February 2023 - Health BeatHealth Beat

Multiple Allergies and the Symptom Threshold

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Everyone has their own unique combination of allergic triggers and not all of them are obvious. You may be sensitized to several allergen sources, but your sensitization may not be enough to trigger symptoms when you are exposed to only one of them. But when you encounter multiple substances you’re allergic to at the same time, they can add up, and you may start experiencing symptoms, such as itchy eyes or a runny nose.

Determining if you’re allergic and identifying your allergic triggers can help you stay below your symptom threshold—the point where you start experiencing allergy symptoms.

Most people with allergies—up to 80 percent—are allergic to multiple allergens. And for some of these people; symptoms may appear only when they encounter two or more things they’re allergic to at the same time.

Minimizing your exposure to your allergic triggers may help lessen or eliminate your symptoms. For example:

• You could have a low-level allergy to dust mites, mold, and grass pollen. During large parts of the year, you’re exposed to dust mites and mold but may have little to no symptoms.

• But in the spring, when pollen is in the air, you may experience symptoms. You then might think that you have only a pollen allergy. But without a test you won’t know for sure.

Your best defense against your allergic symptoms is to know what’s causing them and to avoid those triggers. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to cut everything you’re allergic to out of your life. You’ll just have to reduce your exposure enough to get below your symptom threshold—the level where you start to experience symptoms.

One of the best ways to find out what’s causing your allergic symptoms is to get tested. There are several different options for allergy testing, including blood tests, skin-prick tests, food challenge tests, and allergy provocation tests. Together with your healthcare provider, you can decide which test is best for you. After your elected allergy test is performed, the results are reviewed by your healthcare provider alongside your medical history to help establish an accurate diagnosis. 

To schedule an allergy test at Jamaica Hospital Medical 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 Melissa Nolan, EMT, and Emergency Management Planner

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Melissa Nolan, EMT, and Emergency Management Planner.

Melissa has been with Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for five years. She grew up in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and still resides there. Melissa attended elementary school at St. Margaret of Cortona, high school at Saint Vincent Ferrer, and received her Bachelors of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Communication and Media Management from SUNY New Paltz. Melissa received her EMT certification from Montefiore Hospital – Wakefield campus.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She likes to go with them to sporting events, concerts, and Broadway shows. She also enjoys travelling with her family. One of her most memorable vacations was a Mediterranean cruise around Italy, France, and Greece. She is now planning to take a trip to Nashville.

Melissa likes different types of food, especially Italian, Greek, Spanish and Portuguese. She enjoys all types of music, and listens to everything from Elvis and the Rat Pack to the Beatles, Motown, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Miley Cyrus and Lizzo. Her favorite sports teams are the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Yankees. Being of Italian, Portuguese, Brazilian and Irish descent, she roots for their national teams during the Soccer World Cup but her favorite is the Brazilian team.

She enjoys working at Jamaica Hospital because she feels that her mind is challenged at least once a day and with that comes the opportunity to learn and expand her knowledge. Melissa likes being part of the Emergency Management Department because it plays such an important role in helping to keep the hospital functioning well, especially during times of crisis.

Melissa’s priorities in life include making sure that her family is well cared for. She also believes it is important to lend a helping hand to others so that they can achieve their goals.

We are fortunate to have Melissa as a part of our team and look forward to her continuing to work with us for many more years in the future.

3 Common Causes of Toothaches

Posted on February 22, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Most people experience toothaches at various points in life due to a variety of causes. During childhood, they may be a sign that new teeth are growing in to replace baby teeth. Later in life, a toothache could be an indicator of dental crowding or the growth of a wisdom tooth.

However, there are other very common reasons that toothaches may occur, some of which may even lead to more serious health issues if left untreated. Some of these potential causes include:

Cavities: Tooth decay, indicated by the presence of cavities in your teeth, is the most common cause of toothaches. 90% of all adults aged 20 or older having experienced at least one cavity during their lifetime. Cavities can occur at any age and generally appear due to poor dental hygiene, particularly a failure to brush and floss or visit a dentist for regular cleanings.

Gum Disease: Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, affects nearly half of all adults aged 30 years or older in the United States. It typically involves infection and inflammation of the gums and bone surrounding the teeth; its early stage, gingivitis, causes the gums to become swollen and potentially bleed. Similarly to cavities, gum disease is best prevented through good dental hygiene habits such as daily brushing and flossing as well as annual dental cleaning appointments.

Teeth Grinding: Bruxism, also referred to as teeth grinding, is a condition that affects up to one third of all adults during the day and one tenth at night during sleep. Bruxism is a habit of clenching or gnashing the teeth together, which can potentially lead to jaw conditions, headaches, and tooth damage. A dentist may recommend splints and mouth guards to keep the teeth separated and prevent damage, particularly if you grind your teeth while sleeping.

If you are experiencing persistent toothaches, don’t assume they will go away on their own; they may be signs of a condition that can become more serious. You can schedule an appointment for an exam or teeth cleaning with a dentist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Dental Medicine by calling (718) 206-6980.

National Organ Day

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

On any given day, an average of 20 people die in the United States while waiting for a life saving organ transplant. There are currently over 120,000 people in the United States who are awaiting an organ donation that could potentially save their lives.
These are the five most common donations that are desperately needed to save lives:

• Organs
• Tissue
• Marrow
• Platelets
• Blood

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center supports organ donation. To find out how you can register to become an organ donor, go to www.liveonny.org for more information.

Stages of the Common Cold

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

The common cold affects millions of people throughout the United States each year and is much more prevalent during the winter and spring seasons.

Colds typically cause a variety of symptoms that includes a sore throat, a runny nose, coughing, and sneezing, with some cases also causing headaches and body aches.

Many people also catch the common cold multiple times a year. Adults may have one up to three times each year on average. For children, this number is variable, but could be as high as 12 cases per year for babies and toddlers.

A common cold typically lasts between seven and 10 days and can be divided into three stages with varying symptoms.

During the early stage of a cold (often the first one to three days), you may experience a sore throat as the first symptom; this can occur as early as the first day of infection. This may be quickly followed by the onset of other typical cold symptoms.

In the peak stage of a cold, your symptoms may reach their maximum intensity, resulting in effects such as a constant runny nose, a worsened cough, or consistent aches throughout your body. In some cases, this may also lead to a fever.

The late stage of a cold takes place within the last one to three days. During this phase, the severity of your symptoms should decrease as you experience less nasal congestion and aching. While coughing may also decrease for most people, it can potentially last as long as two weeks after your initial infection.

If your symptoms last longer than average, remain intense for an extended period of time, or lead to additional symptoms such as a fever, you should visit a doctor at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-7001.

3 Mental Health Tips for Online Dating

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

If you’re looking for love this Valentine’s Day, you may be using online dating apps as part of your search. The odds of success may be in your favor, as most couples today first meet online, but if you aren’t careful, your approach to online dating could be harmful to your mental health.

People with pre-existing mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety may experience symptoms as a result of the way many major dating apps work. Most apps display photos of users along with information about their personalities. Users may develop negative thoughts about their body image or about themselves in general if they aren’t getting many responses to their profile.

On the other hand, while a high number of responses may provide an initial sense of validation, it can quickly turn negative if potential connections or conversations come to a quick or unexpected end. Negative feelings can also occur after first dates if the person you met decides to “ghost” you, never responding or asking to go out with you again.

To stay mentally healthy despite these potential bumps in the road of your online dating journey, you should:

Set limits on the time you spend on each app: The unhealthy effects of online dating apps can increase as you spend more time on them at the expense of other activities. Set a time limit of about 30 minutes each day or limit your number of swipes for each app. Take a break to do something else after finishing your time with one app if you plan to use another.

Make genuine connections your goal: It can be easy to swipe thoughtlessly on a high volume of profiles, resulting in either a low number of matches or conversations that lead nowhere. Don’t swipe just to see how many matches you can get; use online dating apps as a tool to meet people you can genuinely connect with based on your true personality.

Avoid online dating on bad days: If you are in a negative frame of mind due to the events of your day or are experiencing sudden symptoms of a mental health condition, avoid online dating apps for that day entirely, as they can do more harm than good to your self-esteem and self-image in these moments.

If you’re experiencing mental health problems that are interfering with your ability to make connections with other people, romantic or otherwise, you can find help from a therapist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Mental Health Clinic. To schedule an appointment or learn more, please call (718) 206-6160.

How Does Blue Light Affect Sleep?

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Xavia Malcolm

Devices such as smartphones, laptops, and smart televisions emit blue light, which is a color on the light spectrum that’s visible to the human eye. Blue light also contains the highest level of energy on the light spectrum.

While blue light may offer benefits when utilized during the day, such as helping to boost attention and mood, it can cause several problems when used at night. The most common is interfering with our sleep cycles.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to blue light emitted from devices used at night can make it difficult for us to fall asleep or can wake us up too early.

Blue light has this effect because light plays an essential role in aligning circadian rhythms, which is the body’s internal clock that helps to regulate sleep and wake cycles. The CDC explains that the “body’s circadian clock responds to light, as a signal to be awake, and dark, as a signal to fall asleep.”

Blue light stimulates the part of our brain that makes us alert and it suppresses the body’s secretion of melatonin; the hormone that makes us feel sleepy. Exposure can trick our brains into thinking it’s daytime even when using devices such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops at night.

To prevent this problem, and reduce the risk of blue light exposure, the Sleep Foundation recommends:
• Turning off electronics two to three hours before bedtime
• Dimming the lights on electronics or using night mode
• Using smartphone or computer applications designed to reduce the emission of blue light
• Using an eye mask to sleep if you are unable to turn off or dim certain light sources

Creating a healthy sleep environment can help us to achieve the rest our bodies need to reenergize and heal. This involves making sure that lights do not interfere with our sleep.

To learn more about creating a healthy sleep environment, or to speak with a specialist about sleep-related health problems you may be experiencing, please schedule an appointment with Jamaica Hospital’s Sleep Center by calling 718-206-7001.

Jamaica Hospital Receives America’s 250 Best Hospitals Award For Fourth Consecutive Year

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to announce that it is one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2023, according to new research released by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting doctors and patients. This achievement puts Jamaica Hospital in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance across the most common conditions and procedures. This is the fourth consecutive year Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is among America’s Best.

Healthgrades evaluated patient mortality and complication rates for 31 of the most common conditions and procedures at nearly 4,500 hospitals across the country to identify the top-performing hospitals.

Being named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals is an achievement that speaks to Jamaica Hospital’s commitment to providing its patients and community with high-quality healthcare. The distinction of being one of America’s Best is among several achievements earned by the hospital for clinical excellence and high performance in a wide range of services. Jamaica Hospital received four 2023 U.S. News & World Report High Performing Hospitals awards in recognition of the treatment and care provided to patients diagnosed with heart failure, COPD, diabetes, and stroke. Healthgrades also ranked Jamaica Hospital among the top five hospitals in New York for surgical care in 2023.

“We’re proud to recognize Jamaica Hospital Medical Center as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2023,” said Brad Bowman MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades. “As one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center consistently delivers better-than-expected outcomes for the patients in their community and is setting a high national standard for clinical excellence.”

How to Avoid Winter Injuries

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

The winter months can be a very nice time of year to spend outdoors enjoying many different types of sports and cold weather activities. However, it is important to remember that cold weather activities can pose certain risks. Here are some of the most common winter activities that can cause injuries and ways to avoid these mishaps:

Walking on slippery surfaces – the most common injuries are slips and falls which can lead to broken bones, sprained muscles and back injuries. Ways to avoid these injuries include:

Taking short steps
Walking slowly
Bending knees slightly when walking
Holding on to a railing when possible
Keeping your hands at your sides

Shoveling snow – when not done properly can lead to injuries of the back, neck, ankles, knees, wrists. and shoulders. Ways to avoid these injuries includes:

Warming up your muscles before starting to shovel by stretching
Bending at the knees
Keeping your back straight
Pushing snow instead of lifting when possible
Taking frequent breaks

Frostbite – this can occur if you are outdoors for prolonged periods without proper clothing for protection. Signs of frostbite are numbness and change in skin color. Ways to avoid frostbite include:

Wearing gloves, hats, heavy socks
Dressing in layers
Avoiding going outdoors when wet

Participating in winter sports – activities such as ice skating, sledding, skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey and snowmobiling look like fun and they can be when practiced safely. However, accidents can occur when proper precautions are not taken. Some of these precautions include:

Making sure the ice on a pond or a lake is thick enough for the chosen activity
Wearing a helmet is important to avoid head injuries
Making sure there is someone supervising children or inexperienced adults
Avoiding courses with obstacles especially when skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, and ice skating
Taking lessons first if you have never participated in an activity
Wearing proper safety gear especially on knees and elbows in case of a fall

It is important to never participate in any winter sporting activity alone, especially where the risks of injury are high.

Outdoor winter activities often look easier than they actually are. Taking precautions, will help to keep you safe from serious injuries.

The Risk of Using Tap Water In Home Medical Devices

Posted on February 8, 2023 by Xavia Malcolm

According to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the use of tap water to fill home medical devices such as humidifiers, neti pots, and CPAP machines can pose a potential threat to our health.

Although tap water is treated to meet safe drinking standards, it is not sterile and is unsafe for inhalation. Therefore, using tap water to fill certain home medical devices is not recommended.

Unsterilized water contains microorganisms such as Legionella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Inhaling these pathogens can lead to infection. Both pathogens are responsible for a large portion of hospitalizations and deaths related to waterborne diseases.

Some individuals are more at risk for acquiring infections than others, they include:

The elderly
Infants and young children
People with weakened immune systems

To avoid the risk of developing an infection or waterborne illnesses caused by the inhalation of pathogens, the CDC recommends using clean, sterile water ( Tap water can be sterilized by boiling it for a minimum of one minute and allowing it to cool), or using distilled water. It is important to note that bottled drinking water is not considered sterile.

The CDC also recommends regularly cleaning and disinfecting home medical devices to help reduce exposure to waterborne pathogens.

To learn more about waterborne illnesses and ways to use water safely, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/index.html