Grilling Safety Tips

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

Let the summer cookouts begin!

We all enjoy delicious food fresh off the grill. Whether you’re using a charcoal or a gas grill, here are some tips to help you grill safely:

Grill in well-ventilated areas. Never use an outdoor grill indoors.
Open your gas grill before lighting to make sure gas doesn’t build up under the top.
Wear proper clothing.
- Don’t wear any loose clothing.
- Roll up your sleeves.
- Pull your hair back.
- Tie and secure apron strings.
Keep a fire extinguisher within reach.
Keep combustibles like lighter fluid and cooking sprays at a safe distance away from the grill.
- Never add lighter fluid to hot coals.
- Never use gasoline or kerosene as a starter fluid.
Create a safe zone around the grill.
- Keep children, pets, and play areas away from the grill.
- Mark a three-foot “No Kids Zone” around your grill.
Keep the grill at least 10 feet away from buildings.
Check the grill for leaks if you are using a gas grill.
Make sure the grill is on a flat and level surface.
Always clean the grill after use to remove grease that can start a fire.
Keep a spray bottle full of water next to the grill to extinguish any small flames before they spread.
Never leave the grill unattended.
Never use the grill while intoxicated.
Place used coals from the grill in a metal can with a lid once they have cooled off.

If you or someone you are with are experiencing an emergency, call 911 immediately.

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.

Top Summer Health Concerns and How to Prevent Them

Posted on June 26, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

Summer is in full swing, so most of our time will be spent outside doing various activities. However, there are many health concerns to consider.

Here are some summer health concerns and how to prevent them:

Dehydration

Up to 78% of the human body is made of water, when it doesn’t get enough of it, it can’t function properly. In high heat, dehydration can become severe and fatal.

To prevent dehydration, it is important to stay hydrated. You can do this by drinking water and eating water-rich foods. Staying properly hydrated can also prevent kidney stones.

Sunburns

A sunburn is when UV or ultraviolet rays from the sun cause a radiation burn on the skin. Sunburns can contribute to premature aging of skin and skin cancer. It can also lead to dehydration, sun poisoning, and infection from severe burns.

To prevent sunburn, wear sunscreen containing titanium oxide or zinc oxide every day, even on overcast days. Make sure to cover your entire body, including your ears, eyelids, lips, scalp, and if exposed, the top of your feet.

Heat illnesses

Spending time in the sun doesn’t only bring the risks of sunburn and dehydration. It also brings the risk of heat illnesses which include:

Heat rash- a red stinging rash that develops when sweat gets trapped in your glands.
Heat cramps- are painful muscle cramps that occur when you sweat so much that your body loses salts and fluids.
Heat exhaustion- is when your body can’t cool itself through sweating. If it’s not treated, it can quickly turn into heatstroke.
Heatstroke- or sunstroke, is when your body temperature climbs to dangerous levels. It’s the most severe heat-related illness and can be fatal.

To prevent heat illnesses, limit the time you spend outdoors. Also, take any symptoms you observe in yourself and others seriously.

Bee stings and insect bites

Since insects are more active during the summer, there’s a higher risk of encountering them. Especially for:

Bee stings
Mosquito bites
Tick bites
Ant bites

To prevent bugs from stinging or biting you, wear an insect repellent with the active ingredients DEET or picaridin. Other ways to prevent stings and bites include:

Avoid using scented products.
Drain any standing water.
Put on protective clothing.
Don’t leave any food uncovered outside.

Drowning

We want to spend more time near water to cool off as temperatures rise. However, it is important to follow proper safety precautions to avoid drowning risks.

Here are some ways to prevent drowning risks:

Learn CPR
Use drain covers on pool drains.
Wear life jackets
Sign up for swimming lessons.

Unsafe summer foods

Everybody loves a good summer barbecue or cookout, but sometimes the food we eat doesn’t always love us back.

The smoking process that gives smoked meats their flavor also creates harmful substances called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs and heterocyclic amines or HCAs. The National Cancer Institute warns that PAHs and HCAs are mutagenic, meaning they can cause changes to your DNA that put you at risk for certain types of cancer.

You can prevent ingesting these harmful substances by using liquid smoke as an alternative marinade for your meats.

Foodborne illness can be a concern for cookout food as well. This is the case for food left out or leftover sitting in the “temperature danger zone” of 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures allow bacteria to grow that can make you sick.

You can prevent foodborne illness by cooking meats to a safe temperature and throwing any food that has sat out too long in the trash.

Seasonal allergies

Pollen is a huge problem in the summer as the weather gets warmer and trees, grass, and flowers pollinate.

To prevent seasonal allergies, try taking allergy medications before the season starts so your body can build its defense.

These preventative measures can help you enjoy your summer and keep you safe.

If you or someone you are with are experiencing an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Tips to Prevent Exercise Injuries

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Jacob Lobosco

Exercise is generally good for your health; in fact, adults are recommended to get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity each week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, it’s also important to keep in mind that there is always a risk of physical injury while exercising. Some of the most common exercise-related injuries include:

Injuries to your shoulders, knees, elbows, legs, or ankles
Bone fractures
Dislocation
Sprains
Strains
Tendinitis
Bursitis

Several factors affect your risk of experiencing an injury while exercising. One of these is the exercise itself; certain exercises are more challenging than others and, as a result, may be more likely to cause an injury if you are not able to perform them properly. Another factor is frequency; a moderate amount of exercise is healthy, but working out excessively can put too much stress on your body. You may also be more likely to experience an injury if you have a medical condition or disability that makes an exercise more difficult to perform.

You can off-set these risk factors by taking certain steps to keep yourself safe. When you exercise, you should:

Learning the correct form for each exercise you plan to do
Warm up before performing an exercise (for example, by performing the exercise at a very light weight)
Cool down after performing an exercise (you can repeat your warm-up exercise or do a different, slow-paced activity for this)
Using safety equipment (talk to your doctor about what would be most appropriate for the exercises you plan to do)
Talking to your doctor about the types of exercises you plan to perform to make sure that they are safe for you
Varying your exercises throughout the week, focusing on different muscles each day you work out

It’s also important to recognize when you’re experiencing pain (as opposed to soreness) while working out. Sore muscles are normal, both during and after exercise, and you will need to push yourself to a reasonable extent. However, if you feel pain, stop exercising right away. Additionally, if you feel that you physically cannot finish an exercise, don’t try to force yourself to do so; this can lead to overuse injuries.

If you’ve injured yourself while exercising, you can receive a diagnosis and treatment from a physiatrist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Rehabilitation. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5515.

Outdoor Exercises For Winter Weather

Posted on December 27, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

It can be easy to use the cold winter weather as an excuse to stay inside and avoid outdoor physical activities. However, many forms of outdoor exercise are actually well-suited to lower temperatures and can even offer some added benefits, assuming that you take the appropriate precautions to protect your health. A few of these recommended outdoor exercises include:

Running: Winter is a great time to go out for a run. Running is a simple way to incorporate moderately intense aerobic exercise into each week; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an average of 150 minutes of this type of exercise each week. Running in cold temperatures may also increase your metabolism, making it easier to burn excess calories. Make sure to wear two layers (including a jacket) and appropriately-fitting running shoes.

Ice Skating: Another popular outdoor winter activity that can double as a great form of exercise is ice skating. It’s a low-impact type of aerobic exercise, meaning that it puts minimal stress on your joints. It can also be helpful for improving your balance and strengthening your leg muscles. In order to avoid injury or medical problems due to the cold weather, make sure to wear appropriately-fitting skates and additional layers of clothing.

Snow Shoveling: While shoveling snow is typically more of a chore than a popular exercise choice, it does offer a few benefits for your physical health. Snow shoveling requires effort from your legs and arms to lift and move snow, strengthening muscles in these parts of your body. As with other outdoor exercises, make sure to wear an appropriate number of layers of clothing. Additionally, make sure to lift from your legs to avoid injuries to your back, and take frequent rests as needed to avoid over-stressing your heart.

If you experience medical problems while exercising, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Three Helpful Exercises for Managing Arthritis

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Physical exercise is an essential part of managing symptoms of arthritis. It can help by strengthening the muscles around the affected joints, decreasing bone loss, and reducing joint stiffness and pain. Another benefit of regular exercise is keeping your weight at a healthy level, which also helps to reduce stress placed on your joints.

The best forms of physical activity for managing arthritis are low-impact, meaning that they place little stress on your body and alleviate symptoms. Three of these types of exercises include:

Walking: Walking each day for up to one hour can reduce pain, stiffness, and inflammation in your joints caused by arthritis. If needed, you can break up this hour of walking into several ten-minute walks, resting between each one. It’s best to try to cover up to three miles in an hour of walking, but you can work up to this intensity level; any amount of regular walking is beneficial.

Cycling: Another great form of exercise for managing your arthritis symptoms is cycling, which can be done in either an indoor (with a stationary bike) or outdoor (with a bicycle, tricycle, or e-bike) setting. Cycling allows your joints, particularly your knees, to move through their full range of motion, producing synovial fluid that lubricates the joints and allows them to move more easily throughout the day.

Swimming: Swimming and other forms of aquatic exercise can help your arthritis symptoms by stimulating blood circulation, building your strength and cardiovascular conditioning, and increasing the flexibility of your joints. Water’s buoyancy reduces the stress placed on your body by exercise, causing less of an impact on your joints.

If you experience pain from arthritis, talk to a doctor about what you should do to manage your symptoms. You can visit a specialist and discuss treatment options at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

5 Tips for Preventing Older Adult Falls

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Falls can prove both costly and dangerous as you get older. Millions of older Americans fall each year, with many sustaining serious injuries such as broken bones or concussions. However, there are steps you can take to prevent falls and avoid serious complications when they do occur. You should:

Stay in shape: Regular exercise provides a vast number of benefits to your health and can help you remain strong and mobile as you get older. In particular, exercises that help you improve your balance (such as Tai Chi) can significantly reduce your likelihood of falling or getting seriously injured from a fall.

Remove home hazards: A variety of hazards may make a fall more likely at home, such as clutter in your walking paths, lights that are not properly functioning, or a lack of handrails or bars in places such as your bathroom or stairs. Make sure to keep clutter out of your way, that all lights remain functioning normally in and around your home, and that you have bars and railings available where needed to help keep your balance.

Get your eyes and feet checked: Poor eyesight or conditions that affect your feet can impact your ability to move normally and remain upright. Make sure to get both of these parts of your body checked by a specialist; prescription glasses and recommended footwear can help you safely stay mobile and functional.

Review medication side-effects: Certain medications may have side-effects that cause dizziness, fatigue, or other symptoms that may affect your balance. Discuss these potential side-effects and how to manage them with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication.

Talk to a doctor immediately if you fall: If you fall but don’t sustain any serious injuries, you should consult your doctor immediately to determine the cause and the best ways to prevent future incidents. If you do experience a serious injury (such as head trauma), call 911.

If you’ve been injured from a fall or are at risk of falling, you can schedule an appointment with Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation by calling (718) 670-5515.

How Can Stress Affect Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Stress is a common trigger for rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups, during which symptoms such as pain, swelling, and joint stiffness worsen for a temporary period of time. The factor most closely linked to the onset of flare-ups is the inflammatory response of your immune system to stress. Inflammation is the primary means by which rheumatoid arthritis damages your joints over time.

Once a flare-up has been triggered, your arthritis symptoms may contribute to the amount of stress you experience, creating a cycle that causes both issues to worsen over time and disrupts daily activities and movement.

There are certain steps you can take to manage your stress levels and reduce the frequency of your rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups. These include:

Following a regular exercise routine: Regular physical exercise can be significantly helpful for both stress reduction and increased joint mobility. Your routine should include strength exercises, cardio, and stretching to improve flexibility and reduce your chances of injury.

Targeting work-related stress: Twenty-five percent of Americans report that their workplace is the number one cause of stress in their lives. Make sure to pace yourself with periodic breaks throughout your work day, take time to move around and stretch, and make a point of tackling any specific problems that are stressing you out (such as a delayed project or a dispute with a coworker) directly in a calm, reasoned way.

Talking to a doctor: If you experience symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, you should work with a rheumatologist to manage your physical symptoms and find the most effective treatment approach for you. Additionally, if you experience chronic stress, you should work with a psychiatrist to determine the root causes and the best way to approach them.

You can schedule an appointment with a rheumatologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486. You can also find a psychiatrist at our Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic by calling (718) 670-5562.

How Many Calories Should You Eat Each Day?

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Whether you’re trying to lose, gain, or maintain your weight, it can be helpful to know the ideal amount of calories you should be eating each day. However, this amount varies from person to person based on a variety of different factors.

Your current weight and height are primary factors in determining the number of calories you should eat each day. Generally, people who are taller and heavier require a greater number of calories to maintain their physique than lighter, shorter people.

Age also plays a role in determining your calorie requirements. As your age increases, you’ll need less calories to maintain your weight than a younger person, though you may need the same or an increased amount of nutrients to stay in good physical condition. This is due to factors such as changes in your metabolism, decreasing activity, and a loss of muscle mass and bone density over time.

People who engage in regular physical activity have higher daily calorie requirements than people who are typically inactive. Your calorie needs are also affected by the type of activity you’re engaged in; aerobic exercise, for example, burns more calories than anaerobic activity, resulting in a higher number of calories needed to maintain your weight.

Calorie needs vary between genders, as well. People assigned female at birth generally have lower calorie requirements than people assigned male at birth.

Hormones such as leptin, insulin, ghrelin, cortisol, and estrogen may also all directly impact your body’s calorie-burning efficiency, as well as where fat accumulates in your body. These hormones, and by extension your body’s calorie-burning functions, may also be affected by certain medications.

Taking these factors into account to determine your daily calorie needs can be particularly instrumental in finding the right diet and exercise routine to achieve your weight loss goals. However, due to certain conditions, not everyone can lose weight effectively through these methods alone, with some people requiring medical intervention to get the head start they need.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Bariatric Surgery Center can provide potentially life-saving weight loss procedures for eligible candidates with a body mass index greater than 40 who are 100 or more pounds above their ideal weight. To learn more about our procedures or to schedule an appointment, please call at (718) 408-6977 or (718) 670-8908.

Tips for Maintaining Your Liver Health

Posted on December 7, 2022 by Jacob Lobosco

There is a wide variety of potential causes of liver damage, including genetics and diseases such as diabetes to lifestyle choices such as heavy drinking, unprotected sex, usage of shared needles for injectable drugs, and even getting tattoos and piercings.

Unlike most organs, the liver is able to repair damage and regenerate over time. However, permanent liver damage is still able to occur if the regeneration process is interrupted or prevented from completing through repeated, consistent damage, which can occur under circumstances such as regular binge drinking.

The most effective way to protect your liver is to prevent damage through lifestyle changes and to work with a doctor to monitor your health. Some of the steps you can take to keep your liver healthy include:

Avoid hepatitis risk factors: You can talk to your doctor about receiving vaccinations against hepatitis A and B and about the treatments available for hepatitis C, all of which can cause severe liver damage. Additionally, avoid shared, un-sanitized needles for injectable drugs or medications, as these can transmit all forms of hepatitis.

Maintain a balanced, healthy diet: Both obesity and high alcohol intake are risk factors for permanent liver damage. Maintain a healthy weight by making nutritious dietary choices and limiting your intake of alcohol.

Use condoms during sex: Bodily fluids can carry viruses that cause lasting damage to your liver. Use condoms to limit risk to both yourself and your partner.

Avoid contact with dangerous chemicals: Certain chemicals in paint, insecticides, or other substances can enter your bloodstream through contact with your skin and cause serious damage to the liver. Wear protective clothing to limit skin contact with these chemicals as much as possible.

While many supplements such as “liver cleanse” products are available that purport to detox the liver or repair damage, these products are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration and there is no evidence that they genuinely benefit your health in any way.

Working with a specialist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center can help you determine your biggest risk factors for liver damage, identify medications that may lead to further damage, and find the right treatment for treating any scarring or disease you are experiencing. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Which Drug-Free Dieting Strategy is Right for You?

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Jacob Lobosco

Rapid weight loss, though not typically recommended as a healthy method of slimming down and keeping weight off, is sometimes necessary for severely obese people. In many cases, this kind of weight loss is overseen by a doctor and aided by prescription medications such as Ozempic, a drug primarily intended to treat diabetes.

However, recent shortages in this drug and others that are typically used to medically assist rapid weight loss may restrict availability for people trying to reach a healthy weight, making it necessary to consider other potential options.

Two particular dieting strategies, with the assistance of a doctor, can offer a safe means of rapidly losing weight when necessary and preserving your health. These include:

Intermittent Fasting: This strategy involves alternating between eating on a regular schedule and severely restricting calories. One popular example, the 16:8 approach, involves eating within an eight-hour window each day and fasting for the remaining 16. Another, the 5:2 approach, involves eating only one 500-600 calorie meal for two days of the week, eating normally for the remaining five days.

Low-Calorie Dieting: A low-calorie diet involves restricting daily calories to between 1000-1200 for women and 1200-1600 for men. An even stricter version of this approach can restrict calories to as little as 800 per day and is often used before weight loss surgery and can result in as much five pounds of weight loss per week.

Consult your doctor to determine whether these approaches are safe for you. They should be performed in conjunction with a regular exercise routine and a healthy, balanced diet. If you’re considering including herbal remedies or other types of supplements into your diet, talk to your doctor to determine whether these may cause complications with any foods you typically eat or medications you take.

If diet and exercise aren’t enough to help you adequately lose weight, other options are also available. Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers a non-invasive FDA-approved weight loss procedure that can help patients who are not candidates for bariatric surgery. For more information, please call (718) 670-8909. If you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, you can receive more information by calling (718) 670-6977.