Healthy Aging Month

Posted on September 5, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

September is Healthy Aging Month, a month observed to encourage people to focus on their health and take steps to help them face the challenges that come with aging.

As we age, we become aware of changes in our mental and physical health, as well as shifts in our social needs. You can take charge of your well-being by taking steps to age with a healthy mind and body. Flushing Hospital Medical Center would like to offer these tips to help boost your health as you age:

Get moving
- It is important to consult your doctor before exercising. Start slow, know your limitations, and modify activities if needed
- Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week
Maintain a healthy diet
Eat proper portion sizes
Avoid excess processed foods
Stay hydrated
Stay socially active
- Stay in touch with friends and family
- Try doing something new that interests you
Balance your body and mind
- Keep a positive attitude
- Keep your mind active by reading or doing puzzles
- Keep your body active with yoga and stretches
Be proactive
- Receive regular checkups, physicals, and medical tests when needed
- Take vitamins, supplements, and medications as prescribed or needed

Healthy Aging Month is a time to celebrate life and the positive aspects of growing older. Healthy living is healthy aging. Developing and maintaining healthy aging practices throughout your life contributes to greater resilience and opportunities to thrive as we age. Making small changes in your daily life can help you live longer and better.

If you have questions about any medical issues that may arise as you age, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care 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.

National Cholesterol Education Month

Posted on September 2, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

September is National Cholesterol Education Month. It serves as an important time to focus on heart health, getting your blood cholesterol checked, and taking proactive steps to manage cholesterol levels.

National Cholesterol Education Month seeks to inform the public about the dangers of high cholesterol and its connection with the leading cause of death around the globe, heart disease.

High cholesterol is one of the most common and commonly misunderstood health risks in America. It can be caused by an unhealthy diet and exacerbated by smoking and a lack of exercise. Since it is symptomless, it can be hard to diagnose. It is a serious condition that affects nearly 102 million Americans over the age of 20 years old.

Fortunately, managing cholesterol levels can be achieved through lifestyle changes and, if necessary, medication. Here are some effective strategies to help lower cholesterol:

Adopting a heart-healthy diet that focuses on eating foods rich in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Incorporate healthy fats from sources such as avocados, nuts, and olive oil, while reducing intake of saturated and trans fats found in processed and fried foods.
Increasing physical activity, such as brisk walking, jogging, or cycling, can help raise HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol. Aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week is recommended.
Maintaining a healthy weight by losing excess weight through a combination of healthy eating and exercising regularly can improve cholesterol levels and overall heart health.
Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol use through smoking cessation and moderate alcohol consumption can improve HDL cholesterol levels and reduce overall cardiovascular risk.
Monitoring your cholesterol levels by getting regular check-ups with a healthcare provider can help track cholesterol levels and assess risk factors. This is particularly important for younger adults who may not exhibit symptoms, but could still be at risk.

National Cholesterol Education Month is an important time to reflect on the state of our heart health and take proactive steps to manage our cholesterol levels.

If you are concerned about your heart health and would like to get your blood cholesterol checked, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.

“Razor Blade Throat” Covid Variant

Posted on August 29, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

The latest COVID-19 variant, NB. 1.8.1 or “Nimbus”, has been rapidly spreading in the U.S. and is associated with a severe symptom, a sore throat described as “razor blade throat”.

Since it was first discovered in the U.S. in March, NB.1.8.1 has become the nation’s dominant strain of COVID-19. It accounted for an estimated 43% of cases in June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

COVID-19 viruses bind to ACE2 receptors that are found on the surface of cells. Cells in the upper airway (nose and throat) have more ACE2 receptors than those in the lower airway and lungs do, making them prime targets for Omicron variants, which bind to these receptors more strongly. Research suggests that of all the variants circulating now, Nimbus binds to ACE2 receptors the most.

Once the virus reaches those cell receptors in and around your throat, the immune system kicks into overdrive to keep the virus at bay, causing inflammation, fluid buildup, redness, and swelling.

If you do experience an intense sore throat, experts recommend several remedies, including:

Honey
Cough drops
Throat spray
Gargling with salt water
Over-the-counter pain relievers

If you do catch COVID, you may experience other common symptoms besides a sore throat, such as:

Fever or chills
Cough
Congestion or a runny nose
New loss of taste or smell
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

Most healthy people will recover from COVID without treatment. However, experts still recommend talking to a healthcare provider if you test positive. Even if you are not at risk of severe illness, treatment from a healthcare provider may be able to lower your risk of long COVID.

If you are experiencing symptoms of N.B.1.8.1, such as a “razor blade throat”, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.

What to Know About Protein Intake While on Weight Loss Medication

Posted on August 20, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

GLP-1 antagonists are a class of medications that mainly manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Some GLP-1 antagonists can also help treat obesity.

When a person starts to lose weight on a GLP-1 weight loss medication, it can happen very fast. However, as they lose fat, they could also be losing essential lean muscle mass, which can harm their metabolism and blood sugar levels. This will ultimately work against weight loss efforts and can even negatively affect bone health.

Protein is the building block of muscle. Getting enough is crucial for preventing muscle loss, especially when consuming fewer calories. When you consume enough protein, you are more likely to retain and even build muscle. However, when you don’t have enough protein, your body will cannibalize some of your muscle mass for energy.

A 2024 review study that made diet recommendations for GLP-1 patients based on the latest research recommends at least 60 grams of protein a day. It is suggested to aim for 20 to 40 grams of protein at every meal.

Most people who are on GLP-1 medications experience at least one side effect. The side effects are worse just after starting and in the days after increasing the dose. Fortunately, there are ways to combat those side effects, including:

Make every meal count
Schedule your meals
Make protein a priority
Aim for 64 ounces of fluid a day, plus electrolytes
Avoid fatty and greasy foods
Steer clear of sugary foods, alcohol, and refined carbs
Maintain muscle with resistance training
Eat smaller portions more frequently
Add fiber to your diet
Talk to your doctor if you are having side effects

For more information about the Bariatric Surgery Services at Flushing Hospital or procedures performed by our doctors, please call 718-408-6977 or 718-670-8908.

National Immunization Awareness Month

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). It is a day observed to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages.

Vaccinations are important at every stage of life. They are one of the safest preventative care measures available and help play a vital role in keeping you healthy.

Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to protect the body against viruses or bacteria that cause infection. After vaccination, the immune system is better prepared to respond quickly when the body encounters the disease-causing organism.

From infants to older adults, immunizations play a critical role in preventing serious diseases such as measles, whooping cough, flu, shingles, and HPV-related cancers. Skipping vaccines can leave you and your family vulnerable to these illnesses.

Getting vaccinated plays an important role in keeping your family and community healthy, as vaccinations help protect you from infectious diseases and can lessen the severity of illness. They don’t just help protect you; they also help keep diseases from spreading to others, such as your family, neighbors, classmates, coworkers, and others in the community. Especially those most vulnerable to illness, such as infants, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.

National Immunization Awareness Month offers a timely reminder as families prepare for back-to-school and flu season approaches. If you would like to help raise awareness about the importance of vaccination, encourage friends and family to talk to a healthcare provider they trust about staying up to date on their vaccinations.

Shingles

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a viral infection that causes painful rashes and nerve damage.

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you have previously had chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in your body and can reactivate in your nerves later in life in the form of shingles.

The most common symptom of shingles is a painful, raised, or blistered rash. It may appear near the waist or on one side of the face, neck, chest, belly, or back. It can also sometimes show up on other parts of the body. Other symptoms that can appear before or along with the rash include:

Deep, burning, or shooting nerve pain

Itching or tingling

Areas of reddish or discolored skin

Fever

Chills

Headache

A general feeling of being unwell

An upset stomach

Some of the early symptoms of shingles, such as nerve pain and discoloration, can appear weeks before the rash. Other symptoms may show up in the days leading up to it. The rash turns into blisters about three to four days after it appears. Within about 10 days, the blisters dry out and turn into scabs. The scabs may take a few weeks to completely go away.

The most common complication of shingles is nerve pain that doesn’t go away when the rash does. This can last for months or years and can be extremely painful. Other complications of shingles include:

Bacterial infection

Vision loss from an eye infection

Facial paralysis or Ramsay Hunt syndrome

Hearing loss, tinnitus, and other hearing issues

Brain inflammation

Vertigo

Pneumonia

A healthcare provider will diagnose shingles by learning about your symptoms and examining the rash. If the rash follows the areas of skin along a nerve and doesn’t cross the midline of your body, that is a clue that you have shingles. A healthcare provider may also send scrapings or a swab of fluid from the blisters to a lab for diagnosis.

There is no cure for shingles. However, a healthcare provider may recommend managing symptoms with:

Antivirals

Over-the-counter pain relievers

Corticosteroids

If you have previously had chickenpox, you can reduce the risk of getting shingles by getting a shingles vaccine.

Gastroparesis Awareness Month

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month. The observance was founded by the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders in 2016, with a goal to educate people about gastroparesis symptoms, causes, and treatment options.

Gastroparesis is a condition that affects the normal spontaneous movement of the muscles or motility in your stomach.

There are many signs and symptoms of gastroparesis, which include:

Vomiting

Nausea

Abdominal bloating

A feeling of fullness after eating a few bites

Vomiting undigested food that was eaten a few hours earlier

Acid reflux

Changes in blood sugar levels

Lack of appetite

Weight loss and malnutrition

Many people with gastroparesis don’t have any noticeable signs or symptoms of the condition.

The cause of gastroparesis is unclear; however, some cases have been caused by damage to the vagus nerve, which controls the stomach muscles. The vagus nerve helps manage the complex processes in the digestive tract, like signaling the muscles in your stomach to contract and push food into the small intestine.

The vagus nerve can also be damaged by diseases such as diabetes, stomach, or small intestine surgeries.

Some risk factors that can increase your risk of gastroparesis include:

Diabetes

Abdominal or esophageal surgery

Infection, usually from a virus

Certain medications that slow the rate of stomach emptying, such as narcotic pain medications

Scleroderma- a connective tissue disease

Nervous system diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease or MS

An underactive thyroid

Women are more likely to develop gastroparesis than men.

Gastroparesis can cause several complications, including:

Severe dehydration

Malnutrition

Undigested food that hardens and remains in your stomach

Unpredictable blood sugar changes

Decreased quality of life

Doctors use several tests to help diagnose gastroparesis so they can rule out conditions that cause similar symptoms. These tests include:

Gastric emptying tests

Scintigraphy

Breath tests

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

Ultrasound

The treatment for gastroparesis begins with identifying and treating the underlying condition. For example, if diabetes is the cause of your gastroparesis, your doctor can work with you to help control it.

Other treatments may include:

Changes to your diet

Eat smaller meals more frequently

Chew food thoroughly

Eat well-cooked fruits and vegetables instead of raw

Avoid fibrous fruits and vegetables

Choose mostly low-fat foods

Try soups and pureed foods if liquids are easier to swallow

Drink about 34-51 ounces of water a day

Exercise gently after eating

Avoid carbonated drinks, alcohol, and smoking

Avoid lying down for two hours after a meal

Take a daily multivitamin

Medications

To stimulate the stomach muscles

To control nausea and vomiting

Surgical treatment

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

West Nile Virus

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Lately, there have been mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile Virus in many U.S. states, including here in New York. West Nile virus is one of the leading mosquito-borne illnesses in the U.S., with 98 cases reported so far this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since the first cases in the country were discovered by the late Dr. Deborah Asnis here at Flushing Hospital Medical Center in 1999, there have been over 51,000 symptomatic cases in the U.S.

The symptoms of West Nile virus include:

Fever

Headache

Muscle aches

Nausea and vomiting

Diarrhea

A rash that is concentrated around the chest and back

Swollen lymph nodes

Sore throat

Pain behind the eyes

West Nile virus can cause serious infections such as encephalitis and meningitis. Their symptoms include:

An intense, painful headache

A high fever above 103 degrees

A stiff neck

Confusion

Muscle weakness

Uncontrollable muscle movements such as tremors and convulsions

Seizures

Paralysis

Coma

West Nile virus can be diagnosed by testing your blood or cerebrospinal fluid to look for antibodies or other signs of infection. These tests are only performed if you’re seriously ill.

If you have signs of brain inflammation, you will need your brain scanned using a CT scan or MRI.

There are no specific medicines available to treat West Nile virus. Please note that antibiotics do not treat viruses.

Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications may relieve some symptoms. In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.

If you become sick with severe symptoms, particularly after potential exposure to the West Nile virus, you must receive treatment from a doctor as soon as possible. You can schedule an appointment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.

Plaque Psoriasis

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes thick patches, or plaques, on the skin, including the elbows, back, knees, and scalp. In severe cases, plaque psoriasis can affect the entire body, including:

The face

The feet

The genitals

The hands

The legs

Plaque psoriasis can affect anyone. However, a person may be more likely to have it if they:

Are white

Drink alcohol

Experience stress or depression

Have a relative with psoriasis

Have obesity

Smoke or use tobacco products

Symptoms of plaque psoriasis include:

Raised, discolored (red, brown, gray, or purple) plaques with a white or silvery surface

Cracks (fissures)

Bleeding

Itchiness

Irritation or pain

Plaque psoriasis is a problem with the immune system. The immune system overreacts, causing inflammation, which leads to new skin cells growing too fast.

New skin cells typically grow every 28 to 30 days. However, if a person has plaque psoriasis, new cells grow and move to the skin’s surface every three to four days.

Plaque psoriasis flare-ups can differ from person to person. No one knows what exactly causes them, but common plaque psoriasis triggers can include:

Certain foods or drinks

Certain prescription medications

Dry skin

Emotional stress

Skin injuries, such as cuts, scrapes, or surgery

Sun damage

A healthcare provider will diagnose plaque psoriasis by examining the affected areas and looking for common signs. They will also ask about symptoms, family history, and if you have recently started or stopped using a product or medication just before a flare-up.

They may also perform several tests to rule out other conditions that could cause your plaques, such as eczema or dermatitis. This series of tests is a differential diagnosis. Tests may include:

Allergy test

Biopsy

Blood tests to check for causes of a rash unrelated to plaque psoriasis

Unfortunately, there is no cure for plaque psoriasis. Treatment is used to provide relief for symptoms. An anti-inflammatory diet may help to limit plaque psoriasis flare-ups. Foods that have anti-inflammatory properties include:

Oily fish, such as mackerel, salmon, or sardines

Leafy greens, such as spinach and kale

Olive oil

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

World Lung Cancer Day

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

August 1st is observed as World Lung Cancer Day. It is a day dedicated to the global initiative of raising awareness about lung cancer, its impact, and the importance of prevention, early detection, and advanced treatments.

According to the World Health Organization, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among both men and women, and it is so prevalent that more people die from it than from colon, breast, and liver cancers combined every year.

World Lung Cancer Day was established in 2012 by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) in collaboration with other health organizations. The day focuses on educating the public about risk factors such as smoking, air pollution, and occupational exposures, while advocating for research and improved access to care.

World Lung Cancer Day serves as a platform to support those affected by the disease and to emphasize the critical need for collective action in the fight against lung cancer.

Lung cancer screening helps to identify cancer at an early stage when treatment can be most effective. Early detection through a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan can improve survival rates in individuals with the disease.

The MediSys Health Network is committed to improving the morbidity and mortality associated with lung cancer. For more information about our program, please contact the Lung Cancer Screening Program at 718-206-LUNG (5864).