Women's Health Archives - Page 4 of 13

Things to Consider When Taking Oral Contraceptives

Posted on January 24, 2019 by Andrew Rubin

Oral contraceptives, also called birth control pills, are one of the most popular forms of birth control used today. These oral contraceptives work by inhibiting ovulation and are considered to be safe when used properly.
Some studies have shown that the risks of breast cancer and cervical cancer might be increased when taking oral contraceptives. This is due to the fact that the female hormones estrogen and progesterone which are used to make the oral contraceptives, when found in higher levels in the body, are linked to the increased risk of cancer occurring. Conversely, the higher levels of these hormones may lower the risks for endometrial, ovarian and colorectal cancer.
Other complications from taking oral contraceptives while rare, may also include blood clots, stroke, heart attacks, and liver tumors.
There are some situations where combination oral contraceptives shouldn’t be used. These include:
• Women who smoke
• Have a history of breast cancer
• Experience uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Have liver disease or uncontrolled diabetes
Oral contraceptives are prescribed by a physician. It is important that a full medical history be taken and a physical examination be performed prior to starting to take them. If you are considering taking an oral contraceptive and would like to discuss this with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486 to schedule an appointment.

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.

Pregnancy and Gastrointestinal Issues

Posted on January 15, 2019 by Xavia Malcolm

Gastrointestinal issues are common during pregnancy. This may be due in part to several factors such as an increase in hormones or the limited amount of abdominal space available for digestive organs to function normally.

As your baby grows, your organs will rearrange themselves to accommodate uterine growth. The enlarged uterus displaces the stomach, esophagus and intestines which can contribute to reflux of gastric contents or other digestive problems.

Hormonal changes can also contribute to digestive problems. Pregnant women produce high levels of the hormone progesterone. This hormone causes bowel muscles to relax and can affect their ability to work efficiently.

These changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy may cause the following symptoms to develop:

Nausea and vomiting
Constipation
Acid Reflux
Diarrhea

If you are experiencing these symptoms, speak with your doctor right away. Your doctor will determine if they are pregnancy-related and recommended the best treatment options for your health.

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

Benefits of an Annual Physical

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Joann Ariola

An annual exam is a good way of tracking your health progress. How would you categorize your commitment to getting an annual physical?

Yearly
Bi-Yearly
When I don’t feel good
I don’t do doctors

Some of the benefits are:

Primary prevention
To identify risk factors for common chronic diseases
To detect disease that has no apparent symptoms (secondary prevention)
A way for the doctor to counsel people to promote healthy behavior
To update clinical data since your last check-up
To enhance the relationship between you and your doctor
If you are interested in scheduling an exam, Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center is centrally located and has convenient hours. Call 718-670-5486 to schedule an appointment.

BENEFITS OF COLLAGEN FOR MAINTAINING A HEALTHY GUT

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Joann Ariola

When talking about collagen, most people would equate it with skin care, but younger looking skin is only where the benefits of collagen begin. Collagen can also play an important role in building and maintaining healthy connective tissue throughout your digestive tract.

Maintaining a strong digestive tract and stomach lining is extremely important for the prevention of a condition known as “leaky gut.” Leaky gut happens when there are damages in the barrier lining of your intestine. This condition may allow food and waste particles to pass into the bloodstream, causing an inflammation. Leaky gut can cause bloating, gas, stomach cramps, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), as well as sensitivity to foods that are wheat-based, high in sugar and contain gluten.

Foods that are known to trigger leaky gut are:

Wheat-based products
Gluten-containing grains
Processed meats
Baked goods
Snack foods
Junk food
Dairy products
Refined oils
Artificial sweeteners
Sauces
Beverages

Some simple ways to add more collagen to your diet are:Collagen is beneficial to gut health because it contains large amounts of the amino acids glycine, glutamine and proline which can be beneficial to the intestinal tract as well as the stomach.

Bone broth – Bone broth is made by simmering bones to help extract the flavor and beneficial nutrients of the bones marrow. It is not only an excellent source of collagen, but it is tastes good and is easy to add to your diet through soups and stews.
Powdered gelatin – Gelatin is the cooked form or collagen. By utilizing powdered gelatin as a tea or by adding it to your soups, stews and broths, you can quickly bump up your collagen consumption.
Supplements with collagen peptides – Collagen peptides are an easy way to get this important amino acid. Most brands are broken down so that they are easy to digest and absorb.

Although leaky gut is more prevalent in persons with chronic diseases such as, celiac’s disease and type 1 diabetes, main source of leaky gut remains a mystery. Therefore, its treatment may vary. Most doctors recommend adding a healthier menu to your lifestyle. They suggest adding more vegetables, fruit, gluten-free grains, healthy fats, fish, lean meats, eggs and yogurt to your diet.

If you are showing signs and symptoms of leaky gut and they persist, please see your doctor for further discussion. If you’d like to make an appointment at Flushing Hospital Medical Centers, Ambulatory Care Center, call 718-670-5486 to schedule an appointment.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center Designated Baby-Friendly

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Joann Ariola

Flushing Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) has received the prestigious international recognition as a Designated Baby-Friendly birth facility. Baby-Friendly USA, Inc is the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this prestigious international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.

FHMC offers the following classes free of charge at FHMC:

Childbirth education classes on Saturday monthly. Call
Infant feeding classes weekly on Tuesday at 10am Ob/Gyn Ambulatory Care Center on the 5th floor
Breastfeeding Support Group weekly, Wednesdays, 1pm 5 West conference room, by appointment
Free tours of the Perinatal area by calling
Women Infants and Children (WIC) office on the 5th floor

Robert Levine, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at FHMC, congratulated the entire OB/GYN team for their hard work.

The Benefits of Essential Oil Diffusers

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Joann Ariola

It’s no secret that natural living can be beneficial to your health. If you are already living more naturally, you probably know the advantages of using an essential oil diffuser, but if you are just beginning to use essential oils, here are some of their many benefits.

An essential oil diffuser is also known as an aromatherapy diffuser. It disperses essential oils into the air and fills the area with a natural fragrance.

One of the best known uses for essential oils is their ability to assist you in unwinding after a tough day. Oils such as chamomile, lavender and clary sage in a diffuser can give you a much needed break from the stress of the day and help you sleep.

Many other essential oils, such as peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree, sage, rosemary, grapefruit, lemon and thyme are anti-microbial and when introduced into the air in vapor form, can be a great way to keep a cold or flu away.

These essential oils can also be used to boost your immune system and diffusers double as humidifiers to help keep your airways moist causing you to breathe easier and be less susceptible to germs.

There are even claims that diffused oils such as ginger, chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus, clary sage, rosemary, pine and bergamot can be helpful in soothing headaches, sore joints and overworked muscles, as well as being a way to super-charge your brain cells.

These are only some of the many benefits of using an essential oil diffuser. To any one of you individually, the benefits may vary, but since we always put safety first, using essential oil diffusers is a safer option than lit candles or burning incense.

How Can I Prepare For My OB/GYN Appointment?

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Joann Ariola

A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in a woman’s reproductive health. An obstetrician is a doctor who cares for a woman during her pregnancy and immediately after the baby is born. The majority of doctors that specialize in women’s health care specialize in both disciplines.

Since your ob/gyn will handle some of the most important health related issues in your life, it is important that you have a trusting rapport with them. There may be issues that you find embarrassing or sensitive to discuss and you want to know that you can trust the doctor that is treating you.

Most of the anxiety can be averted if you find a doctor you like, coordinate your appointment with friends and make it an annual event, research the examination method used by ob/gyn’s and prepare to be straight forward with tough issues you may be experiencing as well as being open about your bedroom behavior.

Some of the health issues your ob/gyn may address are:

Pregnancy
Reproductive health
Childbirth
Birth control
Menopause
Cancer screening
Infection treatment
Surgery for the pelvic organ
Treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI)

Since we’ve already established that preparing what you want to discuss ahead of time will relieve some of the pressure of the impending appointment; there may be some questions you may want to ask as well, such as:

Do you accept my health insurance?
At what hospital do you have privileges?
Do you have convenient office hours?
If you are not available, what is your covering physician plan?

If you are thinking of making an appointment with an ob/gyn and would like to speak with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center, please call 718-670-8989 for an appointment.

What is a Hysterectomy?

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Flushing Hospital

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing a woman’s uterus. It is a common operation, in fact, the CDC reports that over 10% percent of women between the ages of 40-44 have had a hysterectomy and approximately 600,000 procedures are performed annually.

Hysterectomies are used to treat several health conditions, some of which include:

Uterine fibroids
Gynecologic cancer
Endometriosis
Uterine prolapse
Chronic pelvic pain
Adenomyosis

Hysterectomies can be performed utilizing several techniques. Based on the course of treatment that is best for you, your surgeon may recommend one of the following options:

Abdominal hysterectomy
Laparoscopic-assisted abdominal hysterectomy
Vaginal hysterectomy
Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy
Robotic- assisted hysterectomy

Procedures may require the complete or partial removal of the uterus. If a complete removal is required, a total hysterectomy may be performed. In the case where the uterus and surrounding structures such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries need to be removed, a radical hysterectomy is often recommended. Treatment involving the partial removal of the uterus may include a supracervical hysterectomy.

As with all surgical procedures there are risks to consider. However some techniques can offer patients a reduced risk of complications such as pain and bleeding. Laparoscopic and robotic assisted hysterectomies may result in less pain, minimal bleeding, a lower risk in infection and shorter hospital stays.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has a full program to provide total health care to women. Our highly trained specialists utilize the latest techniques and equipment, such as ultrasonography, color Doppler, laser, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, in the diagnoses and treatment of female disorders. Robotic surgeons at Flushing Hospital are board certified or board approved and has performed countless procedures resulting in high rates of success.

Gynecological procedures performed robotically by Flushing Hospital’s team of surgeons include hysterectomy, ovarian cystectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy, sacrocolpopexy, tubal reanastomosis, dermoid cystectomy and more.

For more information or to make an appointment please call, 718-670-8994

Cold or Spring Allergies?

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Flushing Hospital

The transition from winter to spring can be challenging to your health. The change in seasons often results in an overlap of symptoms that could be either the remnants of a winter cold or the first signs of spring allergies.

While many of the symptoms of colds and allergies are similar, the causes of each are very different.

Colds are contagious and they are contracted when a person is exposed to an individual infected with a cold virus. Our body’s immune system will launch a counter attack against the virus. This response usually brings on the classic symptoms, such as a runny nose or cough.

An allergic reaction is caused by an overactive immune system that mistakes harmless things, such as pollen, and attacks them. To combat what it thinks are germs, your body releases chemicals called histamines as a defense. The release of these histamines can cause a swelling of the nasal passages and result in coughing and sneezing. Allergies are not contagious.

While many of the symptoms are similar, the easiest way to determine if you have a cold or are suffering from allergies is the duration of your condition. While most colds last from three to 14 days, allergies can last for months as long as the person is in contact with the allergen. Other differences are:

An allergic reaction will begin immediately after exposure to an allergen while cold symptoms usually take approximately three days to appear after exposure
Colds can sometimes cause fever and body aches while allergies never do
An allergic reaction can often result in itchy, watery eyes, which a cold rarely produces this type of reaction

Once a determination between cold or allergy is made, the appropriate treatment can be applied.

There is no cure for a cold, but there are medications that can help alleviate the symptoms. Cough syrups, pain relievers, decongestant sprays, or multi-symptom cold relief medicines can all be used to help, but should only be taken after consulting your doctor, especially if you are taking other medications or if you have other underlying health conditions. Drinking plenty of liquids also speeds up the recovery process.

To treat allergies, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter antihistamine to block the reaction to the allergens. There are many forms of antihistamines and some may cause drowsiness so be sure to look for the non-drowsy formula or only take them at night. Decongestants may also be suggested to relieve nasal congestion and avoid an infection.

If you are not sure if you have a cold or allergies, please speak with your doctor. If you do not have a doctor, Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center can help. To make an appointment, please call 718-670-8939.

Why Am I So Tired?

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Joann Ariola

Daylight Saving Time began at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 11^th. Lots of notifications were disseminated to remind you to set your clocks forward and try to get to bed a little earlier to compensate for that lost hour.

What they didn’t tell you is that your circadian rhythm or internal clock may have been interrupted by this change in time. In order to reset your internal clock, the food you eat might be the key to providing you a smoother transition.

Studies show that certain foods tend to produce a more restful night’s sleep. Foods that are likely to give you a deeper sleep are:

Milk
Turkey
Honey
Nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, etc.)
Kale
Rice (or other forms of carbohydrates)

The secret to these foods are the vitamins they contain, as well as the hormones they help the brain to produce. Calcium is a natural sleep inducer, especially when consumed with magnesium. Calcium and magnesium both naturally produce melatonin, so consuming dairy products, wheat, and beans can all lead to a more restful sleep.

Melatonin is a hormone the brain produces naturally that also greatly contributes to a good night’s sleep.

Additionally, some proteins, such as lean meats, produce tryptophan, an amino acid that causes sleepiness. Carbohydrates, such as starches and fibers, can also cause fatigue, this occurs when the body breaks them down and they become sugar. Some healthy carbohydrates can be found in whole grain, cereal, and vegetables.

While some foods can help you get a better night’s sleep, other foods and eating habits can reduce your amount of sleep. Some of these include:

Eating too much or too little
Caffeine (after lunchtime)
Fatty foods (fast food, junk food, etc.)
Eating late at night • Alcohol (in large doses)

Try to avoid these bad eating habits and replace them with healthy foods that are high in calcium, magnesium, healthy carbohydrates, and protein.