Health Beat

Thyroid Awareness Month

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Your thyroid plays an important role in regulating your bodily functions, including those of the circulatory, nervous, digestive, and reproductive systems through the release of hormones into the bloodstream. When the thyroid experiences problems, it can disrupt these functions and negatively affect your entire body.

Thyroid disease in general is fairly common, with approximately 20 million people throughout the United States experiencing it in some form. It is more common in women than men across the board, but regardless of your gender, you may be more likely to develop thyroid disease if you already suffer from a chronic condition, take medication that is high in iodine, have previously been treated for a thyroid condition, are over the age of 60, or if it runs in your family.

Thyroid disease comes in a variety of forms; some of the most common types include hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid cancer.

Hyperthyroidism: This condition, also known as overactive thyroid, occurs when your thyroid gland produces an excessive supply of hormones, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, mood swings, weight loss, and goiter, which causes your thyroid gland to become swollen.

Hypothyroidism: This form of thyroid disease occurs when your thyroid gland produces an insufficient amount of hormones to meet the demands of your bodily functions. It can cause fatigue, depression, dry skin and hair, a slowed heart rate, and fertility problems in women. Like hyperthyroidism, this condition can also cause goiter.

Thyroid cancer: This form of cancer typically occurs in people between the ages of 25 and 65 and is most common in people of Asian descent. Symptoms include a lump and swelling in the neck, pain in the front of the neck, difficulty swallowing and breathing, and a constant cough. While lumps in the thyroid are usually benign, you should see a doctor immediately if you notice one.

If you’re suffering from symptoms of a thyroid problem, you can schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center now 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.

The Importance of Having an Annual Physical

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

It’s the beginning of a new year which is a perfect time to make a promise to take better care of yourself. The best way to do this is by scheduling an appointment for a regular medical check-up. Even if you feel fine, it is a good idea to see your medical doctor to ensure that you don’t have any underlying health issues.

The American Medical Association is now recommending that physical exams be performed once every five years for people between 18 and 40 years of age and every three years after the age of 40, as long as there are no chronic illnesses that require more frequent check-ups. After the age of 55, an annual exam is probably a good idea.

There are many reasons why having a physical exam is something that everyone should make time to do. These include:

Preventing of illnesses
Monitoring the risk of chronic disease
Identifying illnesses that don’t have symptoms
Monitoring your weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and basic body chemistry
Adjusting your lifestyle to best suit your age
Keeping an ongoing relationship with your physician

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486.

Control Your Blood Pressure in the New Year

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Flushing Hospital

It is the beginning of the New Year and many of us will make resolutions to do things better than the previous year. For many people this means living healthy, losing weight, and keeping our blood pressure under control.

High blood pressure affects one in three Americans. If not controlled well it can lead to kidney problems, damaged blood vessels, stroke, and heart attacks. There are many factors that can cause blood pressure to be elevated including obesity, stress, smoking, high-sodium diets and elevated cholesterol. Ideally, managing some of these factors can help to maintain a blood pressure that is as close to the normal range (120/80mmHg) as possible.

There are many ways that doctors can help us to control our blood pressure, Your doctor can prescribe medication that will help. Additionally, other methods include:

Quitting smoking
Lose weight
Stress reduction
Exercise regularly
Eat less salty food
Eliminate beverages that contain caffeine
Eat dark chocolate
Cut back on sugar
Drink less alcohol

Keeping your blood pressure under control is probably one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself healthy. Speak to your doctor about methods that would work best for you.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center to discuss how you can lower your blood pressure in 2023, please call 718-670-5486.

Safe Alcohol Consumption Tips

Posted on December 30, 2022 by Jacob Lobosco

As New Year’s Eve approaches, you may be getting ready to pop open a bottle of champagne with your friends and loved ones to celebrate. However, it’s important to keep moderation in mind and practice safe drinking habits to make sure the night remains enjoyable for everyone. Keep the cork in the bottle for now and review these tips to stay safe and healthy as you enter 2023:

Make sure everyone can drink safely: Certain conditions and medications may make it unsafe for you or your loved ones to drink any amount of alcohol. Additionally, if anyone is (or may be) pregnant or lactating, alcohol in general can negatively affect the health of their baby. If you are hosting a celebration, find out if any of your guests cannot or should not drink; this way, you can provide alternative options for their enjoyment.

Find out if anyone attending your gathering is driving: If you plan to host a gathering, find out if anyone in attendance is driving to make sure that you can limit their alcohol consumption or help them if they drink too much. If you’re attending a gathering and become aware that a driver has had too much to drink, inform your host and offer any help you can to ensure the person’s safety.

Opt for beverages with low alcohol content: For most of the night, choose drinks such as beer or hard seltzer instead of wine, mixed drinks, or straight liquor; these drinks typically contain around 5% alcohol per serving. Be careful not to drink these beverages too quickly; take small sips over time.

Eat before, during, and after drinking: Make sure you’ve had a meal within a few hours of your first drink and have snacks available as you continue to drink. Once you’re finished drinking for the evening, have something extra to eat to reduce the effects of the consumed alcohol.

If you or anyone you know develops alcohol poisoning, dial 911 immediately. For anyone suffering from alcohol dependency, Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Division of Addiction Services may be able to help. To learn more about our inpatient Chemical Dependence unit, contact us at (718) 670-5693 or (718) 670-5540. For more information about our Reflections treatment program, call (718) 670-5078.

What’s the Difference Between Sanitizers and Disinfectants?

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Jacob Lobosco

Sanitizers and disinfectants are two types of products available for removing bacteria from surfaces, but it isn’t always clear which type of product is acceptable for certain situations.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the main difference between sanitizers and disinfectants is that sanitizers kill bacteria on surfaces, but are not intended to kill viruses. Disinfectants, on the other hand, are capable of killing viruses and, due to their greater expected effectiveness in this regard, are held to a higher standard of testing by the EPA than sanitizers.

Disinfectants often come in the form of wipes that are used to wipe down surfaces or items that are frequently touched. It is best to use disinfectants on doorknobs, handles, phones, keyboards, and other items and surfaces you may often touch throughout each day. The main exception to this recommendation is kitchen countertops and other surfaces where food is prepared or placed, since accidentally ingesting the chemical residue from disinfectants could harm you.

While the increased strength of disinfectants compared to sanitizers may make them seem like a better option for cleaning your hands, their stronger chemical content could lead to an adverse skin reaction if used on your hands or other parts of your body.

Generally, if you need to remove germs from your hands, your best option is to wash them with soap and water, as sanitizers are less effective and may not be able to remove certain harmful chemicals such as pesticides and heavy metals; however, hand sanitizer can offer an acceptable alternative when hand washing is not possible. Sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol are most effective.

When using hand sanitizer, make sure to apply it correctly by rubbing it all over your hands until your skin dries. This allows you to kill as many germs as possible on the surfaces of your hands rather than just those that are on your palms, reducing your risk of infection.

How Long Can You Test Positive for COVID-19?

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Jacob Lobosco

You can test positive for COVID-19 up to 90 days after your first positive result. However, if you recovered from the virus but were re-infected during this 90-day window, you may continue to test positive for a longer period of time.

The reliability of your COVID-19 test results depends, in part, on the type of test you choose. Antigen tests, also known as “rapid” tests that can be taken at home or administered at designated testing sites, cannot rule out an infection with a single negative result; under certain circumstances, they can also cause a false positive result to occur.

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) generally provide more accurate results than antigen tests. This type of test is performed at a laboratory or designated testing site. It can detect viral genetic material up to 90 days after your initial infection, even if you’ve already recovered from the virus, making it difficult to determine whether you’ve been re-infected during this 90-day period.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, it is not recommended that you receive additional NAATs. Instead, use multiple antigen tests spread 48 hours apart; antigen tests should only continue to test positive a few weeks after your initial result.

If you are experiencing long-term effects of COVID-19 infection such as headaches, joint pain, or neurological problems, Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Post-COVID Care Center may be able to help. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 736-8204.

Tips for Choosing a Doctor

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Jacob Lobosco

It’s important to have a trusted primary care physician that you can visit when you experience medical problems. This type of doctor is a generalist that can help diagnose the cause of your symptoms and refer you to a relevant specialist, if necessary.

However, not every primary care physician may be the right fit for you; there are certain factors to keep in mind that may help you to choose your doctor. When choosing your primary care provider, you should:

Determine whether the doctor is “in-network:” Any kind of medical care that is not covered by your insurance plan could be costly. If you’re considering visiting a specific doctor, make sure they are “in-network,” meaning that they are part of your insurance company’s network of medical care providers. If the doctor is “out-of-network,” you will most likely pay a higher out-of-pocket cost for visiting them.

Keep convenience in mind: You may visit your primary care physician regularly for a wide range of medical problems, which means that it is best to choose one that is located a convenient distance from your home.

Consider the doctor’s communication skills: Even if a doctor is covered under your insurance plan and is not located too far from your home, your ability to communicate clearly and interact positively with the doctor is important for making sure that your treatment outcomes will remain positive.

If you need to visit a doctor for any type of non-emergency medical problem you may be experiencing, you can schedule an appointment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486 now.

Enjoy A Healthy Holiday Winter Fruit Salad

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

Holiday treats are always in order whether you will be having guests at your home or will be visiting others at this time of year. Here is a delightfully delicious recipe for a Winter Fruit Salad from the Food Network https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/winter-fruit-salad-recipe-1973035

What Causes Mouth Sores?

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Jacob Lobosco

Mouth sores are lesions that can form on your lips, gums, tongue, cheeks, and in other parts of your mouth. They’re often painful to the touch, but can also cause a steady, consistent level of pain for as long as they are in your mouth.

One of the most common types of mouth sores is the canker sore, which usually appears as a red spot in the mouth with a white, yellow, or gray center. Canker sores may range in size from less than one millimeter to an inch in diameter. There is no clear, singular cause for canker sores, but they are believed to form in response to stress, injuries inside the mouth, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and dental appliances such as braces.

Another common type of mouth sore is the cold sore, which develops as a result of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This virus is extremely common, affecting approximately 3.7 billion people across the world under the age of 50. It primarily spreads through close contact and saliva, often infecting people through the sharing of food, drinks, or utensils, as well as through kissing.

These two types of mouth sores account for the vast majority of cases, with approximately 20% of Americans developing canker sores during their lifetime and about half of all Americans carrying HSV-1. However, mouth sores can develop as a result of:

Human papilloma virus
Irritable bowel syndrome
Anemia
Celiac disease
Crohn’s disease
Lupus
HIV/AIDS
Oral cancer
Cancer treatment (particularly radiation therapy)
Hand, foot, and mouth disease
Pemphigus vulgaris
Folate deficiency
Mononucleosis

While mouth sores cannot always be prevented from occurring, your risk of developing them can be reduced through good dental hygiene, a healthy diet that limits alcohol and tobacco usage, and stress management techniques.

You can also work with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center for an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your mouth sores and an effective plan for treating them. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Winter

Posted on December 20, 2022 by Flushing Hospital

It is very important for our bodies to have a sufficient amount of vitamin D all year long, especially during the upcoming winter months.

The body uses vitamin D to help it absorb calcium from the foods that we eat while they are in the gastrointestinal tract. Calcium is essential for maintaining bone strength, fortifying our immune system, keeping the heart healthy, preventing strokes, preventing depression, and may help with the aging process.

A great source of natural vitamin D comes from the ultraviolet B rays found in sunshine, and the more daylight we are exposed to, the more vitamin D our skin will be able to synthesize. However, during the winter months getting enough is difficult. We spend more time indoors and even when we are outdoors, we tend to wear heavier clothing which blocks the sun from hitting the skin. The best time of day to be outdoors is midday when the sun is usually the strongest. During the summer months, 10 – 15 minutes every day is usually sufficient, but during the winter months, you may require 30 minutes or more to get an adequate amount of sunlight and your daily dose of vitamin D.

Here are other sources of vitamin D that can be helpful during the year and especially during the winter:

Eating beef liver, pork, egg yolks, and cheese
The skin of fatty fish such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon
Drinking milk that is fortified with vitamin D
Taking a vitamin D3 supplement

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center to discuss your health this winter, please call 718-670-5486.