April 2014 - Page 2 of 2 - Health BeatHealth Beat

Play It Safe

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

More than 3.5 million sports-related injuries occur each year, many of which are the result of exercising too vigorously without proper conditioning.

“Most injuries occur in muscles and ligaments, and only a small percentage involve broken bones,” says Joseph Bosco III, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. “Thoroughly
warming up and stretching muscles before engaging in rigorous exercise will greatly reduce the risk of injury.”

Gradually increasing your level of activity over a period of four to six weeks before high-intensity exercise is best. Performing 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three days a week and working up
to 45 minutes four or five times a week is a safe way to build
endurance and prevent future injuries.

Proper Equipment
No matter your level of fitness, protective equipment should always be worn when participating in sports with a risk of head injury or falling at a high rate of speed. Sports such as biking, skateboarding, rollerblading, and baseball pose a risk of serious head injury if participants do not wear proper head protection. Wrist guards,
kneepads, and mouthpieces should also be worn when appropriate.

Hydration
Dehydration can occur before you realize the problem. Fluid intake before, during, and after a summer activity is recommended —especially when temperatures rise above 90 degrees. Drink one to two cups of water an hour before, at least one-half cup every 15 minutes during, and one cup 30 minutes after exercising. If you suffer a summer sports injury and need to schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital’s Department of Orthopedics, please call 718-206-6923.

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.

Dangers of Texting While Driving

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Michael Hinck

Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are one of the leading causes of death in the United States today. Each year, nearly 2.5 million Americans are treated in hospital emergency departments as a result of an MVA. While the numbers are staggering, Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Team wants everyone to know that most vehicle-related injuries are avoidable.

Jamaica Hospital operates a Level 1 Trauma Center, the highest designation to treat critically injured patients. Last year, Jamaica Hospital’s ER treated over 500 patients injured as a result motor vehicle accidents and the staff wants to offer the following tip to our community on how to avoid serious injury.

Stay Focused on the Road and Avoid Becoming a “Distracted Driver.”

Each day, more than 15 people are killed in accidents involving a distracted driver, a driver engaged in another activity that distracts them while driving. Distractions can impair a driver in three ways:

• Visually – Forcing the driver to take his or her eyes off the road
• Manually – Forcing the driver to take his or her hands off of the steering wheel
• Cognitively – Forcing the driver to take his or her mind off of driving while they are doing something else

While there are many forms of distractions for drivers, the type that has seen the largest increase in occurrences is texting while driving. Texting while driving is especially dangerous because it impairs the driver’s visual, manual, and cognitive abilities. In a recent study by the CDC, 9% of U.S. drivers reported texting or emailing regularly or fairly often while driving.

Last year, nearly 6,000 people died and approximately another 500,000 were injured in automobile accidents that were reported to involve a distracted driver – and the numbers are steadily rising.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Team is well aware of the growing trend involving injuries and fatalities associated with texting and driving and they want to warn drivers to resist the urge to text “LOL” or you might end up “DOA!”

The Harmful Truth about High Heels

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Natifia Mullings

High heels can make you look long and lean, and can definitely add some glitz to your outfit—but unfortunately, that’s not all they’re doing. According to podiatrists at Jamaica Hospital, high heels, shoes with at least a two inch heel, can also lead to several medical problems.

“Prolonged wearing of high heels can lead to foot pain, ingrown toe nails, bunions, nerve damage, or damage to leg tendons,” explained Dr. Nicholas Camarinos, Chief of e at Jamaica Hospital. “Additionally, lower back pain, osteoarthritis of the knee, and overworking an injured leg muscle can also result from wearing high heels over time.”

These problems are likely to develop because the feet are forced into an unnatural position when they are in high heels, therefore placing increased weight on the toes. The incorrect redistribution of weight causes the body to lean forward and puts a strain on the back, knees, and hips. In addition, the change in posture also puts pressure on the nerves which can trigger numbness and pain throughout the entire body.

The conditions that result from wearing high heels don’t develop immediately. They occur from frequent high heel wear. Dr. Camarinos understands that it’s hard to discourage women from entirely eliminating heels from their wardrobe. Instead, he offers the following recommendations:

wear a sensible heel height or consider a wedged shoe
use insoles to help reduce the impact to your knees
wear the correct size shoe
wear heels on days you expect limited walking or standing
alternate shoes throughout the day or from day to day
stretch your calf muscles and feet a few times a day

“Ultimately, our advice isn’t to forbid women from wearing heels. Wearing heels are fine, as long as they aren’t worn all the time and for everything,” explained Dr. Camarinos. “Moderation is key.”

If you frequently wear high heels, are experiencing foot pain, and would like to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist, please contact Jamaica Hospital’s Division of Podiatry at 718-206-6712.

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Cold Weather and Asthma

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

People who suffer from asthma definitely know the effects that cold air can have on their ability to breathe. When very cold and dry air enters the body, and subsequently the lungs it can cause a tightening of the airways. Cold air can cause wheezing, tightness of the chest muscles, shortness of breath, coughing, a sense of dizziness and sometimes difficulty speaking.

Taking some precautions before going outside in very cold weather can help ease the symptoms. It is important to keep asthma under control at all times. It can be helpful to take a dose of an asthma inhalant ten minutes before going outdoors. This will aid in keeping the airways open. People with asthma should carry their medication with them if they know they are going to be outdoors for any period of time. Another good idea is to keep your mouth and nose covered with a scarf when you are outside in cold weather. This will help to warm the air you are breathing. Anyone who has asthma should avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Sometimes the act of just walking on a windy day can bring on symptoms of an asthma attack. Try breathing through your nose more and through your mouth less. This will help to warm the air that enters your lungs.

People with asthma know the effects it can have during the cold days of winter. Taking a few precautions can help minimize the effects of the cold air on the body.