June 2015 - Health BeatHealth Beat

True or False? A lack of sleep can lead to death

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

insomnia-502559447 The answer is true, but only in rare circumstances and in uncommon conditions such as fatal familial insomnia (FFI). This genetic disorder causes affected individuals to suffer from chronic insomnia. People who suffer from FFI often describe the disease as being in a constant state of wakefulness; it’s as if the brain has forgotten how to sleep. Symptoms that are associated with FFI are high blood pressure, episodes of hyperventilation, sexual and urinary tract dysfunction. The consistent lack of sleep experienced during this disease also leads to the deterioration of mental function and motor skills. Unfortunately there are no treatments available and the disease ultimately causes premature death. Death can occur within a few months to a few 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.

Foods that promote lactation

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Andrew Rubin

Breast feeding is a very special time in the life of a mother and her baby. It is important for mom to maintain a well-balanced diet in order in-order for both of them to get the proper nutrients needed.

Foods that are beneficial to the body during breast feeding are called lactogenic. If you are a breast feeding mother, some of the foods that are beneficial to you and the baby are:

• Oatmeal – good for relaxation and increases the production of oxytocin, a hormone responsible for the production of milk.

• Spinach – an excellent source of calcium, vitamins A. K and folic acid. It is also an excellent source of phytoestrogens, a plant based chemical that is similar to estrogen produced by the body.

• Carrots – contain phytoestrogens and also a good source of energy.

• Hummus – made from chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil, a good source of energy.

• Papaya – has phytoestrogen and also promotes relaxation.

• Asparagus – contains phytoestrogen, fiber, folic acid, vitamins A, C, K and also tryptophan which stimulates prolactin, a hormone needed for milk production.

• Brown rice – Is a complex carbohydrate which is great for energy and also can increase serotonin level in the brain which is important for prolactin production.

• Apricots – contain fiber, vitamins A and C, potassium and calcium. Also contains tryptophan.

• Salmon – contains essential fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acid both help in the production of hormones needed for lactation.

It is very important for women who are nursing to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. If you would like to discuss your breast feeding nutrition requirements with a lactation consultant in our Women’s Health Center, please call 718-291-3276

Hypertension Prevention in the Sweet Summer Heat

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Joann Ariola

The American Heart Association recently published the results of a study regarding hot weather and blood pressure. The findings just may surprise you. Hot weather may affect a drop in blood pressure during the day and an increase at night.

These changes may be attributed to the change of daily activities during the summer months, such as:

Walking regularly
Daily aerobic exercise
Maintaining a healthy weight
Curbing insulin-releasing carbohydrates
Lowering salt intake

Studies indicate that high blood pressure kills approximately 50,000 people in the United States each year, and contributes to the death of more than 200,000 annually. If you high blood pressure goes untreated or uncontrolled, it can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure of kidney failure.

Individual lifestyle plays an important role in treating your high blood pressure in any season. By successfully controlling your blood pressure, you may avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.

If you are interested having your blood pressure checked or think you may have hypertension, you can call to make an appointment at the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Center, 718-206-7001.

BBQ Leftover’s Tips and Yummy Recipe

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Joann Ariola

When you barbeque, you always seem to prepare more food than you need. Of course, this will leave you with leftovers more often than not. So what do you do with all that extra chicken?

If you are planning on finishing off your leftover chicken within a few days, wrap it tightly and keep it in the refrigerator. If you want to keep it for more than a few days, wrap the chicken in foil and seal it in a zip lock bag. Try to get as much air as possible out of the bag to preserve the leftovers for several months.

Take precaution when you are reheating your leftovers. You do not have to reheat it on as low a temperature and slowly as you did the first time. An oven temperature of around 325 degrees will work great. Do not overcook your chicken. Overcooking can cause the chicken to become dry.

Properly reheated, your barbecued chicken should be just about as good as it was the day you first cooked it.

Now that we have discussed how to preserve your BBQ chicken, here’s a great way to reheat that chicken. Click the link below and follow the simple recipe that will take your leftover chicken and make it appear like an entirely different meal!

http://addapinch.com/cooking/bbq-chicken-bites-recipe/

Getting Your Kids Out The Door In the Morning This Summer

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Michael Hinck

Getting yourself AND your children ready in the morning can sometimes seem like an impossible task. Follow these tips to avoid the mania associated with trying to get your kids out the door for daycare or summer camp and still get to work on time.

• Establish a Set Routine – A non-negotiable routine must be created and adhered to. An important part of the routine is establishing consequences for failing to follow them. If your child understands the repercussions of not getting up the first time they are called, and understands that they will be enforced, they will be more likely to abide by them.

• Stagger Wake-Up Times – If you’ve got more than one kid in the house, and especially if you have a large family, consider staggering wake-up times for greater efficiency. Start with kids who need assistance first, or the ones who move at a snail’s pace come mornings.

• Determine Choices in Advance – Decide what your children will be eating for breakfast and what they will be packing for lunch the night before. Also choose and lay out your child’s entire outfit, including accessories before you go to bed. Not waiting for the last second to make these choices will help avoid arguments over meal choices and identify potential wardrobe issues such as stains or tears.

• Only do What is Important – By getting caught up tackling chores that you don’t have time for, you are setting yourself and your children up for failure. Consider creating a checklist of what absolutely must be done each morning and leave the other stuff until you get home.

• Designate an Essentials Area – Pick a place in your home for everything you will need the next morning. Shoes, backpacks, car keys, and cell phones should be placed in this area every day, so you don’t spend unnecessary time hunting for them in the morning and running the risk of missing a bus or a train.

• Be a Good Role Model – If you are grumpy and lethargic in the morning and running late yourself, then how can you expect your children to behave differently? A good tip is to get yourself up 10 minutes before your kids to brush off the cobwebs so you can greet your children with a positive attitude when they wake up.

Are You Having Difficulty Breathing While At Work?

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

Do you experience symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing or chest tightness while you are at work? Do these symptoms seem to go away when you are on vacation or away from work? There is a possibility that you may have a condition called occupational asthma.

As defined by Medicine.net, “Occupational asthma is a type of asthma that is caused by exposure to a particular substance in the workplace. Occupational asthma is not the same as previously diagnosed asthma that is worsened by being at work (this condition would be called work-aggravated asthma).”

There are several substances or triggers that can cause occupational asthma attacks. The most common are chemicals used in insulation, packing materials, paints or resins. Other irritants include metals such as nickel sulfate, smoke, gases and plant substances such as wheat, hemp or cotton.

Additional symptoms of this disease can include: inflammation of the lining around the eyes, runny nose, tearing of the eyes and nasal congestion. Symptoms may get worse during the work week and go away after you have left work. They can also continue to occur both at work and outside of work. The longer you are exposed to the cause of the asthma attacks is the more likely you can develop long-lasting symptoms.

Some people are more at risk for developing occupational asthma. You may have an increased risk if you have a family history of asthma or allergies, you have a pre- existing asthma or allergy condition, you are a smoker or you work in an environment that has asthma triggers.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of occupational asthma it is advised that you see a physician as soon as possible because asthma attacks can be life-threatening. Upon your visit to the doctor, he (she) may perform a series of tests such as pulmonary function, spirometry or peak flow measurement. Treatments and suggestions may include wearing a mask or respirator while working as well as prescribed medications.

To make an appointment with the Ambulatory Care Center at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-7001.

Jamaica Hospital Urologists Warn: Stay Hydrated This Summer to Avoid Kidney Stones

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Michael Hinck

You are out on a hot summer day participating in some type of physical activity and you feel a sudden sharp pain on your side or back. While the pain could be a number of things, there is a good chance that you have a kidney stone.

With summer’s heat and more increased physical activity, dehydration is a much more likely occurrence. With adequate hydration, calcium and other crystal forming substances cannot concentrate in the urine, but when someone is dehydrated, there is not enough fluid to dilute these substances, potentially causing kidney stones to form. Even though kidney stones are less than a centimeter in size, they can still cause intense discomfort.

Urologists at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center offer the following tips to reduce your chances of developing kidney stones this summer:

• Drink enough water – If you’re prone to kidney stones, your best defense is to stay hydrated during hot summer months. Hot temperatures make your body lose more water than usual, so it is important to replenish it throughout the day. You may need more than 64 ounces of water per day, depending on your weight and activity level.

• Eat less meat – A diet rich in animal protein can increase your risk for kidney stones, so try to minimize your consumption of burgers and other barbeque favorites and substitute them with other protein sources, such as beans, nuts and seeds.

• Limit your salt intake – Excess salt absorbs water in your system, which can also dehydrate you. Limit your daily sodium intake to 1500 mg or less per day by avoiding fast food, reading nutrition labels when you buy groceries, and cooking with less salt and more herbs and spices.

• Drink less caffeine – Even though you may think you are getting enough liquid by consuming caffeinated sodas, coffee, or tea, caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it can dehydrate you

Kidney stones sometimes do not cause symptoms. If the crystals are small enough, they may pass through urinary tract and out of the body without being felt. However, if a stone is large enough to attract attention, the first symptom is usually severe pain in the back and side that begins when the stone moves into the urinary tract, blocking the flow of urine. The pain may later spread to the groin and lower abdomen. Other symptoms include a persistent urge to urinate, painful urination, and pink, red, or brown urine

Seek medical attention if you have pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting or fever and chills, or if pain is so severe that you cannot sit still or find a comfortable position.

Jamaica Hospital’s Department of Urology offers a wide variety of treatment options for those suffering with kidney stones as well as many other conditions. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-7110.

Facts and Benefits of Acupuncture

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

acupuncture 115527170 The practice of acupuncture originated in China and can be traced as far back as 2,500 years ago. According to traditional Chinese medicine, disease and illness occurs when the energy (Chi) which flows throughout the body along pathways (meridians) is blocked or interrupted. Inserting very thin needles into the skin at strategic points on the body will unblock that energy, allowing it to flow freely and restore balance.

Acupuncture is often used as a complementary treatment with traditional western medicine. It is commonly known to help relieve pain and nausea; however, the World Health Organization (WHO) has found that acupuncture is effective in providing therapeutic treatment for an estimated 28 health conditions.

Some of the conditions that can benefit from acupuncture treatments are:

Depression
Rheumatoid arthritis
Peptic ulcers
Acute and chronic gastritis
Adverse reactions to chemotherapy
Stroke
Renal colic

As with any form of medical treatment there are risks associated with acupuncture. This treatment can be dangerous for patients who are taking blood thinners or have bleeding disorders. If needles are unsterilized you may run the risk of contracting an infection. It is possible, although very rare for needles to break and cause damage to internal organs or needles to be inserted too deeply into the upper back or chest causing lungs to collapse. It is advised that you seek treatment from a licensed acupuncturist as this will ensure that required guidelines are being followed.

Generally speaking acupuncture is safe and can be combined as a method of treatment with traditional medicine. Speak with your physician to further discuss the safety of acupuncture and how it can potentially benefit your health.

Colorectal Surgery

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Andrew Rubin

A colorectal surgeon performs procedures on the intestinal tract, anus, rectum and peri-anal area of the body. One of the commonly treated conditions that they treat are hemorrhoids.
A hemorrhoid is a condition that occurs when veins in the anus and lower rectum become inflamed. They can be either internal (inside the lower rectum) or external (under the skin in the peri-anal area). They can be the result of repeated straining during a bowel movement and can also occur during pregnancy. Hemorrhoids are common, and by the age of fifty approximately half of the adults have experienced them to some extent. This is due to the aging process of the tissues that support the veins in the peri-anal area.
• Symptoms of hemorrhoids include
• Discomfort in the anal area
• Swelling in the anal area
• Bright red bleeding during a bowel movement
• Bumps around the opening of the anus
Depending on the severity of the hemorrhoid, different treatment options exist. In mild cases, hemorrhoids may be able to be treated with creams or ointments. Changing the diet to include more fiber and adding a stool softener may also help. In more severe cases surgery may be necessary. A hemorrhoidectomy is the surgical correction of this condition.
The surgery department at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center offers colorectal diagnostic imaging and board certified surgeons who can treat all forms of colorectal disorders. In addition to hemorrhoids, some of the other conditions that they can treat are polyps, rectal prolapse, colon cancer, fissures, and abscesses. To schedule an appointment please call 718-206-7110.

Why Do We Get Grey Hair?

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Michael Hinck

Some think having grey hair makes them appear distinguished or intelligent; others just think it makes them look old. Either way, grey hair is a natural sign of aging for all of us, but why does our hair turn grey and why does it happen to some people earlier in life than others?

Each strand of hair on our head is surrounded by a tube of tissue called a follicle. These follicles contain pigment cells that produce the chemical, melanin, which gives our hair its color. As we get older, the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die. When there are fewer pigment cells in a hair follicle, that strand of hair will no longer contain as much melanin and the hair will become a more transparent color — like grey, silver, or white as it grows.

People can get grey hair at any age. How early we get grey hair is determined by heredity. When you’re born, your genes are already hardwired for when and how quickly your hair will turn grey. This means that most of us will start developing grey hairs when our parents or grandparents did. This also applies to those who turn grey prematurely—people who grey before age 30 usually do so because it runs in their family.

While some researchers say that your genes are solely responsible for grey hair, others say that there seems to be a connection between greying and stress. While this may be true, the belief that a single traumatic or shocking event will cause your hair to suddenly turn grey is not true. Hair, once grown, doesn’t change color, so waking up with a head of white hair isn’t going to happen.

Another myth is that if you pluck one grey hair, it will cause three new ones to grow in its place. This old wives’ tale is simply not true. Each follicle can contain only one hair, and plucking it won’t make it able to produce multiple hairs. What happens to one follicle has no bearing on others.

So whether you plan to embrace your grey hair or cover it with any number of dyes and other concealing products, just know that there is no avoiding it – if and when you turn grey has already been decided.