Andrew Rubin, Author at Health Beat

A Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe – Sauteed Spinach with Garlic and Lemon

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Thanksgiving dinner can be accompanied by healthy side dishes this year. Here is a recipe from Good Housekeeping for sauteed spinach with garlic and lemon that is easy to prepare, delicious and most importantly, very healthy. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a34349776/glazed-green-beans-recipe/

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 Great American Smokeout

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Today is the Great American Smokeout, an annual event when the American Cancer Society encourages everyone to quit smoking. This event helps to make people aware of the dangers of using tobacco products as well as the tools that are available to help them quit smoking.

The Great American Smokeout started in 1970 in a small town in Massachusetts. People were asked to give up smoking for one day and to take the money that they would have spent on cigarettes and donate it to a local high school scholarship fund. The event spread to other cities both large and small and eventually led to legislation that bans smoking in workplaces, restaurants, and other public spaces both indoors and outdoors.

Smoking is responsible for one in five deaths in the United States today. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in both men and women. Smoking is also the cause of cancer of the larynx, mouth, sinuses, throat, esophagus, and the bladder. The number of people who smoke has dramatically decreased in the United States since the anti-smoking campaigns began. In 1965 it was estimated that over 40 percent of the population were smokers and today that number is around 18 percent.

Smokers have the best chances of quitting if they use at least two of the following methods:

Smoking Cessation Groups
• Nicotine substitute products
• Support from family and friends
• Telephone quit lines
• Counseling
• Prescription medications that help to reduce the urge to smoke

If you would like more information about quitting smoking please call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a doctor at Jamaica Hospital to discuss smoking cessation, please call 718-206-8494.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, affects approximately 15 million Americans. It is characterized by an intense fear of being rejected or thought of negatively in a social situation. It can cause extreme anxiety, feeling self-conscious and a sense of being embarrassed in daily social interactions.

Social anxiety most commonly starts in the teenage years and continues into adulthood. Less than five percent of people who experience social anxiety seek treatment within the first year after onset, and over a third of the people with this condition seek treatment after 10 years of experiencing it.

Some signs and symptoms of social anxiety include:

Fear of interacting with strangers
Avoidance of speaking in public
Anxiety of being in unfamiliar places
Blushing
Dizziness
Trembling
Upset stomach
Avoidance of eye contact
Avoidance of school
Inability to us a public restroom
Inability to eat in public

Some of the factors that can cause social anxiety include:

Having family members with this disorder
Having had negative experiences such as childhood abuse, bullying, or public humiliation
Being shy or timid
Meeting new people
Having a physical appearance that draws unwanted attention

Social anxiety, if not identified and treated early, can lead to low self-esteem, substance abuse, depression, a lack of social skills, isolation from others, and even thoughts of suicide.

If you suspect that you or someone you know has social anxiety disorder, it is suggested that speaking with a physician or a therapist can be helpful. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-7001.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

The month of November has been designated Diabetes Awareness Month by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Diabetes affects nearly 30 million people in the United States which is ten percent of the total population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 1 in 3 adults in the United States has prediabetes. This is the equivalent of 88 million people who are at risk of developing type II diabetes during their lifetime. The ADA states that 1 in 5 people in the United States who has diabetes isn’t aware that they even have it.

There is no cure for diabetes but there are many ways for people who have been diagnosed with the disease to live long, healthy lives if it is controlled properly. Learning to live with diabetes is one of the most important components for managing the disease. Proper nutrition, regular physical activity, monitoring blood sugar daily and taking medication to control diabetes are some of the ways complications can be prevented.

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to many complications. It is the leading cause of blindness, non-traumatic amputations, kidney disease and also increases the risk for heart attacks.

It is also important to have regular medical exams to manage diabetes successfully. To schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center please call 718-670-5486.

How to Tell the Difference Between a Bad Cold, Bronchitis, and Pneumonia

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

That dreaded time of year is here, it is cold season. In the United States, this season starts around September and typically lasts until March or April.

Chances are like many, you may catch a cold. If you do, you may display symptoms that include sneezing, scratchy or sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, coughing, congestion or a low-grade fever. These symptoms are normal but can worsen when left untreated and may cause serious illnesses such as bronchitis or pneumonia to develop.

It is important to know when your condition is worsening. There are several signs that can help you to recognize when your common cold has become something more.

Here are some symptoms of bronchitis to look out for:

A cold that persists for two weeks or more
Shortness of breath or wheezing
Coughs that produce thick clear, white, green or yellow mucous or blood
Rapid breathing
Soreness of the chest

Pneumonia can develop after having a serious cold or flu. Symptoms can be mild or severe depending on factors such as age and your state of health. The symptoms of pneumonia can include:

Violent coughing spasms that produce very little mucous
Coughs with bloody or yellow or greenish mucous
Fever
Sharp or stabbing chest pain when you breathe deeply or cough
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Clammy skin or excessive sweating
Chills
Muscle aches

If your cold persists longer than two weeks and you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important that you contact your doctor as soon as possible. In severe cases, pneumonia can be life threatening.

To schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-7001.

A Delicious Fall Recipe for Roast Pork and Sweet Potatoes

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Here is a Fall season recipe from the Food Network for roast pork and sweet potatoes that we think you will enjoy https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/roast-pork-and-sweet-potatoes-3363155

Mental Health Awareness Week

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Every year, millions of people in the United States are found to be living with a mental illness. To address this issue, in 1990, Congress designated the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week. The reason for this designation is to bring attention to the fact that mental illness not only affects the person who has it, but also their family, friends and others that they interact with.

.Mental illness affects one in twenty people in the Untied States each year and for one in five of these people it is very serious. Less than half of the people with mental illness in the nation are receiving adequate treatment.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, the organization that has advocated for Mental Illness Awareness Week, hopes to bring attention to this serious issue through their 2023 campaign “Together we care. Together we share”. The objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues and resources by engaging communities and encouraging people to share their experiences.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has a comprehensive Mental Health Department. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-5575.

Reiki

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Reiki is considered to be a complementary medicine healing technique that was developed in the early 1900’s by Mikao Usui. It is a translation of two Japanese words, “rei” which means universal and “ki” which means the vital life energy. It is a healing modality that helps a person to feel relaxed and less stressed.

Each reiki session takes approximately 50 minutes. The patient lays fully clothed on a massage table and the person who is performing reiki places their hands either directly on or just above the patient’s body. This allows for the transfer of energy from the practitioner’s hands to the patient. This transfer of energy increases the flow and balance of energy through the body in order to help it heal.

The benefits of reiki include:

Brings on a meditative state
Promotes post-surgery healing
Increases the immune system
Diminishes pain
Promotes natural self-healing

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Integrative Health Center offers reiki to our patients. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-6914.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Kim Shelley

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

This month we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Kim Shelley, Manager of the Admitting Department.

Kim has been working at Jamaica Hospital for 31 years. She is a native of Queens, having grown up in Richmond Hill and now residing in Belle Harbor with her husband in a home overlooking the beautiful beach. Living at the beach gives her a pleasant way to decompress.

In her free time, she enjoys photography, and has become the official photographer at family get-togethers. She also takes beautiful sunrise photos overlooking the beach. Kim likes to listen to music and podcasts, and watch movies. She also enjoys traveling regularly to Colombia, South America to visit family. Other locations she has visited are Europe, Greece, Scandinavia and many destinations in the US. Some places that she hopes to get to visit one day are Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.

Dining out is one of Kim’s favorite things to do, especially at all the diverse local restaurants near her home. She likes to try new types of food if they aren’t very spicey. She comes from a long line of Mets baseball fans, and she considers herself a fan of the team as well. Family and friends are very important to her and she likes spending time with them.

Kim considers herself lucky to work at Jamaica Hospital because of all the wonderful colleagues she has met there, many of whom have become lifelong friends. She enjoys the work that she does and takes pride in helping the thousands of patients who pass through her department each year. We look forward to having Kim continue to work for many years in the future.

Fall Recipe – Skillet Rosemary Chicken

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Weeknight, fall meals call for recipes that are easy to prepare and that don’t require much cooking time. Here is a recipe from the Food Network that we recommend for skillet rosemary chicken.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/skillet-rosemary-chicken-recipe-2104751