Health Beat

Midlife Crisis or Depression?

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Joann Ariola

The idea of a “midlife crisis” in popular culture is when you do outrageous, impractical things such as straying from your marriage, buying sports cars or impulsively quitting you job.

A midlife crisis is better known as a midlife transition to mental health experts, who say this time in a person’s life is sometimes accompanied by depression.

The key is to realize when your transition is developing into depression.

Some signs that your midlife transition may be rooted in depression are:

Extreme change in eating habits
Consistently fatigued and exhausted
Change in sleeping patterns
A feeling of hopelessness, guilt or worthlessness
Irritable, restless or unexpected bouts of anger
Thoughts or attempts of suicide
Decrease or increase in desire and ambition
Compulsion for alcohol or drugs
Desire for a sexual affair
Feeling overwhelmingly trapped by responsibilities, such as
financial, family and job
Consistent desire to run away from responsibilities
Doing things out of character that could lead to trouble

Studies have shown that 88% of Americans who are experiencing depression during their midlife transition have reported difficulty at work, home or with otherwise simple social activities. Unfortunately, only 35% of them had seen a mental health professional for support or treatment.

A midlife transition can be one of the most stress-filled phases in your life’s journey. Seeking the assistance from a mental health professional during this time can save relationships, finances and other aspects of your life.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of a midlife transitional depression, call for an appointment at the Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Mental Health Center. For more information or to make an appointment, 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.

Low-Sodium = Lower Risk

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Joann Ariola

A low-sodium diet can reduce the risks of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and kidney damage.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium should be consumed per day

Here are the approximate amounts of sodium in a given amount of table salt:

1/4 teaspoon salt = 575 mg sodium
1/2 teaspoon salt = 1,150 mg sodium
3/4 teaspoon salt = 1,725 mg sodium
1 teaspoon salt = 2,300 mg sodium

If you are interested in lowering your sodium, this recipe for baked salmon is a good place to start. For this and other low sodium recipes you can go to –

What to Expect During Your First Trimester Screening

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Xavia Malcolm

In addition to your routine prenatal tests, it is recommended that you schedule an appointment for a first-trimester screening. These tests are highly important as they can help your doctor to gather information about the baby’s risk of developing certain chromosomal conditions such as Down syndrome, trisomy 13 or trisomy 18.

First trimester screenings are typically conducted between the eleventh and fourteenth week of pregnancy. The process is non-invasive and safe; there are no known physical risks associated with having these tests.

During your appointment, your doctor will draw blood to measure levels of plasma protein-A and human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. An ultrasound will also be performed to measure the nuchal translucency, which is the fluid beneath the skin of the baby’s neck. Increased thickness can be an early indicator of Down syndrome.

It is important to keep in mind that these tests are not diagnostic. The results, along with factors such as your age, family history and ethnicity are used to help determine the risks of your baby developing chromosomal abnormalities. The results may also indicate a need for further testing that may include CVS (chorionic villus sampling) or amniocentesis.

The Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Flushing Hospital Medical Center has the most up-to-date equipment for the evaluation of mother and fetus. The division is staffed by full-time Board Certified Perinatologists and highly trained nurses. Genetic counseling, amniocentesis, diabetic counseling, as well as maternal-fetal evaluation are offered during the course of pregnancy.

For more information about the many services offered by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Flushing Hospital, please call 718-670-8994.

National Immunization Awareness Month

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

August is National Immunization Month. The importance of this designation is to make people aware about the different types of vaccines they should get throughout their lifetime. Vaccines are important to keep the body healthy by building up an immunity to serious diseases. If you would like to make an appointment with a physician at Flushing

Hospital, please call 718-670-5486.

Pokemon Go Safety Tips

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Joann Ariola

The mobile game, Pokemon Go has become a craze with millions of Americans addicted to playing. Because of the widespread play, the NYPD has issued a list of safety tips for. They are as follows:

By following these rules, you will have a better, safer experience when playing the game.

The Importance Of Early Detection

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Xavia Malcolm

Did you know breast cancer is one of the most common cancers found in women in the United States? Every year there are an estimated 230,000 new cases of breast cancer. About 40,000 women are expected to die annually from this disease. However, more women are surviving breast cancer due to improvements in treatment and early detection.

Cancer deaths can be decreased by as much as one-third with early detection and treatment.

Early detection can start from home. Doctors suggest that women perform monthly breast self-exams. In addition to yearly screenings and mammograms, self-exams can help women to monitor changes or abnormalities that may occur in her breasts. It is important to remember that breast self-exams are never a substitute for clinical breast exams or mammograms.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women should begin receiving clinical breast exams in their twenties. Women below the age of forty are advised to receive them every three years. Those over 40 should schedule yearly mammograms and clinical breast exams.

Mammograms are one of the most effective breast screening and diagnostic tools; however, other tools such as MRI’s or ultrasounds may also be used to further evaluate abnormalities or help diagnose breast cancer.

Early and immediate treatment is one of the benefits women will gain from early detection of cancer. If you are age forty and older schedule an appointment for a mammogram as soon as possible. The American College of Radiology is a great resource to find accredited facilities and breast imaging centers.

The Benefits of taking a Vacation

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

We live in a stressful society that is full of situation. It is very important for people to take a break in order to stay healthy. Studies have shown not taking a vacation for a few years can increase the risk of heart disease and the potential for a heart attack. People who take vacations have an easier time to breaking bad habits such as nail biting, smoking, and eating poorly because stress the triggers for these bad habits aren’t present.
There are many benefits to taking a vacation:
• Betters outlook on life
• Allows the body to unwind
• Increases happiness
To really benefit from a vacation a person has to leave their work environment at home.
Today, with electronic devices so prevalent, it is important to not check them more than
once or twice a day.

Can Stress be Sweet?

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Joann Ariola

Stress can be disabling, but could it also affect your diabetes?

It is well known that stress can affect a person’s well-being and ability to function. But, for people with diabetes, a stressful life can make managing their condition more difficult.

There isn’t a medically known relationship between diabetes and stress; but, researchers have found that people who live a stressful existence are 20 percent more likely to have diabetes than those who have learned to control their stress.

Additionally, studies indicate stress may have an effect on blood glucose levels causing them to spike.

Some ways to combat spiking blood glucose levels during stressful times are:

Devote 10 minutes of your day to a workout routine
Meditate for a few minutes a day
Get a hobby such as puzzles, sewing or reading
Take a 10-minute walk to get your mind off your stress

Having a comprehensive team of doctors or healthcare professionals is important to your health and managing your diabetes. For an appointment, call Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718-670-5486.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, FHMC has a diabetes support group. For more information call 718-5000, ext 8232.

A Robot Is Removing My Hernia

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Zakiya Hazel-Jemmott

A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or tissue through the structure or muscle that usually contains it. A hernia occurs immediately or over a long period of time when a combination of muscle strain and weakness is present in the body.

Hernias are most common in the abdomen, but they can also appear in the upper thigh, belly button, and groin areas. Most hernias are not immediately life threatening, but they don’t go away on their own and can require surgery to prevent potentially dangerous complications.

Factors that strain your body and may cause a hernia, especially if your muscles are weak, include:

Being pregnant, (which puts pressure on your abdomen)
Being constipated, which causes you to strain when having a bowel movement
Heavy weight lifting
Fluid in the abdomen, or ascites
Suddenly gaining weight
Straining with urination
An Underlying malignancy
Persistent coughing or sneezing

Common symptoms of a hernia include:

Pain or discomfort in the affected area, especially when bending over, coughing, or lifting
Feeling weakness, pressure or heaviness in the abdomen
A bulge or protrusion which enlarges with straining and resolves when lying down
Feeling a burning or aching sensation at the site of the bulge

If you suspect that these symptoms could be a hernia, visit your doctor for an examination of the affected area and be sure to detail all symptoms. If the results reveal a hernia then the next step would be surgical repair. Whether or not you need surgery depends on the size of your hernia and the severity of your symptoms. During hernia surgery, the weak tissue in the wall of the abdomen or groin is repaired with a mesh.

Technology in surgery is constantly evolving with the intent of increasing positive clinical outcomes and improving patient safety and recovery. One of the greatest medical advances to occur in the pursuit of these goals was the development of surgical robots. Flushing Hospital Medical Center in its dedication to providing patients with the most technologically advanced tools in health care, acquired the da Vinci Surgical Robot. This tool allows for a minimally invasive surgery offering many benefits including, less pain, faster healing time, shorter hospital stay and less risk of infection.

If you have been diagnosed with a hernia and are looking to have the procedure done using the da Vinci surgical robot, Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers this procedure.

For more information about robotic surgery or procedures performed by our surgeons, please contact Flushing Hospital’s Department of Surgery at 718-670-3135.

Plastic Surgery Trends in 2016

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Zakiya Hazel-Jemmott

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that 15.6 million people in the U.S. underwent some type of cosmetic procedure in 2014, up 3 percent from 2013. One of the fastest-growing trends was in procedures to lift and tighten up body parts after massive weight loss, an apparent result of more people undergoing weight-loss surgery. Body enhancements are not anything new but the social media age has made plastic surgery more common to see. Here is a short list of 2016’s most popular plastic surgery trends.

Using the patient’s own fat as a volumizer all over the body (face, breast, buttock) will continue to increase as patients increasingly desire the greatest impact with the least downtime. In the past plastic surgery has been attributed to silicon but today fat transfers are more popular, especially for people that aren’t fond of filling their bodies with plastic.
Millennials will increasingly become users of plastic surgery. The 20-somethings represent approximately 20% of the cosmetic surgery population, and this is only going to increase, (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). These days you can use social media and see that the waiting room patients are becoming younger and younger. Surgery is no longer just for the rich Beverly Hills wife who wants to relive her glory days.
There will be a continued increase in the number of women seeking vaginal rejuvenation procedures. These procedures will follow the current trends, namely, not only surgical rejuvenation but non-surgical (laser) vaginal rejuvenation as well.
Non-surgical fat removal will continue its meteoric rise in popularity offering a method to permanently and reliable remove fat without the need to undergo surgery and not of the traditional post-operative recovery.