes approximately 1 in 30. However, due to higher birth rates in younger women, 80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age.

Genetic counseling, prenatal screenings and diagnostic testing for parents is becoming increasingly important and can provide a definitive diagnosis with almost 100% accuracy.

Most screening tests involve a blood test and an ultrasound (sonogram), and are used to estimate the chance of having a child with Down syndrome. New advanced prenatal screens are able to detect chromosomal material from the fetus and provide a high accuracy rate. Other diagnostic tests include chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis. These procedures, which carry up to a 1% risk of causing a spontaneous termination (miscarriage), are nearly 100% accurate in diagnosing Down syndrome. Amniocentesis is usually performed in the second trimester between 15 and 20 weeks of gestation, CVS in the first trimester between 9 and 14 weeks.

You can find more information on Down Syndrome, as well as support here.

Does Breastfeeding Help Lower the Risk of Breast Cancer?

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Sage Robinson

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and studies suggest that breastfeeding for at least a year can help lower breast cancer risk. In addition to providing your child with antibodies that protect him/her from bacterial and viral infections, breastfeeding protects breast health because:

. Making milk 24/7 keeps breast cells healthier.

. Breastfeeding triggers fewer menstrual cycles resulting in lower estrogen levels.

. Women eat more nutritious foods and follow a healthier lifestyle.

Whether or not you breastfeed, other lifestyle choices play an important part in keeping your risk for breast cancer as low as possible. Try to:

. Maintain a healthy weight.

. Exercise regularly.

. Limit alcohol.

. Eat a nutritious diet.

. Quit smoking, if you haven’t already.

Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center has a variety of services including a dedicated breast clinic. Our clinic can help you take your first steps to prevention and provide peace of mind. For more information or to schedule and appointment, please call 718-670-5486.

FACT FRIDAY: Asian American Women Live Longer

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Did you know that Asian American women have the longest life expectancy of any other ethnic group? The average Asian woman will live an average of 85.8 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

MYTH or FACT FRIDAY: Can hair turn white from fright overnight?

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Sage Robinson

For centuries, people have believed that a sudden fright, scare or traumatic experience could turn your hair white overnight.

It is in fact medically impossible. Hair that has grown out of your scalp is dead and there is no way any physiological or psychological experience can change its color overnight.

#TBT — The History of Eyeglasses

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Over 60 percent of the adult population in the United States today wears eyeglasses. Modern day eyeglasses have their roots that date back more than 1000 years. In the middle ages Monks were known to use reading stones that were glass spheres, sometimes filled with water, that were placed on top of objects in order to magnify them. The first documented use of eyeglasses was attributed to being developed in Italy. In the 13th century Venetian glass blowers made the first solid glass lenses that were held by frames and that were a primitive version of modern day wearable eyeglasses.
In the 17th century eyeglasses started to be made that could correct vision. Glasses could be made with either concave lenses, for nearsightedness, or convex lenses for farsightedness. Benjamin Franklin invented bifocal lenses in 1784. Glass was the material used in the production of eyeglasses for centuries until the latter part of the 20th century when plastic became widely used in eyeglasses as it was lighter and safer than glass. Now many eyeglasses are being made from polycarbonate which is lighter still and more resilient to scratches.

Healthy Recipe: Smashed Cucumber Salad

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Sage Robinson

September is Fruit and Vegetable Month, and according to Foodies, smashed cucumber salads are currently all the rage. The perfect recipe to try using the last of your summer garden cucumbers, if you’re not using Persian cukes, peel and deseed before smashing.

Smashing or smacking is a classic Chinese technique that allows the cucumbers to absorb more flavor. Get the recipe here, courtesy of the New York Times.

INGREDIENTS

About 2 pounds thin-skinnedcucumbers like English or Persian (8 to 10 mini cucumbers, 4 medium-size or 2 large greenhouse)
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for cucumbers
2 teaspoons granulated sugar, plus more for cucumbers
1 ½ tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon grapeseed or extra-virgin olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced or put through a press
Red pepper flakes, to taste
Small handful whole cilantro leaves, for garnish
2 teaspoons toasted white sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

PREPARATION

Rinse cucumbers and pat dry. Cut crosswise into pieces about 4 inches long. Cut each piece in half lengthwise.
On a work surface, place a piece of cucumber (or several) cut side down. Lay the blade of a large knife flat on top the cucumber and smash down lightly with your other hand. The skin will begin to crack, the flesh will break down and the seeds will separate. Repeat until the whole piece is smashed. Break or slice diagonally into bite-size pieces, leaving the seeds behind.
Place the cucumber pieces in a strainer and toss with a big pinch of salt and a big pinch of sugar. Place a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the cucumbers to serve as a weight and place the strainer over a bowl. Let drain 15 to 30 minutes on the counter, or in the refrigerator until ready to serve, up to 4 hours.
Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine salt, sugar and rice vinegar. Stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Stir in sesame oil and soy sauce.
When ready to serve, shake cucumbers well to drain off any remaining liquid and transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with grapeseed or olive oil and toss. Add half the dressing, half the garlic and the red pepper flakes to taste, and toss. Keep adding dressing until cucumbers are well coated but not drowned. Taste and add more pepper flakes and garlic if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro and sesame seeds.