Health Beat - Page 127 of 166 - FHMC NewsletterHealth Beat | FHMC Newsletter

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.

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.

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.

Bariatric Surgery – Lap Band Procedure

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

Diagram of an adjustable gastric band

Losing weight is not easy, whether it be just a few pounds for a special occasion or to look good at the beach or considerably more weight in order to make a dramatic change in your health. Bariatric surgery is a popular weight loss choice for those people who would like to make a dramatic change in their life.
Bariatric surgery is performed on the stomach or intestines to induce weight loss. The basic principle of the procedure is to restrict food intake and reduce absorption of food by the stomach and intestines.
The criteria for bariatric surgery are:
• Body mass index (BMI) over 40
• Disabling pain in weight bearing joints
• Over 100 pounds or more above ideal weight
• Previous attempts at weight loss through diet and exercise have failed
• Obesity related disorders such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes, degenerative joint disease
One procedure that people speak about frequently is Lap Band surgery. This is one of the simplest forms of bariatric surgery. It is a minimally invasive technique and is performed laparoscopically. The surgeon places an inflatable silicone band on the upper part of the stomach; this is secured by sutures. The band will be adjusted by injecting a small amount of saline solution into a port. A small pouch will be created which will restrict the amount of food that a person who has this procedure is able to eat. The procedure usually takes one to two hours to perform.
Advantages of Lap Band surgery:
• Reduction in the amount of food that the stomach can hold
• Weight loss is usually 40 – 50 percent
• Short hospital stay
• No cutting or stapling of the stomach or intestines
• It is reversible
• Low rate of post-op complications
• Low risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies
If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital to discuss if bariatric surgery is right for you, please call 718-670-8908

Tips for Breastfeeding Babies Who are Teething

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Xavia Malcolm

Most babies do not bite while breastfeeding but some might while teething. This can be painful or uncomfortable and may cause some mothers to consider weaning. Although teething raises some challenges, mothers are encouraged to continue breastfeeding as best they can. Organizations such as the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommend breastfeeding until babies are ages one to two.

If you decide to continue breastfeeding throughout teething, following these tips can help you alleviate some pain and discomfort:
• Make certain that your baby is latched on properly. When babies are latched properly it is difficult for them to bite as their tongues are covering the lower gums or teeth.
• Massage the baby’s gums before feeding. This can decrease the level of discomfort or pain your baby may be experiencing.
• Discourage the baby each time he bites by either removing him from the nipple bite or by pulling him closer to you. Then calmly say “no biting”.
• Give baby something cold to chew before feeding. A chilled, age-appropriate teething toy or cloth can ease soreness. Rubbing an ice cube on gums works just as well.
• Stick a finger in the corner of the baby’s mouth as he or she clamps down. This will serve as a barrier between your nipples and baby’s teeth.

The good news is biting caused by teething is only a phase; it is temporary. Continuing to breastfeed can provide countless benefits for your baby. If your baby still bites after trying these tips, do not hesitate to contact a lactation consultant or your pediatrician for direction and support

Today is World Hepatitis Awareness Day

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

Liver Protected Against Hepatitis Virus

In 2010 the World Health Organization ( W.H.O. ) designated July 28th as World Hepatitis Day. This serves to increase awareness about viral hepatitis and to influence change in disease prevention, testing and treatment. The goal for 2016 is to adopt a plan that will eliminate hepatitis as a public threat by 2030.
Hepatitis is a virus that causes an inflammation of the liver. The liver is an organ in the body that processes nutrients, filters the blood and fights infections. The most common forms of hepatitis are A, B, and C. Hepatitis B and C kill close to 1.4 million people each year and cause almost 80 percent of all liver cancer cases. Many people have the hepatitis virus and are unaware of it.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis B include:
• Fever
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Jaundice
• Abdominal pain
• Fatigue
Hepatitis is spread from person to person through contact with bodily fluids. It is possible that people remain without symptoms for many years but during this time the disease is slowly destroying the liver. It can take many years for the symptoms to appear. Blood tests are available that can detect the virus at an early stage.
Ways to reduce infection:
• Use only sterile equipment for injections
• Test all donated blood for hepatitis
• Practice safe sex
• Encourage people to get hepatitis B vaccine
Medication exists that can cure hepatitis C and can control hepatitis B infection. When given properly, people are less likely to die from liver cancer and cirrhosis and also are less likely to transmit the disease to others. The hepatitis B vaccine is given in three doses over a 6 month period and it is recommended that it be initiated right after birth if possible.
To make an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital to discuss the vaccine, please call 718-670-5486.