What is Herbal Medicine?

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Herbal medicine, also known as herbalism or botanical medicine is a method of treating health-related issues, based on the use of plants or plant extracts that may be eaten or applied to the skin.

Herbal remedies are well rooted in medical practice. Since ancient times, doctors have collected information about herbs to treat a variety of illnesses and to assist with bodily functions.

As a result, more than a quarter of all medicines used today contain active ingredients derived from those same ancient plants. While herbal medicine is not a licensed profession in theUnited States, herbal remedies, in the form of extracts, tinctures, capsules and tablets, as well as teas, may be recommended by healthcare professionals.

Herbal medicine blurs the line between foods and medicines. Using herbs and spices that have a disease-preventive affect in foods is one of the best ways to take advantage of their healing power.

Herbal medicine has been used to treat or alleviate virtually every possible medical condition. Some of the most popular herbal remedies and conditions for which they are used include:

Aloe – used topically for minor burns, sunburns, skin irritation or inflammation
Chamomile Tea – ingested for upset stomach, heartburn, indigestion and colic
Echinacea – ingested for colds, flu, and sore throat
Garlic – ingested to possibly reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, treat fungal infections and colds
Ginger – ingested for nausea and motion sickness and as an anti-inflammatory
Peppermint Tea – ingested for indigestion, nausea and other digestive problems
Tea Tree Oil – applied topically for fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and fungal infections of the toenails and fingernails
Tumeric – ingested to combat inflammation and protect against cancer and Alzheimers disease

This information is solely for informational purposes. It is not intended to be medical advice. Before undertaking any course of treatment, you should seek the advice of your physician or other health care provider.

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.

Bad Air Quality and Asthma

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Joann Ariola

About 25 million Americans have experienced Asthma symptoms. Asthma is a condition that constricts your airways, causing them to become swollen and filled with mucous. It has many triggers, such as, tobacco or dust but, what if your trigger is the air you breathe outdoors?

Air pollutants can trigger asthma. The air around you can carry particulate matter, such as, dust, soot, smoke, diesel exhaust particles, and smog. These particulates can cause you to labor while breathing and feel a shortness of breathe.

Recent studies have shown that air pollution is a major cause of asthma attacks. More than 40% of the nation’s populations live in areas with poor quality air.

If you have asthma, your doctor can help you design a plan to control and prevent an asthma attack. Limiting your exposure to air pollution can be an important part of that plan. The EPA keeps tabs on local air quality across the country through its daily Air Quality Index, which measures levels of major air pollutants.

Completely avoiding air pollution is impossible, but you can take steps to reduce your family’s exposure to air pollution and reduce the health risks.

For more information, or treatment, call The Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’sAmbulatoryCareCenterat, 718-206-7005.

Does One Part Alcohol + One Part Breast Milk = Bad For Baby?

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Women have been warned not to consume alcohol during pregnancy. There is sufficient research that confirms drinking alcohol, while pregnant, poses several, avoidable risk to an unborn baby. However, the risks of consuming alcohol while breastfeeding are not as well defined.

Breastfeeding mothers often receive conflicting advice about whether their alcohol consumption can have an adverse effect on their baby. This leaves mothers with more questions than answers. A good resource to start looking for answers is the La Leche League. Their article, The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding says: The effects of alcohol on the breastfeeding baby are directly related to the amount the mother ingests. When the breastfeeding mother drinks occasionally, or limits her consumption to one drink or less per day, the amount of alcohol her baby receives has not been proven to be harmful.

The League further published:

Alcohol passes freely into mother’s milk and has been found to peak about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption, 60 to 90 minutes when taken with food. Alcohol also freely passes out of a mother’s milk and here system. It takes a 120 pound woman about two to three hours to eliminate from her body the alcohol in one serving of beer or wine. The more alcohol that is consumed, the longer it takes for it to be eliminated. It takes up to 13 hours for a 120 pound woman to eliminate alcohol from one high-alcoholic drink.

Opposing research from the Mayo Clinic suggests that breast-fed babies, whose mothers drank, as few as, one drink a day may present with impaired motor or development and that alcohol can cause changes in sleep patterns.

Also, to dispel any notion that encourages drinking alcohol to improve milk production. Facts show that the presence of alcohol in breast milk can cause the babies to drink about 20 % less

Paula Utilla, Lactation Specialist atJamaicaHospital’s Women’sHealthCenternoted that although you can safely consume some alcohol during breastfeeding, there are some guidelines that can help you gauge when you’ve had enough. “If you have consumed more than the legal amount of alcohol to drive a vehicle, you have consumed more than the recommended amount of alcohol to safely breastfeed.” Ms. Utilla further stated, “Mom should be mindful that the level of alcohol in her blood, matches the level of alcohol in her breast milk.”

Research has shown that breast-feeding is an optimal way to feed your newborn and is recommended until a baby is at least age one. If you have questions on what method to use to when deciding how you will feed your baby, please callJamaicaHospital’s Women’sHealthCenter, 718-291-3276 to speak with a Lactation Specialist.

Don’ t Sweat it!!

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Joann Ariola

As the mercury rises, you have to think about what you can do to keep cool. Heat exhaustion is a common malady during the summer months. As the heat index pushes closer to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you may not have to feel the heat. All you have to do is break out that cold bottle of water from your fridge.

Hydrating with cool water on a hot and humid day will help protect you against summer dehydration.

Some the most common signs of dehydration are:

General fatigue
Dizziness
Nausea
Increased body temperature
Weakness
Muscle cramps

Ignoring these signs may lead to heat stroke, which requires medical treatment.

The best way to combat dehydration is to drink fluids. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends drinking:

16-20 ounces of water before moderate-intensity summer exercise
8-12 ounces 10-15 minutes before going out into the heat
3-8 ounces every 15-20 minutes during activity when active for less than one hour
3-8 ounces of a sports beverage every 15-20 minutes when exercise greater than one hour

Other means of keeping your cool during the summer months is to wear lighter, breathable fabrics, slow down your pace, exercise indoors, wear a hot and just using common sense when planning your day outdoors.

The tips in this article are general, so remember that you are an individual and your needs may be specific. Remember to use your head and stay cool!

It’s Summer – Let’s Pick Some Fruit!

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Summer is here and fruits are in abundance in our markets and grocery stores. There is nothing more appetizing to the eye than a bowl full of colorful fruit. However, just because the fruit looks good, it isn’t necessarily good for you.

According to the site www.Fruitsinfo.com, there are fruits that can be way too high in fat to eat regularly. Click the link below to find out which fruits are most healthy and lower in fat.

Keep in mind that all types of fruit, in moderation, are healthy for your.

Enjoy the summer!!

A Great Summer Salad Dressing!

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Joann Ariola

The summer time is great for grilling and salads but we often forget about the dressing. Why store buy? Here is a great recipe, courtesy of the Food Network, for a salad dressing with ingredients from home to make it even more convenient:

Lemon Balsamic Dressing:

Whisk 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil.

For more easy to make dressings, check out

Why Dark Chocolate, In Moderation, Can Be Beneficial

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Dark Chocolate has gotten a lot of attention because it’s believed to help protect your cardiovascular system. The reason being is that the cocoa bean is rich in a class of plant nutrients called flavanoids.

It has been proven that flavonoids help protect plants from environmental toxins, help repair damage and can be found in a variety of foods, such as fruits and veggies. Foods which contain flavanoids, can be beneficial because of their antioxidant power.

Flavanoids are the main type of flavonoid found in cocoa and chocolate. In addition to having antioxidant qualities, research shows that flavanols have other potential influences on vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow to the brain and heart, and making blood platelets less sticky and able to clot.

Are all types of chocolate healthy?

It’s important to understand that not all forms of chocolate contain high levels of flavanols.Cocoa naturally has a very strong, pungent taste, which comes from the flavanols. When cocoa is processed into your favorite chocolate products, it goes through several steps to reduce this taste. The more chocolate is processed the more flavanols are lost.

Be careful about the type of dark chocolate you choose: chewy caramel-marshmallow-nut-covered dark chocolate is by no means a heart-healthy food option. Watch out for those extra ingredients that can add lots of extra fat and calories. Second, there is currently no established serving size of chocolate to help you reap the cardiovascular benefits it may offer, and more research is needed in this area. However, we do know that you no longer need to feel guilty if you enjoy a small piece of dark chocolate once in a while.

So, for now, enjoy moderate portions of chocolate (e.g., 1 ounce) a few times per week, and don’t forget to eat other flavonoid-rich foods.

Is your Erectile Dysfunction Just a Symptom?

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Erectile dysfunction, sometimes referred to as impotence, occurs when a man can no longer maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Having erectile trouble, from time to time, isn’t necessarily a cause for concern.

Having erectile dysfunction symptoms may cause stress, cause relationship problems, affect your self-confidence, and reduce your sexual desire.

A family doctor is a good place to start when you have erectile problems. See your doctor if:

Erectile or other sexual problems are an issue for you or your partner
You have diabetes, heart disease or another known health condition that may be linked to erectile dysfunction

Even though it may seem awkward to speak with your doctor about erectile dysfunction, go in for an evaluation. If problems achieving or maintaining an erection are due to an underlying health condition, addressing the problem may be enough to reverse your erectile dysfunction.

If treating an underlying condition doesn’t help, medications or other direct treatments may work.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call our Department of Urology at 718-206-7110.

How to Control Diabetes With Exercise

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Joann Ariola

The three cornerstones in the treatment of diabetes are food, medications, and activity. Of these three, activity is often a first choice for the person who has diabetes. Moving toward a more physically active life is generally inexpensive, convenient, usually produces great rewards in terms of blood glucose control and a general feeling of well-being.

Whenever you actively use a muscle, you burn both fatty acids and glucose. During and after periods of activity, your falling glucose level is sensed by the beta cells in your pancreas, and they relax their output of insulin.

This gives your beta cells a break from excessive insulin production. In addition, the lower insulin levels signal your liver to empty its glucose reserves (glycogen) into the blood to supply the muscles with needed energy.

As physical activity continues, the liver converts amino acids, lactic acid, and fats into glucose to supply the muscles. If the activity continues long enough, even the body’s fat cells are affected. They compensate for the reduced fatty acid levels in your blood by converting their stored triglycerides into fatty acids.

When all of these steps are considered, it’s easy to see why using your muscles is the perfect treatment for diabetes.

Exercising can:

Lower blood glucose
Lower Fatty Acid levels in your blood
Reduce the workload of your pancreas

Becoming more physically active is not completely without risks for people with diabetes. On the other hand, remaining sedentary is no bargain, either; it does nothing to help your glucose control, your weight management, or your overall well-being. To gain the benefits of increased physical activity and minimize potential risks, you need to understand and evaluate those risks up front and take steps to prevent problems before they occur.

Before you increase your activity level, you need to account for any diabetic complications or related conditions that may be present. Some types of activity may not be wise for people with certain medical conditions. Any activity that includes straining, such as weight lifting, can dramatically increase blood pressure during the actual activity, further aggravating any hypertension that may be present.

Are Gummy Vitamins Good For My Child?

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Gummy vitamins contain important nutrients to maintain a child’s health, but they can be damaging to your child’s teeth. Similar to candy, gummy vitamins stick to the grooves of your child’s teeth and can cause cavities.

Although your child may brush their teeth the recommended two times per day, toothbrush bristles cannot reach the deepest grooves of the back molars. Sticky sugar particles can remain embedded in the grooves, causing cavities when not brushed properly.

Dr. Deborah A. Pasquale ,Chairperson of the Department of Dentistry, recommends switching to traditional chewable tablets if you’re giving your child gummy vitamins. Before the age of two years, speak with your children’s pediatrician or pediatric dentist about a liquid vitamin.

If you believe your child has developed a cavity, ask at your child’s next dental visit or call Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Dentistry at 718-206-6982 to schedule an appointment.