Winter Skin

Posted on January 18, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

Winter can be a particularly harsh season for our skin. During this time of year, temperatures are cold and we spend more time indoors where heating systems tend to deplete the water content in the air. Low humidity in our environment contributes to dry skin.

Dry skin commonly appears as being rough and flaky patches, which can show up anywhere on the body but mostly on the arms and legs. In severe cases, your skin can develop creases and cracks when it is extremely dry.

Drying of the skin typically occurs when the outer layer of the skin, called the stratum corneum, becomes compromised. The stratum corneum which is composed of dead skin cells and natural oils; acts as a protective layer that prevents water from evaporating from the surface. When water evaporates, outer skin cells become flaky and will cause cracks and fissures.

There are steps you can take to retain moisture and prevent dry skin. Here are a few:
• Bathe in warm water, never hot
• Use mild soaps that contain moisturizing creams
• Pat the skin dry with soft towels
• Use a moisturizer several times a day on exposed areas of the body.
• Drink a lot of water
• Apply sunscreen to prevent drying out from the sun’s rays
• Wear gloves
• Avoid wearing wet articles of clothes outdoors.
• Have a humidifier in the home

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist at Jamaica Hospital to discuss dry skin and how best to treat it, 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.

History of Thermometers

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

Hundreds of years ago scientists realized they could measure changes in temperature by using primitive glass devices filled with liquids that expanded when they were warm and contracted when they cooled. Alcohol and mercury were the liquids most commonly used.
Thermoscopes were the earliest types of thermometers and they only showed changes in temperature but didn’t show numerical values. One of the first thermoscopes was developed by Italian inventor, Galeleo Galilei in 1593.It used water as the liquid and glass bulbs inside an open tube. The glass bulbs rose and fell with the changes in temperature. In 1612, another Italian inventor, Santorio Santorio, used a numerical scale on the thermoscope but it was very rudimentary. In 1654 the first sealed glass tube was developed by Ferdinand II, the Grand Duke of Tuscany. It contained alcohol and had a numerical scale, but wasn’t very accurate.
The more modern thermometer was invented in 1709 by Daniel Fahrenheit. It was an enclosed glass tube that had a numerical scale, called the Fahrenheit scale. The early version of this thermometer contained alcohol and in 1714 Fahrenheit developed a mercury thermometer using the same scale. He assigned the freezing point of water at 32 degrees, the boiling point of water as 212 degrees and the normal body temperature as 98.6 degrees. Later on in that same century, the inventor Anders Celsius developed a numerical scale, called the Celsius or Centigrade scale. This scale was based on a scale of zero to one hundred where the freezing point of water is zero, the boiling point of water is 100 degrees and normal body temperature is 37 degrees. The first real medical thermometer was invented by Sir Thomas Allbut in 1867. It was six inches long and took about five minutes to take a person’s temperature.
For almost a hundred years thermometers were basically unchanged. They contained alcohol or mercury and were considered to be very accurate. More modern thermometers were developed after World War II that used infrared technology and placed in the ear. They utilized tiny electrical circuits and numerical readouts that could measure temperature more quickly and with more precision than the liquid filled glass tubes. Today modern thermometers use some type of electrical sensors to measure temperature but the same numerical scales developed in the 1700’s by Fahrenheit and Celsius are still being used.

Make Improving Your Sleep Your New Year’s Resolution

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

The holidays are over and it is time to get our bodies back on a regular schedule of eating and sleeping. Many of us will make a New Year’s resolution to make changes to our schedules and sleep better. The question is do we actually get enough sleep to be able to stay healthy and function well.
Here are some tips from the National Sleep Foundation to help you get better sleep in 2018:
• Keep a regular sleep time schedule, even on weekends
• Do things that relax you prior to getting in to bed
• Keep the sound and light level in the bedroom at comfortable levels
• Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol before going to bed
• Make sure your mattress and pillows are comfortable
It is recommended that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. Teenagers require about an hour more than adults. Young children should get between 10 to 11 hours of sleep every night.
Following these tips will help you become a better rested person, which can improve your overall physical and mental health.
If you are experiencing difficulty sleeping, you might want to consult with your doctor to see if could be do anything differently. Jamaica Hospital has a sleep center for people who are experiencing chronic sleep problems. To get more information about the sleep center, please call 718-206-5916.

Will You Stay Home or Go Out on New Year’s Eve ?

Posted on December 27, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

Everyone knows that New Year’s Eve is the most popular night of the year to party. It is a night to go out with family and friends to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. Some people prefer to spend a quiet night at home though. The reasons are varied but commonly people don’t want to spend the money, don’t like the crowds, and think that the night is much a-do about nothing.

Which do you prefer?

Vitamin D Deficiency in Winter

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

It is very important for our bodies to have a sufficient amount of vitamin D all year long, especially during the winter months.

The body uses vitamin D to help it absorb calcium from the foods that we eat while they are in the gastrointestinal tract. Calcium is essential for maintaining bone strength, fortifying our immune system, keeping the heart healthy, preventing strokes, preventing depression and may help with the aging process.

A great source of natural vitamin D comes from the ultraviolet B rays found in sunshine, and the more daylight we are exposed to, the more vitamin D our skin will be able to synthesize. However, during the winter months getting enough is difficult. We spend more time indoors and even when we are outdoors, we tend to wear heavier clothing which blocks the sun from hitting the skin. The best time of day to be outdoors is midday when the sun is usually the strongest. During the summer months, 10 – 15 minutes every day is usually sufficient, but during the winter months, you may require 30 minutes or more to get the adequate amount of sunlight and your daily dose of vitamin D.

Here are other sources of vitamin D that can be helpful during the year and especially during the winter:

Eating beef liver, pork, egg yolks and cheese
The skin of fatty fish such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon
Drinking milk that is fortified with vitamin D
Taking a vitamin D3 supplement

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital to discuss your health this winter, please call 718-206-7001

Kitchen Safety

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in a home, and even more so during the holiday season. Whether a person is a skilled chef or just someone preparing a basic meal, taking precautions in the kitchen is vital to making everything go safely.

Here are some basic safety tips to remember while working in the kitchen:

Always wear shoes in the kitchen
Avoid wearing loose clothing
Take your time, especially when using sharp objects
Never leave a stove unattended
Make sure everything is cleaned properly
Have a fire extinguisher handy
Keep children away from anything that is sharp, hot or electrical
While cooking on a stove, turn pot and pan handles inward
Wash your hands before and after touching raw meat.
Keep the floor dry
Put food that can spoil in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it
Make sure that everything is off when you are done cooking
Be careful of greasy foods that can splatter, especially near an open flame
Never leave the home while food is cooking

Following these precautions can mean the difference between a memorable meal and a meal that you might want to forget. If an accident does occur and it requires immediate medical attention, please remember to call 911 and ask for help.

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.

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.

Raina Daswani

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

This month we would like to introduce you to Raina Daswani, a Respiratory Therapist who works primarily on the pediatric inpatient unit and also the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She has been with Jamaica Hospital for almost five years and feels like it has become her second home.

Raina is a Queens native, having grown up in Forest Hills and graduating from Forest Hills High School. After high school she went on to study at both Queens College and the Borough of Manhattan Community College where she earned her degree in Respiratory Therapy.

Raina is very proud of the work that she is doing at the hospital. She enjoys the diversity of the illnesses that she treats and the people she meets every day. Her colleagues at Jamaica Hospital feel like a second family to her. Everyone is very supportive of one another and that makes coming to work every day very enjoyable. She says team work is very important especially when working at a hospital and people at Jamaica work well together. Raina feels very fortunate to have chosen the right career for her and likes that she gets to do something every day that she really feels good about.

Raina currently lives on Long Island, is married and she has a Maltese, named Simba. In her free time she enjoys reading, going to movies and to shows on Broadway. When she goes on vacation, she enjoys travelling to Europe. Raina looks forward to coming to work every day and we look forward to having her work with us for a long time.

The Great American Smokeout

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

Every year, on the third Thursday of November, the American Cancer Society encourages everyone to take part in the Great American Smokeout. 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.