IBS Awareness Month

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects approximately 15% of the United States population, causing abdominal pain and changes to the frequency or appearance of your bowel movements. It also commonly causes cramping, bloating, and gas buildup. Although these symptoms can occur in anyone with this condition, they occur more commonly in people with the following forms of IBS:

IBS-C, also known as IBS with constipation, is mainly characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, infrequent bowel movements, and difficulty passing stool. IBS-C is not life-threatening, but it can be painful and disruptive to your daily activities. It also has no cure and is generally treated through dietary and lifestyle adjustments.

IBS-D, also known as IBS with diarrhea, can also lead to constipation, abdominal pain, gas buildup, and bloating. However, certain other symptoms, such as diarrhea, watery stools, and some degree of loss of bowel control occur approximately 25% of the time in people with this form of IBS, with constipation occurring less than 25% of the time. IBS-D triggers can include stress or certain food products, such as milk, wheat, red wine, or caffeine.

IBS-M, also known as IBS with mixed bowel habits, presents symptoms associated with both IBS-C and IBS-D, as well as common IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain. Bouts of constipation and diarrhea alternate between one another in people with this condition.

Post-infectious IBS generally occurs after an infection in the intestines. The most common culprit is gastroenteritis, which can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting due to inflammation in the intestines. Post-infectious IBS most often occurs as IBS-D or IBS-M, with a smaller number of cases presenting symptoms of IBS-C.

No matter what form of IBS you experience, working with a gastroenterologist can help you manage your symptoms effectively. You can schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (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.

What is Female Pattern Baldness?

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Approximately one in three women will experience hair loss at some point within their lifetime, with about 55% losing some amount of hair by the age of 70.

The most common cause of hair loss in women is female pattern baldness. There’s no specific known cause for female pattern baldness, but several factors have been identified that may be linked to it. These include aging, changes in androgen levels, a family history of male or female pattern baldness, significant blood loss during menstrual periods, and certain medications, such as birth control pills.

In most cases, female pattern baldness begins in the crown of the scalp and the top of the head, becoming thinner in these areas over time. While the hairline does not recede beyond average levels, the center part of the hair that runs across the top of the head may become wider. Unlike male pattern baldness, however, female pattern baldness does not typically result in an eventual total loss of hair.

Hair loss may also be an indicator of other, potentially more serious conditions. Alternative causes such as alopecia areata, which causes your immune system to attack your hair follicles, are not particularly dangerous to your health. However, causes of hair loss such as thyroid disease or anemia are potentially life-threatening illnesses if they are not adequately managed.

If you begin to experience symptoms of female pattern baldness, you should speak with a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis. Certain signs, such as new hair growth on your face or in other abnormal parts of your body, may indicate heightened levels of androgen and support female pattern baldness as the most likely cause of your hair loss. A dermatologist can also perform a skin biopsy or blood test to diagnose you.

To schedule an appointment with a dermatologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call our Ambulatory Care Center at (718) 206-7001.

Can Exercise Relieve Nasal Congestion?

Posted on March 24, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Mild to moderate physical exercise can temporarily relieve nasal congestion. A runny nose often occurs because of irritation in your nasal passages. This can occur due to a variety of causes, including sinus infections, airborne substances such as smoke or strong perfumes, and allergies.

Exercises such as push-ups can provide quick relief by opening your nasal passages and reducing inflammation that may be affecting them. However, this may not be the best approach in all cases.

Relieving nasal congestion through light exercise can be helpful when your symptoms are not severe and are limited to your nose, throat, or other parts of your head. However, if you’re experiencing symptoms that are worse or occurring in other parts of your body, such as a fever, fatigue, chest congestion, or muscle aches, it may be best to rest and avoid unnecessary exertion.

Additionally, physical exercise may even be a contributing factor to your nasal congestion in certain cases. If you have asthma, for example, your congestion may be a result of exercise-induced asthma, which causes your airways to constrict in response to hard physical activity.

Before exercising with nasal congestion or a cold, you should talk to an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT), also known as an otolaryngologist, to determine the cause of your congestion and whether physical exercise may help or harm your symptoms. An otolaryngologist can also prescribe decongestant medication or recommend alternative methods of relieving your congestion that may be safer for you, such as:

Using a humidifier
Taking a hot shower
Drinking more water throughout the day
Applying a warm compress to your face

If you’re experiencing nasal congestion, you can find an otolaryngologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-7110.

Jamaica Hospital EMS Team Receives NAEMSP Quality and Safety Award

Posted on March 20, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s dedicated emergency medical services (EMS) team has received the Quality and Safety Award from the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP). The Quality and Safety Award is given to participants in the NAEMSP’s year-long Quality and Safety course who demonstrate “outstanding contributions in quality improvement of prehospital emergency care,” bringing the fundamentals of quality improvement to their communities.

The award was presented to Joshua Kimbrell, Paramedic and Quality Improvement Coordinator for Jamaica Hospital’s Department of Prehospital Care, as well as paramedics Mikiel Lala and Dheuris Rodriguez at the NAEMSP Conference in Tampa, Florida. However, this award recognizes the efforts of our entire team of EMS personnel.

The NAEMSP counts over 2,000 physicians, paramedics, nurses, administrators, educators, researchers, and EMS personnel among its members. The organization hosts events, publicly advocates, and provides resources for education and networking among emergency medical personnel.

As part of the NAEMSP’s Quality and Safety course, members of Jamaica Hospital’s EMS staff completed a capstone project on improving cardiac arrest care and patient survival among patients in the local Queens community. This project involved developing a strategy to improve chest compression fraction, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and patient survival in advanced life support (ALS) cardiac arrest responses. The team presented their case at the conference with a published abstract in the Prehospital Emergency Care journal.

“The strategy our team developed resulted in significant improvements in patient outcomes,” said Joshua Kimbrell. “This award was an achievement for our entire department.

Congratulations to all members of our EMS staff!

Meet Our Doctors: Dr. Xun Li

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

This month, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center would like to tell you more about Dr. Xun Li. He is a full-time attending neurosurgeon at both Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center who treats patients experiencing various brain and spine problems. Dr. Li is a dual-trained spine surgeon, meaning that he is able to perform surgeries within the spinal cord itself in addition to the bones, joints, ligaments, and discs around the spinal cord.

Dr. Li’s interest in neurosurgery stems from the effects of aging on the brain and spine. “As we age, most of us develop problems with our necks and backs due to being creatures that walk upright on two feet,” said Dr. Li. “However, the good news is that spine surgery has advanced so rapidly over the past couple of decades that we now have simple and effective surgical solutions for many problems. The days of simply accepting that neck and back pain is part of getting older are, thankfully, long gone.”

Dr. Li was born in Beijing, China, and grew up traveling around the world as part of his father’s career. He attended many local schools and learned a variety of languages during this time, but at home, he and his family only spoke Mandarin Chinese. “I am very thankful for that now,” said Dr. Li, “as I have not lost my mother tongue like so many other people in my shoes.”

After attending schools such as Allegheny College, Temple University, Brown University, and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as completing his education in neurosurgery and a subspecialty fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery, Dr. Li found that the opportunity to work at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital in Queens allowed him to take advantage of his bilingual fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English in a way he had always wanted.

“When the opportunity to work in Queens presented itself, I embraced it enthusiastically. It has been very fulfilling to be able to speak with my patients in our native language; it creates a stronger bond and deeper sense of trust as we discuss various brain or spine surgeries that are often inherently high risk, but that also come with high reward,” said Dr. Li.

In addition to performing emergency neurosurgery at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital, Dr. Li also treats routine simple and complex neurological problems for patients during regular business hours.

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 153,020 cases of colorectal cancer will appear in 2023.

Someone with this form of cancer may only begin to experience symptoms from stage two onward, with many cases only presenting symptoms in the third and fourth stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, they typically include changes in bowel habits and stool consistency, bloody stool, chronic abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss.

The primary risk factor for colorectal cancer is age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend regular screening for this form of cancer starting at age 45. However, if you’re at higher-than-average risk for colorectal cancer, screening may need to begin at an earlier age.

Other risk factors include:

Inflammatory bowel disease
A family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
Certain genetic syndromes such as Lynch syndrome
Obesity
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco usage

Aside from improving lifestyle factors such as physical activity levels and nutrition, the best way to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer is to keep up with regular diagnostic screening. Procedures for screening include:

Stool tests: These tests check for blood or changes to your DNA in your stool. The guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) which check for blood, are performed annually. The FIT-DNA test, which checks the DNA in your stool, is performed every three years.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: This test checks for polyps and cancer inside the lower third of your rectum and is performed every five years or every 10 years if you receive a FIT annually.

Colonoscopy: A standard colonoscopy checks for polyps and cancer throughout the rectum and the entire colon, allowing your doctor to spot and even remove most of them. This is performed every 10 years for people with an average risk of colorectal cancer. Alternatively, a virtual colonoscopy, which produces images of the entire colon using X-rays, can be performed every 5 years.

You can receive a colorectal cancer screening from a gastroenterologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-7001.

What is an Elimination Diet?

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Foods that you’re allergic to can cause you to experience a variety of symptoms, including gas, bloating, nausea, or diarrhea. While these types of problems are rarely life-threatening allergic reactions, they can cause significant discomfort and disruption in your daily life. However, you may not know for certain which exact foods are causing these reactions. An elimination diet can help you identify them.

Elimination diets involve removing, then later re-adding, certain foods from your diet which are suspected to be the cause of allergic reactions. This diet is typically only maintained for a brief period of up to six weeks.

An elimination diet is typically divided into an “elimination” phase and a “reintroduction” phase. During the elimination phase, potential allergens are removed from your diet. These typically include foods such as:

Nuts
Seeds
Legumes
Dairy products
Starchy foods
Caffeinated drinks
Spices
Meat
Fish
Sugary products
Certain fruits and vegetables

During the reintroduction phase, you once again start to eat each food group you’ve cut out of your diet. Each of these groups is individually re-introduced over the course of up to three days, providing adequate time to watch for potential symptoms.

Different versions of the elimination diet, such as the low-FODMAPs diet (which targets short-chain carbohydrates), only remove specific food groups. Alternatively, varieties such as the fasting elimination diet, which involves only drinking water for up to five days, may be more extreme than the standard version.

No matter which version of the elimination diet you plan to try, you should only do so under the supervision of a medical professional. The re-introduction of food allergens can potentially cause anaphylaxis, a severe reaction that causes airways to swell and restricts your breathing. Extreme varieties such as the fasting elimination diet can be especially dangerous to your health without the guidance of a doctor.

If you suspect you have a food allergy and plan to follow an elimination diet, schedule an appointment with a registered dietician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Outpatient Nutritional Services Department by calling (718) 206-7056.

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.

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.