Health

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disease that makes breathing difficult. It is caused by damage to the lungs over a prolonged period of time and is usually attributed to smoking.

COPD can result in serious, long-term disability and is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

The symptoms of COPD typically present when there is significant damage to the lung. They may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Wheezing
• Swelling of the feet, ankles or legs

Those most at risk of developing COPD are individuals who:

• Are over age 40 and currently smoke or smoked at some point

• Worked or lived around chemicals or fumes

• Have certain genetic conditions

• Have asthma

If you think you have COPD, you should:

• Talk with your healthcare provider about your symptoms

• Request a breathing test, known as a spirometry

• Quit smoking! If you need help, ask your doctor

• Avoid pollutants or fumes that can irritate your lungs

COPD can lead to other health complications such as heart problems, lung cancer, or high blood pressure in the arteries that bring blood to your lungs.

While you can’t undo the damage COPD has caused to your lungs, there are steps you can take to prevent the condition from getting worse, this includes avoiding factors that can irritate lungs, taking medications as directed, enrolling in a pulmonary rehabilitation program, and receiving annual flu and pneumonia vaccines.

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.

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damages the eye’s optic nerve (The nerve at the back of the eye that connects to the brain and sends visual information to help us see).

There are several different types of glaucoma; however, the most common is open-angle glaucoma.

Open-angle glaucoma develops as a result of ocular hypertension- abnormally high levels of pressure in the eye. Over time, the build-up of pressure causes damage to the optic nerve tissue which leads to vision loss and blindness.

There are typically no warning signs or symptoms in the early stages of open-angle glaucoma. But as the disease progresses and becomes more advanced, people can experience:

• Tunnel vision
• Patchy blind spots in their peripheral (side) vision.

Individuals at a higher risk of developing open-angle glaucoma include those who:

• Are over the age of 60 (Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness for people within this age group)
• Are African American
• Have a family history of the disease
• Have a medical history of diabetes or hypertension

Glaucoma is diagnosed by performing a comprehensive eye examination. Treatment is focused on preventing any additional vision loss, and may include medications or surgery. Vision loss or blindness can be slowed or prevented with early treatment.  This is why it is important to get regular eye exams which can help detect glaucoma at its early stages.

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 Prematurity Awareness Month which is defined as a baby born before the mother reaches 37 weeks of pregnancy. It is estimated that approximately 15 million babies around the world are born prematurely and approximately one million of them do not survive. The earlier a baby is born the more problems they are likely to have.

There are several factors that can lead to mothers having premature babies. Some of the risk factors are smoking, alcohol or substance abuse, poor nutrition, being under the age of 19 or over the age of 35, poor quality of prenatal care, previous premature babies, and abnormally shaped reproductive organs.

Some of the health issues that premature babies can experience are:

• Breathing problems
• Heart problems
• Anemia
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Brain problems
• Metabolism problems
• Low blood pressure
• Infections

Premature babies often require specialized care before they are able to leave the hospital. Flushing Hospital Medical Center has a specialized unit called the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that has a highly trained staff and the equipment needed to care for these babies. The team is comprised of neonatologists, registered nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, as well as several other support staff and consultants.

The criteria for allowing a premature baby to be discharged from the hospital is dependent on each baby’s progress. Typically a baby has to be able to breath on their own, should weigh about 4 pounds, can be breastfed or bottle fed successfully, and can maintain a stable body temperature.

A premature baby may require special care once they are allowed to go home from the hospital. You can speak to your pediatrician about what that may include. To schedule an appointment with a pediatrician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, 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.

Anorexia nervosa-often used interchangeably with anorexia, is an eating disorder and psychological condition characterized by having a distorted body image (believing one is much heavier than they are), and the intense fear of gaining weight or becoming obese.

The exact cause for anorexia nervosa is unknown; however, there are several environmental, biological and psychological factors believed to contribute to its development.

Individuals with anorexia nervosa aim to maintain a low body weight that is abnormal for their height and age. This is typically achieved by practicing unhealthy weight loss habits such as:

• Exercising excessively
• Severely restricting the amount of food consumed
• Vomiting after eating
• Misusing, diuretics, laxatives or diet aides

The symptoms of anorexia nervosa can be physical, emotional or behavioral, and may vary from person to person.

Physical symptoms can include:

• Extreme weight loss
• Severe loss of muscle mass
• Fatigue
• Thinning hair or hair that breaks easily
• Fainting or dizziness
• Infertility
• Lanugo- soft, downy hair that covers the body

Emotional and behavioral symptoms may include:

• An unhealthy preoccupation with food
• Excessive concern about  being overweight
• Adopting eating rituals such as chewing food and spitting it out
• Lying about food intake
• Avoiding eating in public
• Repeated weighing or measuring of the body
• Social withdrawal

Most individuals with anorexia nervosa hesitate to seek help because their desire to stay thin often outweighs their concerns for being healthy. However, anorexia nervosa can be life-threatening, so it is important that they receive the immediate care of physicians and mental health experts to help with overcoming this condition.

The diagnosis of anorexia nervosa generally includes physical exams, lab tests and psychological evaluations.  Treatment is often administered by a team of healthcare professionals who are experienced in dealing with eating disorders such as a primary care doctor, dietitian and psychologist.  A care plan may include medication, psychotherapy and nutrition education.

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.

October 29^th has been designated as World Psoriasis Day by the International Federation of Psoriasis Association to raise awareness about this disease. It is estimated that worldwide there are 125 million people worldwide who have psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic, reoccurring, immune related inflammatory disorder of the skin. It is believed to have a genetic component which means it can run in families. The disease usually starts to appear in the younger years and continues into adulthood, and it affects men and women equally. There is no known cause other than it is triggered by a malfunctioning of the immune system.  Psoriasis is unsightly but is not contagious.

Psoriasis presents as reddish plaques on the skin with silvery scales. These lesions can be very painful and itchy. It can also affect the joints (psoriatic arthritis) which can cause physical and functional deformity. There is no cure for the disease, but treatments do exist that make the skin lesions less painful and less visible.

To make an appointment with a dermatologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center, 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.

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease that typically affects parts of the body where joints are weight bearing such as the knees, hips, spine, hands or feet. It is caused by the wearing down of cartilage which is the tissue that cushions the bones where they meet each other to form a joint. Over time, the loss of cartilage will lead to bone rubbing against bone which causes them to erode and become painful with motion.

Osteoarthritis is sometimes mistaken for similar diseases that also cause joint pain. Some of these diseases include:

• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus
• Reactive arthritis
• Lyme disease

A characteristic that distinguishes osteoarthritis from these diseases is the way that joint pain presents itself. For those suffering from osteoarthritis, pain usually occurs as a result of exertion of the joints, and typically occur during or after movement. The diseases that present with some of the same characteristics, movement within a joint is not usually reason for the pain to occur.

Diagnosing osteoarthritis is done by performing lab tests to check for indicators in the blood and also by performing x-rays to check for distinctive patterns of bone and joint involvement.

If you are experiencing symptoms of osteoarthritis such as joint pain or limited mobility, you can make an appointment with a specialist known as a rheumatologist who can make a diagnosis. Treatment of the disease may include medications, therapy or surgery.

To schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center 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.

Breast Cancer awareness campaigns have empowered women to take a pro-active approach to early detection of the disease. While regular check ups greatly help in prevention for any illness, individuals with specific risk factors should pay extra close attention.

Common Risk Factors
There are risk factors that you cannot change or control such as:
• Gender: Just by being a woman you are placed at risk.  Male breast cancer is not common but it isn’t unheard of. Men are less likely to be affected by breast cancer because they have less of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, which can promote breast cancer cell growth.

Age: A woman’s chances of developing cancer increase as she gets older. Statistics reflect a woman’s median age of breast cancer diagnosis to be 61.  This means that half of women who develop breast cancer are 61 or younger at the time of their diagnoses.

Family History: Women who have had a ‘close blood’ relative diagnosed with breast cancer are at higher risk of developing breast cancer. ‘Close blood’ relative is defined as a first degree relative such as mother, sister, and/or daughter.

Race and Ethnicity: Caucasian women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women.  However, African-American women under the age of 45 are more commonly diagnosed with breast cancer. The American Cancer Society has statistically noted Asian, Hispanic and Native American women are at less risk from developing breast cancer.

“Generally speaking, an early first period or delayed menopause can also be associated with an increase risk for breast cancer,” states Dr. St. John, Director of the Breast Clinic at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.  “These are things that we cannot control, but knowing your risk factors and raising your awareness can increase your chances of early detection.”

Lifestyle Related Factors
In addition to certain genetic predispositions, certain lifestyle choices can be contributing factors in developing breast cancer.  “Lifestyle related” factors can increase a woman’s chances for breast cancer.  Some of these factors can include:

Having Children/ Breastfeeding: Having several pregnancies and becoming pregnant at a young age reduces the risk of breast cancer. Studies have shown that women who have no children or had their first child after age 30 have a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer.  Some studies have suggested that breastfeeding may slightly lower breast cancer risk, especially if it is continued for 1 ½ to 2 years of age.

Hormone Therapy after Menopause: Women who receive Hormone Therapy (HT) to relieve the symptoms of menopause can possibly be at an increased risk of breast cancer if used for a prolonged amount of time. This can be due to the dual dosing of progesterone and estrogen administered. However, a woman’s risk of breast cancer seems to return to normal within five years of stopping the combined treatment.

Drinking Alcohol/ Smoking: Women who consumed more than 2 to 5 drinks daily increase their risk of breast cancer as opposed to non-drinkers. Although there have been limited studies, smoking has been linked to increasing a woman’s chances of developing with breast cancer.

Being Overweight or Obese:  women who are overweight tend to have higher insulin levels, which has been linked to some cancers, including breast cancer.

Some lifestyle changes that can help lower your risk are, limiting alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, as well as  managing your weight. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, exercising and conducting regular self examinations can be helpful to preventing breast cancer.”

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 718-670-5487.

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.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common mental disorder diagnosed in children, as well as found in teens and continues into adulthood. Children who are diagnosed with ADHD tend to be hyperactive, have difficulty staying focused, and can’t control their impulses.  Boys tend to be affected more frequently than girls.

There isn’t a definite cause for the illness but there is a hereditary component, or result of a chemical imbalance in people who are diagnosed with ADHD. Mothers who smoke, drank alcohol, had poor nutrition or were substance abusers during their pregnancy tend to have children with a higher incidence of the disease.

Children with ADHD:
• Are easily distracted
• Have trouble sitting still
• Have trouble waiting their turn
• Have difficulty organizing themselves
• Talk excessively

ADHD cannot be cured but can be managed through therapy and medication. Early intervention is an important component of successfully managing ADHD.

To schedule an appointment with a child psychiatrist at Flushing  Hospital Medical Center, please call (718) 670-5562

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.