May 2020 - Health BeatHealth Beat

Diabetes Prevention

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), “Approximately 88 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 84% don’t know they have it. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.”

Pre-diabetes is a silent health condition that has no symptoms and is almost always present before you develop type 2 diabetes.

It is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as full-blown diabetes. If you haven’t visited your doctor, a good way to see if you are at increased risk for pre-diabetes is to take the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Diabetes risk test by visiting https://www.diabetes.org/risk-test

Those who should be screened for pre-diabetes include overweight adults age 45 and older, or those who are under age 45 and has one or more of the following risk factors:

Habitually physically inactive
Overweight or obese
Have previously been identified as having impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
Have a family history of diabetes
Are members of certain ethnic groups (including Asian, African-American, Hispanic or Native American)
Have had gestational diabetes or have given birth to a child weighing more than 9 pounds
Have elevated blood pressure
Have elevated cholesterol
Have polycystic ovary syndrome
Have a history of vascular disease

That said, if you have pre-diabetes, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be reduced by a sustained modest weight loss and increased moderate-physical activity, such as walking 30 minutes a day.

Through weight loss and increased physical activity, a dietitian may direct you on how to make food choices that cut down on the amount of fat and carbohydrates by:

Eating more foods that are broiled and fewer foods that are fried
Decrease the amount of butter you use in cooking
Eat more fish and chicken
Eat more meatless meals
Re-Orient your meals to reflect more vegetables and fruit

If you have symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue and blurred vision, you may have crossed from pre-diabetes to type 2 diabetes.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center now offers a free and innovative approach to treat patients who are at risk for developing diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was developed by the National Institute of Health and is aimed at managing the health of individuals with either prediabetes or borderline diabetes.

These meetings are facilitated by “Lifestyle Coaches” who are specially trained and certified Jamaica Hospital Patient Navigators with strong interpersonal and group facilitation skills.For more information about eligibility or to sign up for the Diabetes Prevention Program, please visit https://jamaicahospital.org/pre-diabetes/ or call 718-206-8494.

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.

The Importance of Monitoring Chronic Illnesses During the COVID-19 Crisis

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Many health care facilities have seen a decrease in people seeking care for chronic conditions due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This can be attributed to fears of being exposed to the virus in public places or the temporary suspension of certain services offered by healthcare providers.

Although the outbreak has caused alterations in the way we live, one thing that should remain unchanged for those living with chronic illnesses is monitoring their health. It is important that they pay attention to symptoms that warn of serious health problems, because ignoring them may put their lives at risk.

Symptoms of chronic illnesses that should not be ignored include:

Chest pain, pressure in your chest, shortness of breath or other heart attack symptoms
Sudden numbness, weakness, confusion, loss of vision or other stroke symptoms
Difficulty breathing
Heavy bleeding
High fever
Spikes in blood sugar (Diabetes)
Nausea

If these symptoms are persistent, please contact a physician for a medical consultation or seek emergency treatment. Medical facilities are well equipped to safely treat non-COVID-19 patients and many doctors are offering telehealth appointments. Some hospitals are also reopening their outpatient locations.

In addition to monitoring symptoms, it is important to maintain healthy habits. This can be achieved by keeping routine appointments (virtually or in person), taking prescribed medications, exercising, and eating a well-balanced diet.

If you have a non-COVID-19 related chronic medical condition or symptoms and would like to see a doctor, please contact Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718-206-7001, to schedule an appointment.

Tips On How To Prepare for a Telemedicine Appointment

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Xavia Malcolm

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we conduct our day-to-day routines. To prevent the spread of the disease, most of our activities are now done from home. In some instances, this includes seeing our doctors for medical appointments.

Telehealth or telemedicine appointments have become the norm for many who require consultations from their physicians during the pandemic. These appointments connect patients and doctors by utilizing video conferencing technology. Although these virtual visits may not take place physically in a doctor’s office, they are private. Information and conversations shared between participants remain confidential. Many of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s doctors are now accepting appointments for virtual visits.

To prepare for your telemedicine appointment at Jamaica Hospital, please follow these helpful tips:

Sign up for Medisys MyChart. (This is preferred, however, if you do not have MyChart, we can still schedule a virtual visit through Zoom directly through zoom.us/join).
Have access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera enabled with visual and audio.
Download the Zoom video communications application.
Test your equipment before your scheduled virtual visit.
Close other running programs or unnecessary tabs to avoid delays or pauses in your connection.
Find a quiet space.
Adjust the lighting in your space. Utilize overhead lights if they are available and block sunlight from windows. ( This will prevent you from having too much background light)
Prepare to answer questions pertaining to your medical history, symptoms, lifestyle changes, or any aspect of your health.
Have a pen and paper ready to write down your doctor’s recommendations or information about your treatment plan.

It is important to note that while most virtual visits are like normal appointments, there may be limitations based on your condition. Please contact your doctor’s office if you have questions about scheduling a virtual visit.

Q & A: Can COVID-19 Affect My Pregnancy?

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Xavia Malcolm

A: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “We do not currently know if pregnant women have a greater chance of getting sick from COVID-19 than the general public nor whether they are more likely to have serious illness as a result.”

COVID-19 is a new disease. Therefore, we are learning more about how it spreads and the effects it can have on our health every day. While we continue to learn more about COVID-19, we encourage women who are pregnant to exercise all recommended precautions to protect their health. These measures include:

Frequently washing and sanitizing your hands
Frequently cleaning surfaces of your home
Avoiding people who are sick
Practicing social distancing

If you are pregnant and experiencing symptoms that include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, chills, headache, a new loss of smell, or taste please inform your doctor. Testing may be required to see if these symptoms are the result of COVID-19. If you have tested positive, you may require specialized care during pregnancy and delivery. After giving birth, there is the possibility that your baby may need to be separated from you. This separation helps to prevent you from infecting your baby.

It is important to remember that prenatal care is unique to each individual. Speak with your OB/GYN about their plans to monitor your pregnancy and protect your health during the COVID-19 outbreak.