Have you noticed that some people get mosquito bites more often than others? There are several factors that may explain why they are more attractive to mosquitoes. They include:

• Blood type – people who are Type O and Type B
• Sweat – contains lactic acid, uric acid and ammonia
• Color of clothing – dark colors as well as red are more attractive
• Pregnancy – because of higher output of exhaled carbon dioxide and higher body temperature
• Heavy breathing – mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide emitted in exhaled air
• Skin bacteria – certain areas of the body have more dense bacteria such as the feet and ankles

There are some aspects that we cannot change. The ones that we can change are

wearing long sleeve garments and long pants when going outdoors, wearing Environmental Protection Agency approved insect repellants, and wearing light colored clothing.

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.

It is a fact that breathing difficulties associated with asthma can be made worse due to hot weather. One possible cause of this is due to the hot, humid air irritating the airways and causing inflammation which will lead to symptoms of an asthma attack. Another reason is that hot and humid air is heavier and therefore a person may have to struggle to breathe.

Some people with asthma experience more frequent problems with their breathing during the summer due to seasonal allergens and other fine particles that are in the air that can cause existing respiratory conditions to worsen, especially in the very young and elderly.

Additional environmental factors that affect the respiratory system are:

• Higher levels of carbon dioxide and higher temperature can lead to more spores and mold in the air.
• Higher temperatures can lead to more greenhouse gases being produced.
• Environmental production of pollutants from vehicles and factories become trapped in the atmosphere.

These environmental conditions can cause chest pain, wheezing, and coughing, and reduced lung function for those who suffer with asthma.

To help avoid asthma attacks in hot weather it is recommended to:

• Stay indoors as much as possible in an air conditioned environment
• Avoid strenuous activity
• Keep hydrated
• Try to limit being outdoors during the hottest time of day

To schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center who can help treat breathing difficulties, 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.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center is the proud recipient of the New York State Obstetric Hemorrhage Project 2021 Quality Improvement Award.

The award recognizes Flushing Hospital’s participation and dedicated work in the New York State Obstetric Hemorrhage Project which was created by the New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative (NYSPQC) to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality associated with obstetric hemorrhage.

Maternal morbidity is defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as, “any short- or long-term health problems that result from being pregnant and giving birth.”  While maternal mortality, “refers to the death of a woman from complications of pregnancy or childbirth that occur during the pregnancy or within 6 weeks after the pregnancy ends.”

Both issues have been causes for concern nationally as data shows that maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the U.S. have been inclining steadily.

In November of 2017, the NYSPQC initiated the NYS Obstetric Hemorrhage Project in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Healthcare Association of New York State, and the Greater New York Hospital Association with the support of the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality to address this problem.

Flushing Hospital joined the project as part of its ongoing efforts to provide patients and their families with the best, safest, and most equitable care.

As a participant, Flushing Hospital has met or exceeded the project’s goal of assessing at least 85% of patients for risk of obstetric hemorrhage upon admission and during the postpartum period. The hospital also implemented measures to improve readiness to respond to obstetric hemorrhage.

“This project involved a multidisciplinary approach with monthly webinars and in-person meetings in Albany. Together, we worked on updating our policies, acquired a hemorrhage cart, and updated our hemorrhage kit.  We also performed simulation drills and devised a hemorrhage assessment for patients antepartum, upon admission to Labor and Delivery, and postpartum. Our team has been educated and trained on all changes to ensure the delivery of quality care,” explained Maria Smilios, Director of Nursing Maternal and Child Services at Flushing Hospital.

Flushing Hospital was commended for its dedication and “exemplary work” by the New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative. The hospital will continue to focus on improving maternal morbidity and maternal rates in its community to ensure a healthier future for all.

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.

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Ivy Gosine RN, the Clinical Nurse Manager for the Mother/Baby and Labor & Delivery Unit at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Ivy has been at Flushing Hospital for ten years. She is a native of Queens, having grown up in the Corona and Briarwood communities of the borough. She attended elementary school at P.S. 143 and is a graduate of Flushing High School. Ivy attended the CUNY Graduate Center and graduated with a degree in Psychology of Women and Children. She then went on to obtain her RN degree.

Ivy currently lives on Long Island in Suffolk County. She has two children, a son who is in high school and a daughter who will attend middle school in the fall.  She also has a three-year-old Goldendoodle named Kobe. Family is very important to Ivy and spending time with them is a priority.

In her free time Ivy enjoys gardening, cooking, entertaining at home and also likes watching sports. Whether cooking at home or when she goes out, she enjoys all types of cuisine. Her taste in music varies and ranges from classical, to soca, including whatever is new and exciting today.

Ivy enjoys traveling to places in the Caribbean that have warm weather and beautiful beaches. One of her favorite places to go on vacation is to the island of Aruba.

Working at Flushing Hospital has been a great learning experience for Ivy.  Everyone at the hospital is very supportive of one another. She enjoys being able to educate patients on how to care for themselves and their newborns during their stay. She also takes great pride in the fact that the hospital serves such a diverse community.

We are very proud of the contributions Ivy makes to Flushing Hospital and we look forward to her continuing on with us for many more years.

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.

June is recognized as Cataract Awareness Month. The purpose of this recognition is to bring attention to an eye condition, which is the leading cause of blindness in the United States.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 30 million people in the United States today have cataracts and that by the year 2032 this number will grow to 39 million.

A cataract occurs when the lens of either one or both eyes become cloudy. The symptoms include blurry vision, faded vision, or a halo effect around lights.

The most commonly used technique to correct a cataract is the surgical removal of the affected lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.

If you are experiencing vision problems, you should schedule an appointment with an eye doctor as soon as possible. You may schedule an appointment with an eye doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical 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.

Since 1987 the World Health Organization has recognized May 31st as a day to bring awareness around the world of the harmful effects of tobacco.

The risks of using tobacco are well documented, however many people around the world are not fully aware of the dangers.  There is a very strong link between tobacco use and heart disease, circulatory problems, and stroke.

Coronary vascular diseases are one of the world’s leading causes of death.  Tobacco use is the second leading cause of these types of diseases, hypertension being the leading cause.

With all of the knowledge we have about the harmful effects of tobacco use, there are still some who have not received the message and as a result, more than 7 million people die each year from the effects of tobacco.

A few of the initiatives that the World Health Organization is trying to implement to inform people about tobacco’s harmful effects are:
• Increase public knowledge of the risks of smoking and secondhand smoke
• Encourage healthcare providers to speak to their patients about the hazards of tobacco
• Encourage governmental  support for educational programs
• Seek ways to promote smoke-free zones in buildings and public spaces
• Increase taxes on tobacco products
• Make it more difficult to purchase tobacco products
• Ban tobacco advertising

If you are interested in quitting smoking, you can contact the Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Smoking Cessation Navigators. Call 718-670-3146 for more information.

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.