Preparing for Allergy Season

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Spring has arrived, and with it comes longer days, warmer weather, and the blooming of trees and flowers. However, as trees and flowers bloom they release pollen, causing those who suffer from seasonal allergies to experience allergy symptoms. Spring allergy symptoms can include:

Runny nose
Watery eyes
Sneezing
Itchy eyes and nose
Dark circles under your eyes.

Some ways you can reduce your exposure to allergy triggers include:

Staying indoors on dry, windy days. The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.
Avoiding garden chores like mowing the lawn and pulling weeds that stir up allergens.
Removing clothes worn outside and showering to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
Avoid hanging laundry outside because pollen can stick to sheets and towels.
Wearing a face mask when doing chores outside.
Checking your local TV or the internet for pollen forecasts and the current pollen levels.
Taking allergy medication before symptoms start or if high pollen counts are forecasted.
Closing doors and windows at night when there are high pollen counts.
Avoiding outdoor activity when pollen counts are highest.

There isn’t a miracle product that can get rid of all allergens from the air in your home, but ways to keep indoor air clean include:

Using air conditioning in your house.
Using high-efficiency filters if you have a forced air conditioning or heating system, and following regular maintenance schedules.
Keeping indoor air dry with a dehumidifier.
Using a portable HEPA filter in your bedroom.
Cleaning floors with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter regularly.

Here are some over-the-counter medications that can help ease allergy symptoms:

Oral antihistamines
Corticosteroid nasal sprays
Cromolyn sodium nasal spray
Oral decongestants

If you are experiencing seasonal allergy symptoms, you can get an allergy test and treatment 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.

Meet Our Doctors: Dr. Brittany Choe

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Flushing Hospital

Meet Dr. Brittany Choe. She is thrilled to join the MediSys team as Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Dr. Choe completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital. She then went on to complete a Fellowship in Emergency Medicine and Hospital Administration coupled with an Executive MBA.

Throughout her career, Dr. Choe has been dedicated to developing processes that deliver safe and effective care to all patients. Her work has focused heavily on performance improvement initiatives that expand the scope of Emergency Medicine and provide increased access to care for patients in the Emergency Department. As a daughter of first-generation Korean immigrants, the opportunity to work in “The World’s Borough” of Queens is both an honor and a privilege.

Through this new role as Chair of Emergency Medicine, she aims to support the mission and vision of the MediSys Health Network, serving the community of Flushing and continuing the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Healthy Eating Tips for Seniors

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

As we age, our metabolism slows down, causing us to require fewer calories than we did in our younger years. Our body also needs more of certain nutrients. Eating a healthy diet can support healthy aging.

Here are some tips to help get the most nutrition out of your meals:

Know what a healthy plate looks like
Eat more whole foods and limit processed foods
Look for essential nutrients
Read the “Nutrition Facts” label
Use recommended servings
Stay hydrated by drinking water with your meals and eating water-rich foods
Focus on getting enough protein to prevent muscle loss
Eat fiber-rich foods
Watch your sodium intake
Subscribe to a grocery or meal delivery service

Making these simple adjustments to your eating habits can go a long way toward building healthier eating habits. Getting the most out of foods and beverages can help you meet your nutrition needs and reduce the risk of disease. Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider about creating a dietary plan that works best for you before making changes to your diet.

STI Awareness Month

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

April is STI Awareness Month, a month observed to educate people on sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

S.T.I.s are infectious diseases spread through sexual contact. S.T.I.s are common medical issues, however, many people don’t know they’re infected because they have mild symptoms that are easily overlooked or have no symptoms at all.

STI Awareness Month is important because it

It teaches others to be more responsible
It encourages regular S.T.I testing
It corrects the stigma and misinformation

Ways to observe STI Awareness Month:

Get involved in youth sex education
Educate yourself on S.T.I.s
Contribute to an S.T.I organization
Practice or promote safe sex

STI Awareness Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about sexually transmitted infections and how they impact our lives. Getting involved can help remove the stigma from S.T.I.s.

Vertigo

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Vertigo is a sensation that makes the environment around you spin in circles. It can make you feel dizzy and off-balance. Vertigo is a symptom of several health conditions rather than a disease itself, however, it can occur along with other symptoms.

Other symptoms that might be experienced when you have vertigo include:

Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness
Balance issues
Hearing loss in one or both ears
Tinnitus
Headaches
Motion sickness
A feeling of fullness in your ear
Nystagmus

There are two main types of vertigo: peripheral and central. Peripheral vertigo is the most common type. It occurs when there is an issue with the inner ear or vestibular nerve.

Subtypes of peripheral vertigo include:

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
Labyrinthitis
Vestibular neuritis
Ménière’s disease.

Central vertigo is less common. It occurs when a condition affects the brain, such as an infection, stroke, or traumatic brain injury. People with central vertigo usually have more severe symptoms like severe instability or difficulty walking.

The causes of vertigo vary from person to person. Causes can include:

Migraine headaches
Certain medications such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and cardiovascular drugs
Stroke
Arrhythmia
Diabetes
Head injuries
Prolonged bed rest
Shingles in or near your ear
Ear surgery
Perilymphatic fistula
Hyperventilation
Low blood pressure
Ataxia
Syphilis
Otosclerosis
Brain diseases
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Acoustic neuroma

Vertigo can cause falls resulting in bone fractures or other injuries. It can also interfere with your quality of life and hinder your ability to drive or go to work.

To diagnose vertigo, a healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms. They may also recommend one or more tests to confirm your diagnosis. Healthcare providers can also perform tests to diagnose vertigo, including:

Fukuda-Unterberger test
Romberg’s test
Head impulse test
Vestibular test battery
Imaging tests

Treatments for vertigo depend on the underlying cause. Healthcare providers use a variety of treatments, including:

Repositioning maneuvers
Vertigo medication
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (vertigo exercises)
Surgery

If you are experiencing vertigo symptoms, visit Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Bloating

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Bloating describes a feeling of fullness or tightness in the abdomen. It may or may not be accompanied by a visibly distended or swollen abdomen. The feeling can range from mildly uncomfortable to intensely painful. It usually goes away after a while, but it can be a recurring problem for some people.

The most common cause of stomach pain and bloating is excess intestinal gas. Another cause may be a digestive issue after eating. It could be as simple as eating too much too fast, a food intolerance, or another condition that can cause gas and digestive contents to build up. Digestive issues and hormone fluctuations can cause cyclical bloating. Menstrual cycles are another common cause of temporary bloating.

Between 10% and 25% of otherwise healthy people complain of occasional abdominal bloating. As many as 75% describe their symptoms as moderate to severe. About 10% say they experience it regularly. Among those diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it may be as much as 90%. Up to 75% of women experience bloating before and during their period. Only 50% of people who experience bloating also report a distended abdomen.

If your bloating is due to something you ate or drank, or hormone fluctuations, it should begin to ease within a few hours or days. If you are constipated, bloat won’t go down until you start pooping. Water, exercise, and herbal teas may help. If bloating doesn’t go away or gets worse, seek medical attention.

If bloating is caused by diet or alcohol consumption, it can be prevented by making certain lifestyle choices such as:

Eating enough fiber
Drinking enough water
Getting exercise
Avoiding processed foods
Practicing mindful eating
Notice stomach sensitivities

What can help relieve bloating depends on the cause. A professional diagnosis may be needed to get to the bottom of it. However, if you are looking to combat bloating in the interim, some home remedies can include:

Peppermint oil capsules
Antacids
Magnesium supplements
Probiotics
Fiber supplements
Regular exercise

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

National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week or NDAFW is an annual, week-long health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. It provides an opportunity to bring together scientists, students, educators, healthcare providers, and community partners to help advance science and address youth drug and alcohol use in communities nationwide.

Launched in 2010 by scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, stimulates educational events in communities so teens can learn what science has taught us about drug use and addiction. In 2016, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism became a partner, and alcohol was added as a topic area for the week. NIDA and NIAAA are part of the National Institutes of Health and work with leading organizations, media outlets, and other Government agencies to spread the word about NDAFW.

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week looks to empower youth to make informed choices about their health and learn lifesaving skills focused on overdose awareness and response. Make an impact and inspire others to join the NDAFW observance.

National Nutrition Month

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Flushing Hospital

March has been designated National Nutrition Month – an annual nutrition, education, and information campaign focusing on making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. In honor of this special observance, Flushing Hospital Medical Center would like to share with our community the vital role registered dietitians (RDs) play in helping our patients meet their nutritional goals.

A registered dietitian is a trained nutrition professional who has met the strict educational and experiential standards set forth by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

They can be employed in various practice areas, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, corporate wellness programs, food service operations, universities, research, or private practice.

RDs advise and counsel others on food and nutrition. They explain nutrition issues to their patients, develop meal plans for them, and measure the effects of those plans.

To become an RD, you must:

Complete a Bachelor’s degree with coursework approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Complete a 1200-hour dietetic internship, which is an accredited, supervised practice program at a healthcare facility, community program, or a food service corporation
Pass a national registration exam
Complete continuing professional education credits.

At Flushing Hospital, dietitians are available for the following services: nutrition assessment, diet instruction, recommendations for enteral and parenteral support, staff in-service, food and drug interactions, and nutrition counseling in the outpatient setting.

Flushing Hospital would like to thank our registered dietitians for the essential job they do every day. Their hard work helps our patients and community live healthier lifestyles.

Bad Breath

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Bad breath or halitosis can be embarrassing and, in some cases, can cause anxiety.

Bad breath that doesn’t go away means you have an oral health issue or a condition affecting another body part.

The most common cause of bad breath is poor oral health. Without proper oral hygiene, such as brushing, flossing, and routine dental cleanings, harmful bacteria invade the mouth and multiply out of control. This leads to several oral health issues, including halitosis, cavities, and gum disease.

Poor oral hygiene isn’t the only cause of bad breath. Several other conditions can cause bad breath, including:

Dry mouth
Food
Head and neck cancers
Tobacco products
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Tonsil stones
Gum disease
Infections in your nose, throat, or lungs
Diabetes
Liver or kidney disease
Medicines
Sjögren’s syndrome

The main symptom of bad breath is a foul-smelling odor that comes from the mouth. The odor can be strong enough for other people to notice.

To diagnose bad breath, a dentist will smell the breath from your mouth and nose and rate the odor on a scale. The back of the tongue most often causes the smell, so they may also scrape it to rate its odor.

When treating bad breath, regularly cleaning your mouth and teeth can reduce bad breath, help avoid cavities, and lower the risk of gum disease. Further treatment for bad breath can vary. If your dentist thinks another health condition is causing your bad breath, you will likely need to see your primary care physician or a specialist.

Your dentist will work with you to help you better control bad breath caused by mouth issues. These dental measures can include:

Mouth rinses and toothpastes
Treatment of dental disease

Ways to reduce or prevent bad breath include the following:

Brushing your teeth after you eat
Flossing at least once a day
Brushing your tongue
Cleaning bridges, dentures, retainers, and mouthguards
Keeping your mouth moist
Changing your diet
Replacing your toothbrush
Scheduling regular dental checkups

If you’re experiencing bad breath, 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.

The Loneliness Epidemic

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

In May 2023, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a report that drew attention to an epidemic that affects half of American adults: loneliness and social isolation.

Dr. Murthy said that loneliness and social isolation are “urgent public health concerns, more widespread than smoking, diabetes, or anxiety”.

Loneliness is feeling lonely or disconnected from others and not having meaningful or close relationships or a sense of belonging. It also describes the negative feelings that can occur when your needs for social connection aren’t met.

Social isolation is when a person doesn’t have relationships or contact with others and has little to no social support. It can pose a health risk to people, even if they don’t feel lonely.

Certain conditions or experiences may increase a person’s risk of social isolation and loneliness, including:

Having a mental or physical challenge, such as:
- Chronic disease or condition
- Psychiatric or depressive condition
- Long-term disability
Being marginalized or discriminated against
Having limited or no access to resources, which may result in:
- Living in rural areas
- Limited transportation
- Language barriers
- Being a victim of violence or abuse
Facing a divorce, unemployment, or the loss of a loved one

Loneliness may impact some groups more than others, including:

Low-income adults
Young adults
Older adults
Adults living alone
Immigrants
People who identify as LGBTQ+

Social isolation and loneliness can increase a person’s risk for:

Heart disease and stroke
Type 2 diabetes
Depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harm
Dementia
Earlier death

It is important to make meaningful social connections, as those who do experience benefits, including:

Less stress
Better sleep
A longer, healthier life

Making social connections can be hard, especially if you are in poor health, have money problems, or live alone. However, a few small acts of connection can build supportive and meaningful relationships.

You can take various steps to fight against loneliness, including the following:

Talking to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers
Connecting with others on social media
Volunteering in your community
Being kind to yourself
Learning more about ways to improve social connectedness
Getting help from a professional

To find out more about Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s outpatient mental health services 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.