December 2017 - Page 2 of 2 - Health BeatHealth Beat

Heart Health and the Holidays

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

The holiday season is upon us which means more opportunities to get together with family, friends and co-workers to share a festive meal. These year-end festivities will usually become excuses to overeat and consume excessive amounts of alcohol. For some who partake in these poor health habits, these actions can result in heart problems and even sudden heart attacks.

Every year, during the months of December and January there is an increase in hospital visits due to heart-related complaints. The most common issues that result in a visit to the ER during this time of year include:

Drinking too many alcoholic beverages which causes an elevation in blood pressure and can lead to an irregular heartbeat.
Eating a big meal, especially one that is high in fat. Digesting a heavy meal will divert some blood away from the heart and this can lead to chest pain and the potential for a heart attack.
Performing strenuous activities outdoors in the cold weather. This is because the dip in temperature causes blood vessels to constrict and therefore blood flow is diminished, especially to the heart. In people who already have blocked arteries, this can be very dangerous.

There are a few easy things that people can do to prevent heart problems during the holiday season. It is important to eat in moderation. Just because there is a lot of food being served doesn’t mean you have to be the one who eats it all. Know your alcohol consumption limitations. It is one thing to drink in moderation and quite another to drink in excess. It is very important to dress warmly if planning on spending a lot of time outdoors. This will keep the body heat in and the blood flowing properly.

Starting the holiday season with a check-up by your physician is always a good idea, especially if you have a history of heart-related problems. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a doctor at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-7001.

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.

Home Remedy for and Upset Tummy

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Joann Ariola

The Chinese have used ginger to treat nausea and digestive issues for over 2,000 years. While research has debated the extent of its effectiveness as a natural remedy, it’s thought that active components, such as gingerol, directly affect the digestive and central nervous systems.

Most doctors and herbal medicine practitioners agree that using fresh ginger in teas and water or natural ginger candies will help relieve nausea, especially during pregnancy. Some studies suggest it is an effective treatment for post-operative and chemotherapy-related nausea, as well.

Ginger also has anti-inflammatory properties that may help boost immunity. Bottom line, there are no disadvantages to ingesting a little ginger to help ease nausea and digestive issues.

Asthma Medications-Dr. Andrew Flowers Helps You To Understand Treatment Options

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Andrew Flowers MD

Do you or someone you know have asthma? If so, you may want to know what treatment options are available and how they can help to manage the condition.

First, you need to understand what asthma is as well as its symptoms. Asthma is a chronic disease that when it is not controlled can make it difficult to breathe. When an asthma attack happens, you may experience coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or breathlessness. A person may find it difficult to breathe as a result of the narrowing of the airways caused by swelling, mucus production, and the tightening of the muscles around the airways.

Although many people have asthma, it can mean very different things from person to person. You may experience mild or moderate symptoms daily or weekly. Your doctor will consider these factors when deciding which treatment options are most suitable for your care.

The goal of asthma treatment is to control the disease and to prevent symptoms from interfering with your day-to-day activities. Your doctor determines control of your asthma by the following:

How often you experience daytime and nighttime symptoms.
How often you use your rescue inhaler.
How often you have to go to the doctor for treatment of your symptoms.
How much your symptoms interfere with your daily life.

Individuals with poor control of their asthma are usually put on controller medications to manage their condition. Controller medications are to be taken every day to prevent symptoms from occurring and to decrease the severity of symptoms when they do occur.

Controller medications should be used long-term, whether you feel bad or good on a daily basis, as prescribed. Consistency is very important when taking these medications. Another form of treatment your doctor may prescribe is prescribing a rescue medication. These are to be used on a short-term basis to help you feel better quickly when experiencing coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing. Here are a few examples of each type of medication.

Check out American Lung Association’s guide on how to use your inhaler:

With a spacer:

Without a spacer:

https://youtu.be/Lrt1nJ3tVFI?list=PLxdDQiAI50j8Kl2NF2KVVnp27gFS3NjX4

When taken as directed, these medications can significantly decrease the burden of asthma on your daily life. Do not hesitate to go to a doctor if home medications are not providing relief.

In addition to taking your medication, it is important to know your asthma triggers and be able to identify symptoms early.

Talk to your doctor about your Asthma Action Plan and ways to better take control of your asthma. To schedule an appointment with the Family Medicine Department at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call, 718-206-6942

Andrew Flowers MD, Family Medicine

Dr’s Tips For Dealing with Holiday Stress

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

During the holiday season, many of us struggle to complete an extensive list of tasks in what often feels like very little time. We run rampant decorating our homes, attending social gatherings, shopping for loved ones, volunteering, traveling or cooking. These activities are often added to our already busy schedules, which can make us feel overwhelmed.

Contrary to what we may think, these activities which should make us feel happy can actually increase our stress levels.

Although there are various factors such as unrealistic expectations or financial strain that contribute to holiday stress, finding ways to avoid stressors or minimize their effects is very important. If stress is not managed well, it can have a significantly negative impact on our health.

Dr. Madhu Rajanna; Director of the Mental Health Clinic and Assistant Director of the Psychiatry Residency program at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center offers five tips to help you cope with holiday stress and maintain good mental health:

Set realistic goals– Unrealistic goals often equal added pressure and expectations that cannot be met. If these goals are not met, they can lead to negative feelings such as inadequacy or hopelessness.
Know when to take a moment for yourself (Take a break) – We are often pulled in multiple directions during this time of the year. Know when to take a breather to decompress and clear your mind.
Communicate- The added pressures of the holidays are clearly overwhelming and one of the ways that people sometimes deal with this is to isolate themselves. This is not recommended; instead, reach out to loved ones or a trained mental health professional to communicate how you feel.
Do not neglect healthy habits– Taking good care of your health can help combat holiday stress. Moderating your food intake, fitting in a few minutes of exercise and getting adequate amounts of sleep can be profoundly beneficial for your health. Additionally, maintaining a healthy daily routine can help take your mind off holiday demands.
Ask for help- We live in a time where multitasking has become the norm but if you begin to feel overwhelmed, ask for help. Soliciting the help of friends or family can alleviate some of the holiday pressure. The holidays can also trigger depression; if you are experiencing symptoms of depression ask for help from loved ones or seek the assistance of a mental health professional.

Dr. Madhu Rajanna- Director of the Mental Health Clinic and Assistant Director of the Psychiatry Residency program

The holiday season can be overwhelming; however, by applying Dr. Rajanna’s helpful tips you can take the steps needed to minimize stress and make this time of year more enjoyable. If you find that you continue to experience elevated levels of stress or symptoms of depression, it is recommended that you seek the help of mental health professional immediately.

To schedule an appointment with the Mental Health Clinic at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-5575.

Be Fire Smart This Holiday Season

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

Decorating your home for the holidays is always so much fun, but did you know that each year an estimated 250 house fires nationwide are caused by faulty holiday lights? Here are some tips for keeping your home safe this year:

• Before stringing holiday lights always check the sockets to ensure they are not broken or cracked.

• Never use indoor lights for outdoors use.

• Turn off the indoor tree lights before going to bed or whenever you leave the house.

• Do not connect more than three sets of lights to each extension cord.

• Make sure that your lights have safety labels and are made by reputable companies.

• Do not use candles on or near a tree.

• Place your tree and gift-wrapped presents away from sources of heat such as fireplaces.

• Make sure that your tree is secured firmly to its base so that it can’t tip over.

• Artificial trees should be fire resistant.

• Always keep a fire extinguisher handy and accessible in case of emergency.

Benny Quiles, Director of Safety

Benny Quiles, Director of Safety at Jamaica Hospital says “a small Christmas tree fire can spread and grow large very quickly. Use flame-retardant decorations. make sure your smoke detectors have working batteries and never block fire exits.”

Don’t ruin your holiday by being careless. A little common sense and taking some precautions will ensure a joyous holiday for you and your family.

HEALTHY OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Joann Ariola

It’s Holiday Baking Season! Let’s start this season off right with a healthy choice.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

INGREDIENTS

1 1/3 cups of quick cooking oats or rolled oats
1/3 cup of all purpose flour
pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon of vanilla
6 tablespoons of room temperature unsalted butter ( margarine may be substituted)
3/4 cup of light brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup of dark raisins
1/3 cup of flax seeds

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Using a hand mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffed up ( 1-2 minutes) and add the egg, cinnamon and vanilla and beat for another 30 seconds until smooth.
In a separate bowl, mix the oats, raisins, flax seeds and flour with baking powder and baking soda and pinch of salt.
Then using a rubber spatula, fold the oat mixture into the egg mixture. The dough will be a little crumbly, that’s ok.
Using a standard tablespoon measuring spoon or a small ice cream scoop or oiled hands, pick up golf ball sizes of the dough and place them on the cookie sheet about 1/2 inches apart ( these cookies don’t spread too much).
Bake the cookies ( middle rack) for 12-14 minutes depending on the size of your cookies. Take them out while the centre is still soft but the edges have set ( if you like a chewy cookie) or let them bake an extra 2 minutes until the centres are set too if you like a crunchier cookie.
Cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before attempting to remove them.
Now enjoy!
To freeze the dough: wrap it in wax or parchment paper and freeze it as a log or pre-measure it into golf ball sizes. When ready to bake slice the dough ( if it’s a log) or bake the gold ball frozen doughs at the same temperature for an extra 2 minutes longer.

For this an other delicious cookie recipes visit – www,twopurplefigs.com

True or False – We Lose Most of our Body Heat From Our Head?

Posted on December 1, 2017 by Michael Hinck

Now that the colder weather has arrived, we all are reminded to cover our heads to stay warm. One of the reasons we do this is because of the age-old theory that we lose approximately half of our body heat through our heads, but is this bit of advice really true?

The origin of this belief comes most likely from an old U.S. Army Field Manual from the 1950’s based on arctic survival research. The problem with the study is that while the research was performed on subjects wearing cold weather gear, they were not wearing hats. Naturally, in circumstances like this, body heat will escape from whatever area is exposed – in this case, the subjects uncovered heads.

Since our heads represents only 10% of our body’s total surface area, it would have to lose about 40 times as much heat per square inch as other parts of the body for this theory to be true.

Another factor in why this myth is thought to be true by many has to do with how our blood vessels are composed. We tend to feel colder in places where blood vessels are densely packed, like the head, and less where aren’t such as the legs.

Even though there is no factual basis to the concept of losing excess body heat through our heads, most will agree that if you want to stay warm this winter, you should cover your entire body to prevent heat from escaping…including your head.