Sinus Infections

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

A sinus infection, also known as acute sinusitis, is the inflammation of the tissues in your sinuses.

A sinus infection can make breathing through the nose difficult and swell the area around the eyes and face. It may also cause a headache or a throbbing pain in the face.

The common cold is the usual cause of a sinus infection. However, other viruses, bacteria, fungi, and allergies can cause it.

The symptoms of a sinus infection include:

A runny nose with thick yellow or greenish mucus
Post-nasal drip
A stuffy nose
Pain, tenderness, swelling, and pressure around the eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead that gets worse when bending over
Ear pressure or pain
Pain or pressure in your teeth
Fever
Cough
Bad breath
Headache
Tiredness
A changed sense of smell

Some people are more likely to get a sinus infection than others. Risk factors include:

Nasal allergies
Asthma
Nasal polyps
A deviated septum
A weakened immune system
Smoking

When diagnosing a sinus infection, a healthcare provider may ask about your symptoms and do an exam. The exam might include feeling for tenderness in the nose and face, and looking inside the nose.

Other ways to diagnose a sinus infection and rule out other conditions include:

A nasal endoscopy
Imaging studies
Nasal and sinus swab samples
Allergy testing

Most sinus infection cases get better on their own. Self-care is usually all that is needed to ease its symptoms.

Treatments to ease sinus infection symptoms can include:

Saline nasal spray
Nasal corticosteroids
Decongestants
Allergy medicines
Over-the-counter pain relievers

Several home remedies can help relieve symptoms of a sinus infection, including:

Resting
Drinking plenty of fluids
Using a warm compress
Keeping the sinuses moist
Rinsing the inside of the nose

If you are experiencing any problems due to a sinus infection, visit Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, 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.

National Stroke Awareness Month

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. It is observed to raise awareness about the prevention and treatment of strokes, supporting stroke survivors, and educating the public on the impact of this serious medical condition.

Strokes happen when a blood clot or broken blood vessel prevents blood from getting to your brain. The lack of blood flow deprives brain cells of the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive, causing them to die in minutes.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Stroke can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time, so it is important to know the warning signs. The warning signs of a stroke can be found using the B.E. F.A.S.T. acronym, which emphasizes the urgency of seeking immediate medical attention:

B- Balance- is the person experiencing a sudden loss of balance or coordination, or dizziness
E- Eyes- is the person experiencing sudden vision problems, like blurred or double vision, or vision loss in one or both eyes.
F- Face drooping- by asking the person to smile, you can tell immediately if one side of the face droops
A- Arm weakness- ask the person to raise both arms. Observe to see if one arm drifts lower than the other
S- Speech difficulty- slurred speech is a symptom of stroke. Ask the person to repeat a single sentence
T- Time to call 911- time may be the difference between life and death, or even partial and full recovery

There are several ways to get involved with National Stroke Awareness Month, including:

Educating yourself about the signs of stroke and sharing it with others
Participating in stroke awareness events
Advocating for legislation that improves stroke care, funds research, or enhances patient care recovery from strokes
Supporting survivors
Wearing purple

If you are experiencing any symptoms of a stroke, call 911 immediately. If you need assistance managing your health to prevent a stroke or maintaining your overall wellness, visit Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Services Chemical Dependence Unit Offers Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Opioid overdose deaths are a major public health problem in America. More than 107,000 people lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2023, with 70% of those deaths attributed to opioids such as fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more deadly than heroin. One gram of fentanyl, which is equivalent to the size of a sugar packet, has the potential to kill up to five hundred people.

There was a 14.5% decrease in opioid overdose deaths in 2024 due to public health measures.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Services provides care and support to help people recover from opioid addiction. The department has the only medically managed detoxification unit in Queens County.

The unit, called the Chemical Dependence Unit, is a 30-bed medically managed detoxification unit that helps people safely withdraw from opioids, alcohol, and benzodiazepines. Under the direction of the Medical Director for Addiction Services and Unit Chief, staff includes physicians board-certified in addiction medicine, physician assistants, nurses, addiction counselors, psychotherapists, and creative arts therapists.

In addition to medical treatment such as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction, the unit provides nursing care, individual and group counseling, creative arts therapy, self-help groups, and, very importantly, discharge and aftercare planning to help people continue their Recovery Journey, with follow-up calls after discharge.

For additional admission information, please call the Addiction Treatment Unit at 718-670-4524.

Bariatric Surgery- What is Revision Surgery?

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Bariatric or gastric bypass surgery involves making changes to the digestive system to help lose weight. It is done when diet and exercise haven’t worked or when you are at risk of serious health problems due to your weight.

Bariatric revision surgery is a broad term used to describe follow-up procedures required for all patients who previously had weight-loss surgery. These procedures are intended to make a patient’s initial weight-loss procedure more effective, to minimize unpleasant side effects, or to reverse the original surgery.

A patient may be a candidate for bariatric revision surgery for one or more of the following reasons:

Insufficient weight loss
Complications
Side effects
Weight regain
Malnutrition

Surgeons can revise an initial bariatric surgery in several ways, depending on the problems that stem from the initial surgery. The surgeons then repair, convert, or reverse that procedure.

The bariatric revision surgical procedure options that are used for the three most common types of bariatric surgery include:

Sleeve gastronomy
Gastric bypass surgery
Gastric band surgery

Bariatric revision surgery is performed to improve a patient’s health or quality of life. The procedure may encourage greater weight loss in patients whose previous surgeries didn’t lead to the expected loss of excess body weight. It may also address complications from the prior bariatric procedure, such as an ulcer or stricture, and reduce or eliminate unwanted side effects, such as swallowing difficulties or GERD.

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.

Mental Health Awareness Month-10 Common Signs of Mental Health Issues

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a month observed to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness.

The signs and symptoms of mental illness can vary, depending on the disorder, circumstances, and other factors. Mental illness symptoms can affect a person’s emotions, thoughts, and behavior.

10 common signs of mental health issues include:

Feeling very sad, withdrawn, or unmotivated for more than two weeks
Out-of-control, risk-taking behaviors
Not eating, throwing up, or using laxatives to lose weight; significant weight loss or weight gain
Making plans or trying to harm or kill oneself
Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing
Severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
Excess use of drugs or alcohol
Drastic changes in behavior, personality, or sleeping habits
Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities
Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still

Founded by Mental Health America in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of mental wellbeing, educating the public, reducing the stigma, and promoting support for those affected by mental health conditions.

You can help do your part by helping raise awareness and advocating for better mental health care and resources.

Hepatitis Awareness Month

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. It is a month that raises awareness of viral hepatitis in the United States.

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that damages it, affecting how well it functions.

Viral hepatitis is a major public health threat, and unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of people in the United States don’t know they are infected.

Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are vaccine-preventable, and hepatitis C can be cured.

A hepatitis A infection usually causes a mild, short-term illness. Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection.

Many people with the hepatitis B virus won’t experience symptoms, and similarly, many people with hepatitis C don’t look or feel sick. Left untreated, both infections can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.

Although there is no cure for hepatitis B, treatments are available that can delay or reduce the risk of developing liver cancer. There currently isn’t a vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, but curative treatments are available. Most people who are infected with hepatitis C can be cured with just eight to 12 weeks of well-tolerated oral-only treatment. Testing is the first step.

Getting tested is the only way to know you have either virus. May 19th is observed as Hepatitis Testing Day, so it is imperative to get tested to know whether or not you are infected.

Hepatitis Awareness Month educates healthcare practitioners and the public about the importance of vaccination against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, as well as the importance of testing and treatment for hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Outdoor Exercise Tips

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

The weather is warming up, and we can spend more time outdoors at the park or dining at a restaurant.

Many people exercise outdoors rather than at the gym or in their homes. Outdoor exercise is a great way to work out. It offers many benefits to our physical and mental health, such as:

Reducing stress and anxiety
Improving sleep
Boosting vitamin D levels
Boosting self-esteem
Improving memory
Lowering chronic disease risk

Here are tips that can keep you safe when exercising outdoors:

Drink plenty of water. Avoid caffeine and alcohol
Wear clothes that let the air circulate and moisture evaporate
Stay sun safe by wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat
Know the signs of heat-related illnesses
Wear proper footwear for the activity you are engaging in

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.

Meet Our Doctors: Dr. Kava Robinson

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

We are pleased to introduce Dr. Kava Robinson, the newest member of the rheumatology team.

Dr. Kava Robinson has a special interest in musculoskeletal ultrasound in clinical Rheumatology. Dr. Robinson attended medical school at St. George’s University. After medical school, she completed her Internal Medicine residency at Broward Health Medical Center. After residency, she completed a hospice and palliative fellowship at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and then a fellowship in Rheumatology at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center. Dr. Robinson is committed to serving our community and being a health advocate for her patients. She provides compassionate, collaborative care and is driven by the bond with patients.

We are proud to welcome Dr. Robinson to our team and look forward to the work he and the rest of the Rheumatology Department will do to provide high-quality care to our community.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

April 26^th, 2025, is observed as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It is a day that encourages the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.

Starting in the fall of 2010, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day promotes the safe and anonymous disposal of unnecessary, expired, and unused prescription medications at over 4,100 collection sites across the United States. Since its inception, the day has brought in 19.2 million pounds (9,600 tons) of medication.

On this National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, make a difference by tracking your medicine, rethinking where and how you keep your medications in your home, and safely disposing of any unused medications.

To learn more, visit https://www.dea.gov/takebackday to find a prescription drug collection site near you.

Shin Splints

Posted on April 23, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Shin splints are a common overuse injury that occurs when the muscles and bones in your lower leg become strained and irritated. Athletes (especially runners), dancers, members of the military, and individuals with osteoporosis, flat feet, and high or very rigid arches are at a higher risk of developing shin splints.

If you have shin splints, you may notice tenderness, soreness, or pain along the inner side of your shinbone and mild swelling in your lower leg. Initially, the pain may subside when you stop exercising. However, the pain can be continuous and might progress to a stress reaction or stress fracture, so it is best to take it easy while they heal.

Shin splints are caused by repetitive stress on the shinbone and the connective tissue that attaches the muscles to the bone.

Healthcare providers diagnose shin splints based on your medical history and by performing a physical exam. They will observe how you walk and examine your lower leg, ankle, and foot.

In some cases, they may also perform an X-ray or other imaging tests that can help identify other possible causes for your pain, such as a stress fracture.

Shin splints can be treated with simple self-care steps that include:

Rest
Ice
Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever
Supplements
Shin splint stretches
Slow increases in activity levels
Wearing supportive shoes and shoe inserts
Resting in between activities to allow your bones and muscles time to heal
Physical therapy

There are several ways to help avoid shin splints, including:

Analyzing your movement
Avoiding overdoing high-impact activities
Choosing the right shoes
Considering arch support
Considering shock-absorbing insoles
Lessening the impact on your shins
Adding strength training to your workout

If you experience shin splints often, 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.