March 2021 - Health BeatHealth Beat

Varicose Veins

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Joann Ariola

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately half of Americans age 50 and older have varicose veins. These veins appear to bulge from the skin and are dark purple or blue in color. They are most commonly located in the legs and are caused by the pooling of blood in enlarged veins.

While varicose veins are very common among both men and women, there are several factors that can increase a person’s risk of being affected. This includes:

Heredity
Hormonal changes, such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause
Increasing age
Obesity
Sun exposure

The Dangers of Varicose Veins
Not only can varicose veins cause discomfort and embarrassment for the men and women who have them, but they can also sometimes lead to more serious health conditions. If left untreated, varicose veins can lead to:

Blood Clots- Blood clots are extremely dangerous, as they may dislodge from the vein and travel to the lungs or heart, preventing either from functioning properly.
Sores and Ulcers- Varicose veins may lead to sores and ulcers of the skin because of long-term buildup of fluid.

Varicose veins may also cause ongoing swelling, rashes, and pain, and can increase a person’s chances of infection.

Seeking Medical Attention
Varicose veins may signal a higher risk for circulatory problems. If you have varicose veins that cause pain, swelling, itching, tiredness, or numbness in the legs, you should seek medical attention. Jamaica Hospital offers a variety of options to treat varicose veins.

If you have varicose veins and would like to schedule a consultation with a vascular surgeon at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s, Ambulatory Care Center 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.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Devika Nanan

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Andrew Rubin

This month we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Devika Nanan. a Medical Assistant (PAR) in our Ambulatory Care Department. Devika came to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center five years ago, first as a volunteer for 18 months and in her current position thereafter.

Devika is a native of the Caribbean twin isles of Trinidad and Tobago where she grew up and attended school. After successfully completing seven years at the elementary level she then continued on to secondary school. While in high school she was exposed to a wide variety of disciplines but ultimately decided to focus her attention on Business Principles, Management and Spanish. Before coming to the United States she also attended the Lakshimi Girls Hindu College.

After completing her studies, she soon became a mother. Wanting to provide her children with a better way of life, she emigrated to New York and settled in Queens where she currently resides. She worked hard and was determined to continue her education. Devika enrolled at Garden State Technical College in New Jersey where she trained as a Medical Assistant.

Devika wears many hats. She is a wife, mother of three and grandmother of two. She enjoys spending time with her family which is very important to her. In her free time she enjoys reading, and listening to music. Her favorite types of food are West Indian and Hibachi. When she goes on vacation, she likes to visit different beaches and take her children to historical places.

Devika enjoys working with her colleagues at Jamaica Hospital. She also enjoys her interactions with our patients, as this allows her friendly personality to shine. We are very fortunate to have Devika as a member of our team and look forward to many more years as one of our valued employees.

Understanding Virus Mutation

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Xavia Malcolm

A virus is a submicroscopic parasite that is made up of genetic code: RNA or DNA, surrounded by a protective protein coat known as a capsid.

A virus’ purpose is to create more copies of itself and spread to hosts. However, viruses lack the ability to thrive and reproduce outside of a host body. In other words, “A virus cannot replicate alone. Viruses must infect cells and use components of the host cell to make copies of themselves. Often, they kill the host cell in the process, and cause damage to the host organism,” according to the National Human Genome Research Institute.

When a virus replicates, its genes may undergo copying errors or genetic mutations. This is a natural and normal occurrence and is especially true of viruses that contain RNA such as the coronavirus.

Over time, alterations to the virus’ surface proteins or antigens can occur through mutation. This leads to the formation of new variants of a virus strain.

It has been reported that multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are circulating. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, “Information about the characteristics of these variants is rapidly emerging. Scientists are working to learn more about how easily they spread, whether they could cause more severe illness, and whether currently authorized vaccines will protect people against them.”

The CDC is closely monitoring these variants of concern and advises people to continue to protect themselves from COVID-19 by practicing good hand hygiene, wearing a mask, social distancing and getting vaccinated.

National Poison Prevention Week

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Andrew Rubin

The National Poison Prevention Week was established by the U.S. Congress in 1961 to bring public attention to the dangers of poisoning and how to prevent it.

Each year, more than 2 million poisonings are reported to the nation’s poison control centers. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports that 93 percent of poisonings occur in the home, 45 percent involve children under the age of six and the majority of fatal poisonings occur in older adults.

There are several ways that some poisonings can be prevented. These include keeping all chemicals out of reach from children, reading dosages and labels on all medications, and knowing how certain medications react when taken together. Here are a few basic steps to take if a poisoning takes place:

For inhaled poison get the person fresh air immediately

For skin poison take off the person’s clothes and rinse skin with fresh water for 15 – 20 minutes

For poison in the eyes, rinse the eyes out with fresh water for 15 – 20 minutes

For an overdose of medicine, call 9-1-1 immediately

In all cases of poisoning, contact the local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Treatment advice will depend on the type of poison, the person’s age, and medical history.

Easy Corned Beef And Cabbage Recipe

Posted on March 17, 2021 by Joann Ariola

Corned beef and cabbage is a dish enjoyed by many, especially on St. Patrick’s Day. Since today is St. Patrick’s Day, we thought we’d share an easy corned beef and cabbage recipe from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/corned-beef-and-cabbage-recipe.html

Enjoy!

Understand Developmental Disabilities

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Michael Hinck

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. During this month-long observance we look to raise awareness and educate the community on developmental disabilities.

Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during a child’s developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.

Developmental disabilities occur among all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Recent estimates in the United States show that about one in six, or about 17%, of children aged 3 through 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities, such as:

ADHD
Autism
Cerebral palsy
Down syndrome
Hearing Loss
Vision impairment

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) most developmental disabilities are believed to be caused by a complex mix of factors including genetics; parental health and behaviors (such as smoking and drinking) during pregnancy; complications during birth; infections the mother might have during pregnancy or the baby might have very early in life; and exposure of the mother or child to high levels of environmental toxins, such as lead. For some developmental disabilities, such as fetal alcohol syndrome is caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Diagnosing a developmental disability involves monitoring when children reach developmental milestones, such as when they first speak, crawl and walk and how they behave and learn. As a parent, you know your child best. If you feel your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, speak with your pediatrician and share your concerns because early intervention is vital in helping your child overcome barriers and lead a full life.

If you would like to make an appointment with a pediatrician at Jamaica Hospital, please call our Ambulatory Care Center at 718-206-7001.

World Kidney Day

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Andrew Rubin

Today is recognized as World Kidney Day. This year the slogan is “Living Well with Kidney Disease” because the aim is to educate people who are affected to manage it successfully.

The kidneys are two, fist-sized organs in your lower back. They maintain overall health by serving following functions:

Filtering waste out of 200 liters of blood each day
Regulating of the body’s salt, potassium and acid content
Removing toxins from the body.
Balancing the body’s fluids
Releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure
Producing an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones
Controlling the production of red blood cells

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control, some quick facts on Kidney Disease are:

Kidney disease is the 9^th leading cause of death in the country.
More than 26 million Americans have kidney disease, and most don’t know it.
There are over 95,000 people waiting for kidney transplants.
Currently, more than 590,000 people have kidney failure in the U.S. today.

Often times, kidney failure can be prevented or delayed through early detection and proper treatment of underlying disease such as diabetes and high blood pressure which can slow additional damage to the kidneys.

If you are 18 years or older with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or a family history of kidney disease, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor and ask that you be screened for kidney disease.

If you would like to make an appointment to have your Kidney’s checked, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center by calling 718-206-7001 for an appointment.

#WorkoutWednesday Exercises That Work The Entire Body

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Joann Ariola

It is recommended by the U.S. Department of Health that adults get 75 to 150 minutes of exercise each week; however, many do not have the luxury of time to work out frequently and some are confined to the office for eight hours or more each day. Despite the limitations of a busy schedule, there are ways to fit a full body exercise regimen into your daily routine.

Some examples of full body exercises are:

Push-ups
Squats
Burpees
Lunges

Exercise is essential to your health. Although your schedule may be hectic, try to find the time for a few minutes of physical activity into your daily routine.

If you would like to learn more about the how to safely implement the techniques listed above, visit https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324895#lunges

What To Expect After You Receive Your Vaccine

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Michael Hinck

Jamaica Hospital would like to provide our community with the facts about what to expect after getting the vaccine.

The most common side effect associated with the COVID vaccine is pain and swelling in your arm at the location of the injection site.

Other side effects reported by some include:

Fever
Chills
Headache
Body aches
Fatigue

It is important to note that these side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection against the virus. These symptoms typical go away in a few days, but they may affect your ability to participate in your daily activities while you experience them.

If you are experiencing pain, it is recommended that you talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamines, or acetaminophen. It is not recommended that you take these medicines before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects, because it is not known how these medications may impact how well the vaccine works.

Some tips to alleviate your symptoms include:

Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the injection site
Use or exercise the arm that received the injection
Drink plenty of fluids.
Dress lightly

COVID-19 Myth or Fact

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Andrew Rubin

A very common myth is that Covid-19 affects older people more severely than younger people. The fact is that while older people tend to have more risk factors, people of any age can and do get the virus. A younger person may have a more robust immune system but it will not prevent them from getting the virus. Younger people can be affected just as severely as an older adult.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, you may do so by calling 718-206-7001.