The Health Benefits of Red Wine

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Andrew Rubin

Did you know that drinking red wine in moderation may be good for your health? The alcohol and antioxidants in red wine are believed to help prevent heart disease.

The difference between red wine and white wine is that red wine retains the skin of the grapes during the fermentation process and this is where the beneficial chemicals are found.

Red wine contains alcohol and a chemical called polyphenol that helps to protect the lining of the blood vessels in the heart. Reseveratol is the active ingredient in the polyphenol that acts as an antioxidant. The low content of alcohol in red wine may also protect the lining of the blood vessels by preventing blood clots, lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL) and raising the good cholesterol (HDL).

Other potential benefits of red wine include:

Improving the healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract
Lowering blood pressure
Helping the body digest glucose which is important in diabetes control
Protecting vision
Preventing stroke patients from having recurrences.

Although red wine can provide benefits for heart health, it is important to drink it in moderation. Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol is not good for the body. For those who decide to add red wine to their diet, a moderate amount is considered to be:

For women of any age, one 5 ounce glass of wine per day
For men 65 years old or older, one 5 ounce glass of wine per day
For men up to the age of 65, two 5-ounce glasses of wine per day

One 5 ounce serving of red wine contains 125 calories, 1 gram of sugar, 4 grams of carbohydrates, and a small amount of iron, calcium, some vitamins and minerals.

Please keep in mind that there are risks in consuming alcoholic beverages. Never consume any beverage with alcohol if you have underlying health issues or take certain medications. Never drink and drive or operate any type of equipment while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage.

Consult with your physician if you consume alcoholic beverages on a regular or semi-regular basis to make sure that your body can tolerate it. You may schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center by calling 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.

Did You Know That Vitamins Can Help Boost Your Immunity ?

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Andrew Rubin

The body’s immune system is our primary line of defense against many types of illnesses. Therefore, it is important that we provide it with the nutrients and vitamins needed to help keep it strong.

Here is a list of vitamins that are known to boost immunity, the foods in which they are found, and the benefits they provide for our health:

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant helps to fight inflammation and is found in:

Kale
Spinach
Papaya
Strawberries
Bell Peppers
Brussel sprouts

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and is found in:

Peanuts
Sunflower seeds
Almonds
Hazel nuts
Soybean oil

Vitamin A helps to fight infections and is found in:

Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Pumpkin
Cantaloupe
Dark green leafy vegetables

Vitamin D helps the body to absorb and regulate calcium and phosphorous and is found in:

Salmon
Tuna
Mackerel
Sardines
Milk

Vitamin B6 helps the body perform biochemical reactions and is found in:

Salmon
Tuna
Chicken

While it always best to get your vitamins from the foods that you eat, taking vitamin supplements can also be very effective.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center to discuss your nutrition, please call 718-670-5487.

How Long Can I Wear The Same Mask?

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Joann Ariola

Nowadays, one of the more frequently asked questions is, “How long can I wear the same mask?”

The answer to that question varies depending on the type of mask you are wearing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the best practices for cleansing the more commonly used masks are as follows:

Cloth cotton – Wash you cloth mask whenever it gets dirty or at least daily in warm soapy water or in your washing machine.
Non-medical disposable – Single use masks should be thrown away after one wearing.
Face shields and goggles – Clean and disinfect reusable face shields according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If disposable, wear it once and discard it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

To learn more about these and other types of masks and how to care for them, visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wash-cloth-face-coverings.html

Big Game Safety Tips

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Andrew Rubin

Like so many other events over the past 12 months, this year’s Super Bowl celebrations will be different from previous ones. The “Big Game” is typically one of the largest social events of the year, but because of the COVID pandemic, large gatherings are strongly discouraged.

The fact that we are unable to get together the way we normally would doesn’t mean we still can’t have a fun experience.

One way to enjoy the game with extended friends and family is to host a virtual event. This is considered the safest way to celebrate the Super Bowl. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some of the ways to make a virtual event fun include:

Wear clothing or decorate your home with your favorite team’s logo or colors.
Make appetizers or snacks with the people you live with to enjoy while watching the game and share the recipes with your friends and family.
Start a text group with other fans to chat about the game while watching.

Another option is to use a projector screen to host an outdoor viewing event. While not as safe as a virtual event, getting together outdoors is considered less risky than an indoor event.

Normal behavior at Super Bowl gatherings include a lot of shouting, cheering and laughing. When this occurs outdoors, the tiny droplets of saliva that come out of our mouths is better dispersed into the environment and become more diluted, making the risk of infection less likely.

When hosting an outdoor party, some safety tips include spacing guests six feet apart and encouraging everyone bring their own snacks.

Like holiday gathering, Super Bowl parties can be super-spreader events. Following these suggestions will help control the spread of COVID and save lives.

Employee Spotlight – Anthony Di Preta

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Joann Ariola

January’s Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s (FHMC) Employee Spotlight shines Security Officer Anthony Di Preta. Anthony has been a security officer for the past 12 years and is tasked with securing the hospital premises, directing visitor traffic, observing and reporting suspicious activity, checking for property damage, monitoring the hospitals closed circuit TV (CCTV), and checking that the proper hospital identification is being displayed on each employee.

When not at work, Anthony enjoys watching movies, playing pool and fixing model cars. He is active in his local chapter of the Knights of Columbus.

“The most rewarding part of my job is making people happy and helping people. The most challenging part of my job is diffusing possible volatile situations.

Congratulations Anthony Di Preta on being featured on FHMC’S Employee Spotlight!

This Month’s Home Exercise Tips

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Andrew Rubin

This month’s home work out tip is very simple. All exercise routines, whether performed at home or in a gym should include the following elements:

Warm-up
Cardiovascular workout
Strength building
Movement to help flexibility
Cooling off period

It is always important to get the body ready for exercise by warming up. It is just as important to help the body recover by cooling down. Cardiovascular, strength and flexibility exercises help us to target all the major muscle groups in our bodies, and improve our overall level fitness.

National Healthy Weight Week

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Joann Ariola

The third week in January is designated as National Healthy Weight Week. In an effort to promote a healthy nutritional lifestyle, Flushing Hospital Medical Center would like to offer the following tips to help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Set a Goal – You can’t set out on a mission to lose weight without knowing how you are going to do it. Create a detailed weight-loss plan and set a goal that is specific, measurable and realistic.
Be Patient – In most cases if you make modest adjustments in your lifestyle, you can lose the weight gradually, but steadily. Dietary changes are typically easier to follow when you take slow, small steps.
Drink Plenty of Water – Water is free of calories, inexpensive and provides your body with a quenching boost. Recommendations are to drink eights cups of water every day, but if that is unrealistic, try slowly increasing your intake by drinking a few ounces more than you did the previous day.
Avoid temptations to snack– It is very easy to lose track of how much we eat when we are constantly nibbling on snacks. To avoid constant grazing, try chewing gum or drinking water. If you must snack, try choosing healthy alternatives.
Make a Deal to Indulge – Definitely remove your dietary weakness from your home, but totally banning your favorite foods is bound to backfire. Instead of totally eliminating temptations from your life, allow yourself to modestly indulge once a week.
Begin a Manageable Workout Program – Forking over money on an annual gym membership can be helpful, but simply signing up isn’t enough. Instead of setting unrealistic workout goals, create a convenient and realistic workout routine at home.
Have a Friend Help You – Starting healthy nutritional lifestyle can be more effective if you have someone to hold you accountable. Teaming up with a weight-loss companion can assist you reach your goal by helping you stick to your diet and accompany you with your workout routine.
Weigh yourself – Regular weight check-ins can help you maintain your desired weight. Keep track of your progress and, if you see a trend toward gaining weight, you can revert back to the steps you took to begin your weight loss.

Hopefully, these tips will help you reach and maintain your weight loss goals in 2021. If however, you need professional assistance, Flushing Hospital’s Bariatric Center can help. They offer a variety of non-invasive, medically managed surgical weight loss options for those who qualify.

To make an appointment, please call 718-670-8908.

Cold Weather and Asthma

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Andrew Rubin

People who suffer from asthma definitely know the effects that cold air can have on their ability to breathe. When very cold and dry air enters the body, and subsequently the lungs it can cause a tightening of the airways. Cold air can cause wheezing, tightness of the chest muscles, shortness of breath, coughing, a sense of dizziness and sometimes difficulty speaking.

Taking some precautions before going outside in very cold weather can help ease the symptoms. It is important to keep asthma under control at all times. It can be helpful to take a dose of an asthma inhalant ten minutes before going outdoors. This will aid in keeping the airways open. People with asthma should carry their medication with them if they know they are going to be outdoors for any period of time. Another good idea is to keep your mouth and nose covered with a scarf when you are outside in cold weather. This will help to warm the air you are breathing. Anyone who has asthma should avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Sometimes the act of just walking on a windy day can bring on symptoms of an asthma attack. Try breathing through your nose more and through your mouth less. This will help to warm the air that enters your lungs.

People with asthma know the effects it can have during the cold days of winter. Taking a few precautions can help minimize the effects of the cold air on the body.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital, please call 718-670-5486.

National Birth Defects Prevention Month

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Joann Ariola

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. It is a time for raising awareness of how frequently birth defects can occur and what can be done to help prevent them.

Birth defects are defined as conditions that are present when a baby is born and can affect nearly every part of the body. Conditions such as cleft lip can be easily diagnosed. Other conditions such as deafness or heart defects may only be discovered after diagnostic testing.

The largest number of birth defects occurs during the first three months of gestation. In the U.S. approximately 120,000 babies are born with birth defects each year.

The 10 most common birth defects in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are:

Down syndrome
Cleft lip (with or without cleft palate)
Atrioventricular septal defect (hole in the heart)
Absence of malformation of the rectum and/or large intestine
Gastroschisis (hole in the abdominal wall)
Tetralogy of Fallot (a combination of heart defects)
Spina bifida without anencephaly
Reduction deformity, upper limbs
Reversal of the heart’s two main arteries

Although birth defects can’t always be prevented, there are plenty of steps pregnant women can take to help reduce the risk.

The womenshealth.gov website offers these suggestions:

Make regular visits to your doctor throughout pregnancy
Get 400mcg of folic acid each day through diet or supplements
Don’t smoke, use illegal drugs or drink alcohol while you are pregnant
Always check with your doctor before taking any medication
Get all vaccinations recommended by your doctor
If you have diabetes, keep it under control
Stick to a healthy weight

You may also request a pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy screening test in order to spot potential or real birth defects. The types of tests include a carrier test to see if you or your partner carries potentially harmful genes, as well as screening and diagnostic tests that can determine risks for and detect genetic disorders.

If you are pregnant, or planning to be, and want to discuss your options with one of our doctors, the Women’s Health Center at Flushing Hospital Medical Center is centrally located and has convenient hours; to make an appointment call 718-670-8992.

Cervical Health Awareness Month- The Importance of Regular Cervical Screenings

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Flushing Hospital

MD001276 January has been designated as Cervical Health Awareness Month by the National Cervical Cancer Coalition and the American Social Health Association. This initiative helps raise awareness and encourages women to receive regular screenings for cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is a major cause of cervical cancer which is one of the most common cancers found in women. However early detection can lessen the severity of both diseases and prevent the development of abnormal or cancerous cells.

It is recommended that women receive regular screenings to check the health of their cervixes. The frequency of screenings varies by age. The following guideline is as recommended by The American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/health-care-professionals/american-cancer-society-prevention-early-detection-guidelines/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html

In addition to receiving screenings, it is strongly recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that women and men receive HPV vaccinations to stop the spread of the virus.

Please speak with your doctor as soon as possible about steps you can take to maintain your cervical health and remember, prevention is better than cure.