Health Beat

Meet Our Doctors: Dr. Michael Chang and Dr. Fausto Cabezas Bolanos

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

We are pleased to introduce Dr. Michael Chang and Dr. Cabezas Bolanos, the newest members of the nephrology team.

Dr. Michael Chang is an attending nephrologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. He earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago and completed his internal medicine residency at Montefiore Moses-Weiler Campus in the Bronx, New York. He later completed a fellowship in nephrology at the Mount Sinai Hospital on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Dr. Fausto Cabezas Bolanos, also known as Dr. Fausto by his patients, is a board-certified Nephrologist and Internist. He is incredibly passionate about helping people live healthier lives and believes that adopting a plant-based diet and lifestyle changes can significantly improve kidney health and overall well-being. After earning his medical degree from Universidad del Valle in Colombia, Dr. Bolanos completed a research fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, focusing on artificial organ support and transplants. During this time, he realized that while medical technology is powerful, simple lifestyle interventions like healthy eating and exercise can lead to positive heart and kidney disease outcomes.

Dr. Chang is especially interested in providing high-quality, compassionate care to his patients. Many of his patients suffer from diabetic kidney disease and hypertension. Dr. Chang particularly enjoys bridging the knowledge gap for patients about their conditions, He spends considerable time counseling patients, so they understand their treatment plans. One of his favorite aspects of his work is getting to know patients personally. When prescribing medications for kidney disease, he is mindful of a patient’s values and lifestyle. He is also passionate about working with medical trainees and teaching them to become more curious and independent doctors.

Since making New York City his home, Dr. Bolanos is proud to have served several communities throughout Brooklyn and Queens. He completed his Internal Medicine residency training at Woodhull Medical Center/New York University Hospital and later completed a Nephrology Fellowship at SUNY Downstate/ Kings County Hospital Medical Center. He has an unwavering commitment to caring for vulnerable communities and forging long-standing relationships with patients afflicted with kidney disease. In his free time, Dr. Bolanos enjoys running and swimming to stay active and healthy.

We are proud to welcome Dr. Chang and Dr. Bolanos to our team and look forward to the work they and the rest of the Nephrology Department will do to provide high-quality care to our community.

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.

How to Cope When a Family Member is in Hospice

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Hospice care or end-of-life care is specialized care that provides physical comfort alongside emotional, social, and spiritual support for people nearing the end of life.

The grief we experience while coping with a dying loved one is different than what we experience after someone has died.

Here are some strategies to help both the patient and their loved ones during hospice care:

Understand your grief

Anticipatory grief is the deep sadness felt during the last days of life. It can be felt by both the patient and their loved ones.

Feeling grief while your loved one is still alive doesn’t mean you are abandoning your loved one or giving up. Instead, anticipatory grief can give you a chance to gain meaning and closure you might not have had otherwise.

You may feel like you are somewhere between holding on and letting go. Some people find this very painful. They may feel like they are betraying their loved one if they lean towards letting go. The truth is that it is possible to live with both holding on and letting go simultaneously. You don’t have to choose.

Let yourself feel and grieve

Everyone grieves and responds differently to news about a terminal diagnosis. Anticipatory grief can begin as soon as you’re told a loved one may die soon. You could also experience a delay as you process the information about your loved one’s diagnosis.

Let yourself feel the pain. This helps you to be honest and true with yourself.

Anticipatory grief is not just grief for the coming death of a loved one. It is also grief for other losses that go along with death, such as:

The loss of a companion
The loss of shared memories
The loss of dreams for the future

Sometimes, grief from the past can resurface during this time.

Denying the pain you are feeling can prolong the grief you feel later on. Grief serves a purpose, whether it occurs before or after death.

Researchers have identified four phases and tasks of grief. They include:

Accepting the impending loss
Working through the pain
Adjusting to a new reality where your loved one is absent
Connecting to your departed loved one differently as you move forward

Implementing these tasks doesn’t mean you should give up on your loved one or forget them. Instead, these tasks will help you hold onto the joy and love you once shared. They can also help temper the deep sadness that may make remembering painful.

Don’t go it alone: Express your pain

Trying to stay strong when a parent or loved one is dying can be challenging. Always give yourself permission to feel sad or ask for support from other people in your life.

It is important to let yourself feel your pain. However, many people find it hard to express grief before death. They may feel they are being unsupportive of their loved one. Talking to a trusted friend is a good way to cope with these feelings.

One huge difference between anticipatory grief and the grief you feel after someone dies is that there is often more anger in anticipatory grief. You may also find it more difficult to control your emotions.

Find a friend who doesn’t judge and will let you express anger. This person should be a good listener and should not try to “fix things” or tell you how you should feel.

There is no easy fix for your emotions. However, a good listener can help you feel less alone.

Spend time with your dying loved one

People sometimes talk about how difficult it is to spend time with a dying loved one because they may not want to remember them as they were dying. They may want to remember how the person was before instead.

Spending time with a dying loved one is important for many people. This isn’t just true for the person who is dying, but also for their close loved ones. If you decide not to visit your loved one, you may regret it later.

Find meaningful ways to spend time together. Share old photographs or keepsakes. If possible, ask your loved one to share stories about themselves, family heirlooms, and other possessions. You may find reminiscing to be healing.

Try journaling

Keeping a journal can be healing. It can help you express things you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing with a friend. A journal can be a place to record thoughts you had around the time of your loved one’s death.

You can also try writing letters. A letter to your dying loved one may also help you say all the things you’ve been wanting to say.

Take advantage of holistic methods of coping

A holistic approach may be helpful for both the person dying and their loved ones. “Holistic” means treating the whole person, including their mental and emotional health. Some of these therapies have been found to help with emotions like anxiety.

A holistic approach can help bring hope and healing to those grieving. Some examples include:

Guided imagery
Meditation
Art therapy
Massage therapy
Qigong, a Chinese practice of meditation and breathing
Music therapy

Nurture your spirituality

Spirituality is important for those who are dying and for their caregivers. Spirituality can take many forms, including:

Organized religion and prayer
Meditation
Communing with nature
Listening to music that is meaningful to you

Studies have shown that people have a better quality of life in their last days if they have an active spiritual life. Caregivers may also experience less depression if their dying loved one has an active spiritual life.

Maintain a sense of humor

There isn’t much room for humor when someone is dying. However, in the right setting, humor can sometimes be healing. One review found a strong benefit of humor in the end-of-life setting. Humor can benefit the person dying and their loved ones.

Practice forgiveness

Forgiveness can be healing. Learning to forgive yourself is just as important as forgiving others.

The time before death is very emotional. There may be anger and resentment among family members. However, it is also a time to resolve differences.

Listening is an important first step toward forgiveness. Sometimes, two people can say the same things, but in different ways. At other times, you may continue to disagree with what your loved one is saying even after talking it through. When this happens, ask yourself this question: “Is it more important to love or to be right?”

Letting go of resentment and pain from the past can be freeing. Give yourself the gift of forgiveness.

Give your loved one permission to die

Sometimes a dying person can live until a specific moment. Some people seem to wait until after a loved one says goodbye. This goodbye can act as permission to die. This can be helpful for the dying person and their loved ones. A goodbye can be a beautiful gift.

Anticipatory grief is a common experience. There are many ways to cope with anticipatory grief, but everyone grieves differently. It is important to allow yourself to grieve.

Jamaica Hospital First in South Queens to Implant Esprit BTK™ System to Reduce the Risk of Leg Amputation

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

A surgical team at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, led by Dr. Mina Guerges, is the first in South Queens to successfully implant a new and innovative device designed to reduce the risk of leg amputation in certain patients, for example, those with diabetes.

The FDA-approved Esprit™ BTK Everolimus Eluting Resorbable Scaffold System (Esprit BTK™ System) is a first-of-its-kind dissolvable stent and breakthrough innovation that treats patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) below the knee (BTK).

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia below the knee is a severe form of peripheral artery disease (PAD). It occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the lower leg and feet become blocked or narrowed. Over time, these blockages or the restriction of blood can damage or kill skin, nerves, or muscles in the affected limb, increasing the risk of complications such as amputation.

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia currently affects more than 20 million people living in the United States. Those at risk for developing CLTI include people who:

Use tobacco products
Have high cholesterol
Have hypertension or high blood pressure
Have diabetes
Have a family history of PAD or CLTI

Jamaica Hospital serves a patient population with a prevalence of CLTI. The hospital’s vascular division has achieved a high level of success in caring for these patients by combining traditional approaches and new techniques and technologies to improve outcomes.

As the first hospital in South Queens to utilize the Esprit™ BTK System, Jamaica Hospital offers patients an effective treatment option to prevent limb amputation. The device works by keeping arteries open and delivering a drug (Everolimus) to support vessel healing before completely dissolving.

Studies have shown that implanting the device offers greater benefits than previously used methods, such as balloon angioplasty, to prevent possible amputation. The surgery to implant the Esprit™ BTK System is minimally invasive, meaning small incisions are used. Additional benefits include shorter recovery times, the potential for better long-term outcomes, and a reduced risk of amputation.

Vascular surgeons at Jamaica Hospital are optimistic that leveraging this new technology will help manage chronic limb-threatening ischemia below the knee and greatly improve limb salvage rates among patients. The hospital aims to ensure patients in the community have access to effective, innovative, and high-quality healthcare.

Signs of High Stress

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Stress is a natural human reaction that happens to everyone. Your body is built to react to stress in ways meant to protect you against threats from predators and other aggressors. These threats are rare today, however, that doesn’t mean that life is free of stress.

Stress responses help your body adjust to new situations. Stress can be positive by keeping you alert, motivated, and ready to avoid danger. However, stress becomes a problem when stressors continue without relief or periods of relaxation.

Stressors can be positive and negative; getting a new job or losing a job can cause stress. Other causes of stress include:

An illness or death of a loved one
Marriage, separation, or divorce
Financial issues
Moving into a new house
Going on vacation
Having a baby
Retiring

There are three main types of stress: acute, episodic acute, and chronic.

Acute stress- is a short-term stress that comes and goes quickly. It can be positive or negative. It is the feeling you get when you ride a rollercoaster or have a fight with a significant other. Everyone experiences acute stress from time to time.
Episodic acute stress- is when you experience acute stress regularly. With this type of stress, you don’t get the time you need to return to a calm, relaxed state. Episodic stress frequently affects people working in certain professions, such as healthcare providers.
Chronic stress- is long-term stress that can last for weeks or months. It can be caused by troubles in your marriage, issues at work, or financial problems. It is important to find ways to manage chronic stress because it can lead to health issues.

The body’s autonomic nervous system controls the heart rate, breathing, vision changes, and more. It also triggers the body’s “flight-or-fight” response as a way to react to stressful situations.

Having a continuous activation of this stress response can cause wear and tear on the body. It can cause you to develop stress symptoms that are physical, psychological, or behavioral.

Physical stress symptoms can include:

Aches and pains
Chest pain or the feeling of your heart racing
Exhaustion or insomnia
Headaches, dizziness, or shaking
High blood pressure
Muscle tension or jaw clenching
Stomach or digestive problems
Trouble having sex
A weakened immune system

Psychological stress symptoms can include:

Anxiety or irritability
Depression
Panic attacks
Sadness

Chronic stress can lead to several long-term issues that affect your immune, digestive, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems.

People with chronic stress try different things to cope. Some of these things can become habit-forming and can impact your health. Behavioral stress symptoms can include:

Alcohol use disorder
Gambling disorder
Overeating or developing an eating disorder
Participating compulsively in sex, shopping, or internet browsing
Smoking
Substance abuse disorder

It can be difficult to diagnose stress due to its subjectivity. It isn’t measurable with tests because only the person experiencing it can determine whether it is present and how severe it feels. A healthcare provider may use questionnaires to understand your stress and how it affects your life.

If you have chronic stress, your healthcare provider can evaluate symptoms that result from stress, such as diagnosing and treating high blood pressure.

Stress is something that can’t be avoided. However, you can prevent it from becoming overwhelming by practicing daily stress relief strategies, including the following:

Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise and sleep
Doing relaxation exercises such as yoga, deep breathing, massages, or meditation
Keeping a gratitude journal
Taking time for hobbies
Fostering healthy relationships and talking with your friends and family
Finding ways to include humor and laughter in your life
Volunteering in your community
Organizing and focusing on what you need to get done at home and work and removing unneeded tasks
Seeking professional counseling

Embracing mindfulness and learning to manage stress can reward you with peace of mind, fewer stressors and less anxiety, and a better quality of life. If you need the assistance and support of a mental health professional at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-5575 to schedule an appointment.

COPD Myths

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a group of health conditions, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that limit airflow in the lungs.

Many myths and misconceptions exist about COPD. Here are some misconceptions surrounding COPD:

Myth #1: Only people who smoke get COPD

COPD is often associated with smoking, as smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products is the most common cause of the damage done to the lungs and airways. However, nearly 30% of people with COPD have never smoked a cigarette. Nonsmoking causes of COPD include:

Long-term exposure to polluted air, such as smog in an urban area or dust and fumes at a workplace
Genetics plays a role, specifically a condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1)
Asthma that’s active or even inactive. Researchers have found that 29% of people with asthma eventually receive a COPD diagnosis
Childhood respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia

Myth #2: COPD is rare

According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over six in 100 adults in the U.S. had a COPD diagnosis in 2022.

That means millions of adults across the country have received a diagnosis of COPD. The actual proportion of adults with COPD may be higher due to delays in obtaining a diagnosis.

Myth #3: Exercise is too hard if you have COPD

Shortness of breath, wheezing, a chronic cough, and fatigue can all be a part of COPD. Any one of these symptoms can make exercising challenging.

Moderate exercise may not affect your lungs. In some cases, exercise can minimize the symptoms of COPD while strengthening the heart and helping reduce stress.

Try to build up to 20 to 30 minutes of exercise three to four times a week. Combine safe cardiovascular activities such as walking or biking with stretching and strength-building. It won’t be easy to start exercising. Speak with your healthcare provider about building an exercise plan that works for you. They may be able to connect you with a respiratory therapist for breathing techniques and exercises you can do. It is recommended that you speak to your doctor about your health before starting a new exercise regimen.

Myth #4: Only older people develop COPD

COPD is more common in people 65 or older. However, younger people can also develop this condition.

A 2023 study found that COPD affected more than 1.6% of adults ages 20 to 50 in the U.S. Adults aged 35 to 50 had a higher risk of COPD than those under the age of 35.

A history of smoking or secondhand smoke exposure significantly increases the risk of COPD in young adults.

Myth #5: COPD is a man’s disease

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that women are more likely to develop COPD than men in the U.S.

More women than men have also died from COPD since 2000 in the U.S.

Exposure to tobacco smoke and other pollutants raises the risk of COPD for anyone; however, women can experience more harmful effects than men from these pollutants.

Women with COPD also tend to get a diagnosis later than men, after the disease has progressed and treatment is less effective. This may contribute to reduced survival in women with COPD.

Myth #6: Nothing can be done to treat COPD

COPD treatments are available to help limit symptoms and potentially slow the progression of COPD.

Your treatment plan can include lifestyle changes like quitting smoking (if you smoke), as well as one or more of the following:

Vaccinations
Medications
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Supplemental oxygen
Lung transplant
Surgery

Talk with your healthcare provider to learn more about your treatment options.

Myth #7: There’s no point in quitting smoking after you develop COPD

Avoiding tobacco smoke is one of the most important things you can do to manage COPD.

If you smoke, cutting back and quitting can help limit symptoms and slow the progression of COPD.

Although more research is necessary, it may also be helpful to avoid e-cigarettes and other vaping products.

Avoiding smoking and vaping altogether is likely your healthiest option. Talk with a healthcare provider to learn about smoking cessation counseling, medication, or other resources that can help you cut back and quit smoking or vaping.

Jamaica Hospital’s Medical Home Department has partnered with the American Lung Association to bring you Freedom from Smoking, a comprehensive and successful group-based smoking cessation program. For more information or to register, call: 718-206-8494

Missed Periods

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Xavia Malcolm

Many women will have late or missed periods in their lifetime. Depending on the reason, this can be normal.

Pregnancy is one of the most common causes of a missed period; however, it is only one of several reasons why your period may be late or missed.

Missed or late periods may also be caused by:

Stress
Thyroid disorders
Perimenopause
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Pelvic Inflammatory disease (PID)
Breastfeeding
Sudden changes in your weight
Obesity
Extreme or excessive exercise
Taking certain medications

When you don’t get your period at all, this is known as amenorrhea. There are two kinds of amenorrhea: primary and secondary. Primary amenorrhea occurs in females aged 15 and older who have never had their first period. Secondary amenorrhea happens when women who have previously had regular periods stop menstruating for three months or more in a row.

The absence of your period, when not caused by perimenopause, menopause, pregnancy, or breastfeeding, can be indicative of an underlying health condition.

You should see a doctor for missed periods if:

You have missed your period for three months or more consecutively
You have fewer than nine periods in a year
You have not had your period by the age of 16 or 17
There are changes in the pattern of your periods

Your doctor may perform a pelvic examination and order tests, including imaging and hormonal tests, to determine a diagnosis. Treatment for amenorrhea depends on the underlying cause and may involve medications or surgery.

If you have concerns about missed or late periods, please contact Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Women’s Health department for an appointment by calling 718-291-3276.

Measles

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Measles is a highly contagious disease that is caused by a virus. It can affect anyone but is most common in children.

Some risk factors for measles include:

Being unvaccinated
Traveling internationally
Having a vitamin A deficiency

Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Signs and symptoms of measles appear around 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus, they include:

Fever
Dry cough
Runny nose
Sore throat
Inflamed eyes
Koplik’s spots (tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background, which form on the inner lining of the cheek)
A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another

The infection occurs in stages that span over two to three weeks. These stages include:

Infection and incubation- the measles virus spreads in the body for 10 to 14 days after infection. During that time, there are no signs or symptoms.
Nonspecific signs and symptoms- measles typically begins with a mild to moderate fever, a persistent cough, a runny nose, inflamed eyes, and a sore throat. This mild illness can last two to three days.
Acute illness and rash- a rash consisting of small red spots, some may be slightly raised. Spots and bumps in tight clusters give the skin a splotchy red appearance. The face is usually the first place it appears. The rash spreads down the arms, chest, and back, then over the thighs, lower legs, and feet over the next few days. At the same time, the fever rises to temperatures as high as 104 to 105.8.
Recovery- the measles rash can last for about seven days. The rash fades gradually from the face and lastly the thighs and feet. As other symptoms go away, coughing and the darkening or peeling of the skin where the rash was, lasts about 10 days.

A person with measles can spread the virus to others for about eight days. Starting four days before the rash appears and ends when the rash has been present for four days.

When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, infectious droplets spray into the air where others can breathe them in. Infectious droplets can stay in the air for about an hour and on a surface for several hours.

Many complications can arise from measles, including:

Diarrhea and vomiting
Ear infection
Bronchitis, laryngitis, or croup
Pneumonia
Encephalitis
Pregnancy problems

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children and adults receive the measles vaccine to prevent infection.

Your healthcare provider can usually diagnose measles based on the disease’s characteristic rash and the Koplik’s spot on the inner lining of the cheek. Your healthcare provider may ask whether you or your child received measles vaccines, whether you traveled outside of the U.S. recently, and if you had contact with anyone who has a rash or fever.

The rash can be confused with many other illnesses, however, a blood test can be done to confirm whether the rash is measles. A test using a throat swab or urine sample can also be used.

There is no specific treatment for a measles infection once it occurs. Treatment can include providing comfort measures to relieve symptoms such as rest and treating or preventing complications.

Some measures can be taken to protect individuals who don’t have immunity to measles after they have been exposed to the virus, they include:

Post-exposure vaccination
Immune serum globulin
Medications
- Fever reducers
- Antibiotics
- Vitamin A

If you become sick with severe symptoms, particularly after potential exposure to the measles virus, you must receive treatment from a doctor as soon as possible. You can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 206-7001.

Trauma Department- Pedestrian Safety

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Pedestrian safety is critical whether you are driving or walking on the sidewalk. We each have a responsibility to keep each other safe. Here are some safety tips for drivers that will keep themselves and pedestrians safe:

Look out for pedestrians everywhere at all times
Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather
Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk
Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to allow other vehicles to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too
Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see
Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in schools, and in neighborhoods where children are present
Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians

Here are some safety tips for pedestrians:

Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals
Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available
If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible
Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right
If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely and continue watching for traffic as you cross
Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots
Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking as they impair your abilities and your judgment

Taking the proper precautions whether you are a driver or pedestrian is for your safety and the safety of others.

If you or anyone you know is injured due to a car accident, make sure to call 911 right away. Each day Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Level 1 Trauma Center treats a high volume of motor vehicle collision injuries in New York City. To learn more, please call (718) 206-6000.

Robotics: Appendectomy

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

An appendectomy is a surgical procedure to remove an inflamed or infected appendix. An inflamed or infected appendix is the result of appendicitis.

Appendicitis occurs when your appendix, the finger-shaped pouch that sticks out from the colon on the lower right side of the abdomen gets clogged, infected, and inflamed. It can cause acute pain in your lower abdomen, however, for most people, pain begins around the belly button and then moves. As inflammation worsens, appendicitis pain typically increases and eventually becomes serious.

Symptoms of appendicitis include:

Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower belly
Sudden pain that begins around the belly button and often shifts to the lower right belly
Pain that worsens with coughing, walking, or making other jarring movements
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Low-grade fever that may rise as the illness worsens
Constipation or diarrhea
Belly bloating
Gas

Additional symptoms that may develop later in some people can include:

Malaise
Urinary symptoms- needing to go more frequently or more urgently
Bowel paralysis

The size and location of the appendix make it easy for it to become clogged and infected. Your large intestine is home to many bacteria. If they become trapped in your appendix, they overgrow and cause an infection. The bacteria then multiplies quickly causing the appendix to become inflamed and filled with pus. If it is not treated right away, the appendix may burst or break open.

Some common causes of inflammation, swelling, obstruction, and infection in your appendix include:

Hardened poop (appendix stones)
Lymphoid hyperplasia
Colitis

Other factors that could block the opening of your appendix can include:

Tumors
Parasites
Cystic fibrosis

Risk factors for appendicitis include:

Age – anyone can develop appendicitis, but it most often happens in people between the ages of 10 and 30
Your sex – men have a slightly higher risk of appendicitis than women

To help diagnose appendicitis, a healthcare provider will likely take a history of symptoms and examine the abdomen. Tests used to diagnose appendicitis can include:

A physical exam
Blood tests
Urine tests
Imaging tests

Appendicitis may spontaneously resolve if the cause suddenly goes away on its own. This might happen if an obstruction in your appendix gets unblocked and passes through the intestines, or if an infection causing lymphoid hyperplasia in your appendix suddenly improves. However, you shouldn’t assume this will happen or that it has happened, even if your pain has reduced.

The standard treatment includes medicine such as antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix. Appendicitis is considered an emergency, so it is treated in the emergency room.

An appendectomy can be performed open, laparoscopically, or robot-assisted.

Through the acquisition of the Da Vinci robot surgical platform, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center can now perform minimally invasive robotic surgical procedures.

There are many potential advantages of robotic-assisted surgery over other types of surgery, including:

Robot-assisted surgery provides the surgeon with 3D images inside the abdomen and pelvis that create a clearer picture to reference as they operate.
Under the surgeon’s direction, the robot can move more freely and with more versatility than a human hand
You’ll have a few tiny scars.
You’re more likely to experience less pain and less bleeding after surgery compared to open surgery.
A shorter hospital stay.

For more information about robotic surgery or to learn more about other surgical options at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Surgery, please call (718) 206-7001 to make an appointment.

Elevate Her- Gestational Diabetes

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops exclusively in pregnancy when blood sugar levels are too high.

Gestational diabetes develops when hormones from the placenta interfere with your body’s ability to make or use insulin. Insulin breaks down the glucose from food and delivers it to your cells. It keeps the glucose levels in your blood at a healthy level. If insulin doesn’t work right or you don’t have enough of it, sugar builds up in your blood and leads to diabetes.

Anyone can get gestational diabetes during pregnancy. However, certain factors can increase your risk, including:

Heart disease
High blood pressure
Being obese or overweight before pregnancy
Personal history of gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies
Family history of Type 2 diabetes
Having prediabetes
Having polycystic ovary syndrome
Having previously delivered a baby weighing more than nine pounds
Being of a certain race or ethnicity, such as Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian American
Being of an advanced maternal age

There are usually no obvious warning signs of gestational diabetes. Symptoms are too mild and often go unnoticed until your pregnancy care provider tests you for the disease. If you do have symptoms, they can include:

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Tiredness
Nausea

Gestational diabetes that isn’t carefully managed can lead to high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar can cause problems for you and your baby, including an increased likelihood of needing a C-section to deliver the baby. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby may be at an increased risk of:

Excessive birth weight
Preterm birth
Serious breathing difficulties at birth
Low blood sugar
Obesity and Type 2 diabetes later in life
Stillbirth

To diagnose gestational diabetes, your healthcare provider will test your blood sugar during pregnancy with a blood test. Often the first test is a screening. If you don’t pass the screening, a provider will order a second blood test which is more comprehensive and includes:

Glucose challenge test
Glucose tolerance test

If you have gestational diabetes, you will need more frequent checkups during your pregnancy. Treatment for gestational diabetes includes:

Lifestyle changes
Blood sugar monitoring
Medication, if necessary

Managing your blood sugar levels helps keep you and your baby healthy. Close management can also help you avoid complications during pregnancy and delivery.

Gestational diabetes isn’t entirely preventable. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Eating balanced and nutritious meals and getting regular exercise before and after your pregnancy are the best ways to reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes.

To learn more about the OB/GYN services at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Women’s Health Services or to make an appointment, call 718-291-3276.