Katherine Mobila, Author at Health Beat

Are Headphones Bad for your Hearing?

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

Headphones are popular for a multitude of reasons, such as convenience and sound quality, but there is a downside to these devices. According to The Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of teens who have experienced hearing loss has increased by 33% since 1994. Do you catch yourself blasting music while listening to your headphones for long periods of time? If so, your hearing may be at risk.

Headphones come in a variety of styles, but the two most commonly used are earbuds and around-ear headphones. While around-ear headphones can have negative side effects, earbuds are the more dangerous because they are inserted directly into your ears, providing an uninterrupted route for the music to travel through your ear and straight to your eardrum. When sound enters the ear, the eardrum vibrates. These vibrations travel to the cochlea, where fluid carries them to fine hairs that trigger the auditory nerve fibers, which travel to the brain. When a sound is too loud, the hairs can become damaged, causing permanent hearing loss.

Noise is damaging at about 85 decibels, or the volume of a hair dryer. People who tend to play music up to 110-120 decibels over a long period of time while using earbuds, which increases the sound by 7-9 decibels, can experience a significant amount of hearing loss.

Want to avoid further hearing loss? Try some of these helpful tips:
• Listen to your music for no longer than an hour and no louder than 60% of volume.
• Purchase around-ear headphones with noise-cancelling technology so you can avoid blasting music and prevent music from having direct contact with your eardrum.
• Remove earwax. Earwax builds up every time you push earbuds into your ear canal, so make sure you gently clean it out to prevent hearing loss, discomfort and infection.

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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.

Are Backpacks Better than Shoulder Bags?

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

With summer in full swing and beach days becoming more frequent, how do you carry your beach necessities? While many people choose to wear a shoulder bag, this might not be the best option for your health.

While shoulder bags, such as totes, are easy to grab and are usually spacious, carrying a heavy one for a long period of time can be detrimental to your natural gait. Your natural gait is the way your arms and legs swing as you walk and is imperative to your body’s overall balance. When you carry a shoulder bag, this puts extra weight on one of your shoulders, making the other arm work harder to compensate for the weight of the bag. This can throw off your balance and result in back and muscle pain.

If you tend to carry your tote on the same arm, this can cause the muscles to grow bigger while the other arm remains the same, causing further imbalance. Depending on the heaviness of your shoulder bag, carrying it predominantly on one shoulder can also cause the opposite side of your spine to spasm, causing tightness and pain in your lower back and sacrum.
Other results of carrying a heavy shoulder bag can include:
• Muscle tightness
• Backaches
• Decreased curve of the neck due to tightness, also known as “military neck”
• Neck pain that causes the turning of the head to be difficult
• Headaches

If you want to avoid any of these results, using a backpack instead of a shoulder bag can be the answer. Backpacks distribute the weight that you are carrying evenly across your back instead of focusing it on one side, maintaining your body’s natural gait and maintaining a balanced muscle tone.
While backpacks are generally better, they too can cause problems. Carrying too heavy of a load can force your spine to bend backward, causing you to pull forward to maintain balance. This action can make your spine compress unnaturally, which can create hip and back pain and a hunched posture.

Some helpful tips to avoid experiencing the symptoms of a heavy weight on your back and shoulders due to a shoulder bag or a backpack include:
• Choose a bag with wider straps that will further distribute the weight across your back and shoulders
• Periodically switch shoulders
• Choose bags with alternative strap options
• Avoid wearing heels while carrying your bag, this will cause further imbalance and pain

If you are having back and shoulder pain, please call Jamaica Hospital’s Orthopedics Department at 718-206-6923 with any questions.

Weight-Loss Pills

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

According to the Food Research Action Center, about 68.5% of people in the United States are obese. With this statistic rising each year, many people are desperate to shed pounds, but have a hard time losing a significant amount by diet and exercise alone. Due to this struggle, a majority of the population has resorted to taking weight-loss pills, but is this a healthy choice?

Weight-loss pills can be appealing because of their convenience and their ability to dramatically affect weight loss in a short amount of time, but these results are not guaranteed and are surrounded by many negatives and damaging to one’s health. Over-the-counter diet pills can be dangerous because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate them as closely as other medications. This makes their ingredients, their effectiveness, and their risk a mystery to the user.
Some of the most common side effects of over-the-counter weight-loss pills include:
• Upset stomach
• Raised blood pressure and heart rate
• Dizziness
• Nausea

Prescription weight-loss pills are regulated by the FDA, but are only administered to people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and higher and have other health problems, such as diabetes and high cholesterol. If these pills are not taken exactly as the doctor prescribes them, they can lead to increased heart rate and poor sleep, which can ultimately cause a heart attack or stroke.

There is no easy solution to obesity. Even if you are taking weight-loss pills, eating too much fat can decrease the product’s ability to produce the desired result and cause weight gain and other detrimental effects on your body. Instead of spending money on weight-loss pills, try some healthy alternatives, such as playing a sport or going on a regulated diet. An active lifestyle and healthy eating habits can help you lose weight and keep it off permanently.

Are you taking a weight-loss pill and aren’t sure of its effectiveness or its side effects? A physician at the Family Medicine Ambulatory Care Center at Jamaica Hospital can help. Please call 718-206-6942.

Vaporizer Pen

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

The vaporizer pen, or the “vape,” is a modern e-cigarette that is shaped like a pen. This pen is only sold in select stores and online sites, yet it has grown wildly popular on the east and west coast. It is believed that the vaporizer pen has gained its popularity because of its sleek, portable design, its affordability, and its functionality that allows the user to use the pen in a variety of ways.

How it works:
Various substances, such as wax, flavored oils (known as e-juices), and dry herbs, are placed inside the compact chamber of the pen. When the user clicks the round button on the base of the pen, the chamber begins to heat up in order to produce the vapor from the chosen substance. The battery that heats the chamber and fuels the pen is usually rechargeable, depending on the model, and can be taken apart for easy cleaning.

While this pen can be used to help people quit smoking, it can also encourage people to start. Even though the legal age to purchase cigarettes or e-cigs is 21 in New York, the vaporizer pen is much easier to purchase for minors. It is as simple as clicking “yes” on a website for a minor to purchase the item without any official authorization. Additionally, in a poll by Center for Disease Control (CDC), the number of middle and high school students who have tried the vaporizer pen has doubled in the last year alone, with a large majority of these students had never smoked an actual cigarette. This suggests that instead of helping people quit smoking, this pen is encouraging young people to start an unhealthy habit, creating a new generation of potential smokers.

According to Vaporizer Pen Guide, it is safe to “vape” in public because it has “no harmful effects on the user,” and, therefore, it is not harmful to the general public. However, New York State has banned vaping in indoor public places and California has banned vaping in any place that smoking is prohibited. The vaporizer pen is not FDA approved, which makes the safety of this product and the substances it is filled with uncertain.

Are you trying to quit smoking? Here are some healthy alternatives to a vaporizer pen:
• Nicotine replacement therapy
• Chew gum
• Participate in physical activities
• Practice relaxation techniques

For more information on how to quit smoking or for a consultation, please call Jamaica Hospital’s Pulmonary Department at 718-206-5916.

The Psychological Trauma of Divorce

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

Divorce can occur for multiple reasons. Some of the most common causes of divorce are abuse, adultery, and general cruelty. All of these causes, along with the aftermath of divorce, can create serious psychological trauma for some.

Psychological trauma occurs when an event overwhelms, stresses, or scares an individual so much so that it prevents them from fully coping with his or her emotions and leaves them fearful and emotionally scarred.

Trauma occurs most often when the following factors are present:
• The event was unexpected
• The individual was powerless to prevent the event
• The intentional cruelty of another person exhibited during the event
• The event occurred during childhood

These factors are frequently seen in divorce and affect every individual involved, including the divorcer (the person requesting the divorce), the divorcee (the individual being divorced from), as well as the children of the individuals getting divorced.

For the divorcer, the divorce process can be psychologically traumatic because, depending on their significant other’s personality, he or she could take the divorce harshly and become angry, cruel, or abusive. If the individual is requesting the divorce because of a dysfunctional, unhealthy marriage, they may experience the brunt of the traumatic experience.

For the divorcee, divorce can be psychologically traumatic because if unexpected, the individual could feel shocked and powerless to the event. The divorcee could also feel personally betrayed by their significant other, leaving confusion, pain, and deep, emotional scarring.

For the children of the parents getting divorced, this can be considered the most traumatic of all the experiences. The child could feel powerless to his or her parents’ separation and wonder if he or she was the cause of the divorce. The child may experience a very hard time coping with being separated from one of the parents, which could ultimately lead to separation anxiety. The pre-divorce period may also be psychologically traumatic because of the poor home-life conditions. These conditions can leave long-term affects on the child, such as:
• Depression
• Trouble in school
• Trouble with the law
• Difficulty in relationships

If you or someone you know has had a divorce and could be suffering from psychological trauma, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Psychiatry Department can help. For more information, please call 718-206-8437.

Which Sports Burn the Most Calories?

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

The World Cup is a popular sporting event that is watched by millions of people around the world. While soccer is entertaining, what is truly impressive are the player’s stamina exhibited throughout the game. Soccer players are required to run up and down a large field over the course of an hour and a half or longer. Soccer, as well as many other sports, is a great way to burn calories.

Are you wondering how many calories your favorite sport can help you burn? Some of the most popular sports in America and the average amount of calories burned within an hour include:
• Basketball: This sport burns about 544 calories an hour and helps develop flexibility, cardiovascular health, and endurance.
• Football: It is a high-speed, extremely physical sport that burns about 544 calories an hour. Some health benefits include cardiovascular training and increasing strength and speed.
• Soccer: This sport burns about 476 calories an hour. Other health benefits of playing a casual game of soccer include improving cardiovascular health, lowering body fat, and building strength, flexibility and endurance.
• Baseball: Due to this sport’s slower pace and lack of physical demand, it causes an individual to burn about 340 calories an hour. Health benefits of playing baseball include improved cardiovascular health and strength building in the arms and legs.

These calculations are based on a participant who weighs 150 lbs. The amount of calories burned varies depending on the amount of time you play the sport, how much you weigh, and how rigorously you participate in the activity. Take some time this summer to get involved in a sport, be active, and have fun.

Celiac Disease

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder in which an individual is unable to digest gluten, the name for the general proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley, as well as certain vitamins, medicines and lip balms.
Celiac disease is both a disease of malabsorption (nutrients are not absorbed properly) and an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. This intolerance to gluten triggers an immune response that damages and/or destroys villi, the tiny protrusions that line the small intestine and absorb nutrients from foods such as fat, calcium and iron into the bloodstream. Without the properly functioning villi, nutrients will fail to reach the bloodstream and an individual with celiac disease can become malnourished.

There are many causes and triggers of celiac disease, which include:
• Genetic
• Surgery
• Childbirth
• Pregnancy
• Viral infection
• Severe emotional stress or trauma

Symptoms of celiac disease include:
• Digestive problems (bloating, pain, gas, diarrhea, and weight loss)
• Dermatitis Herpetiformis (a severe skin rash)
• Iron deficiency anemia (a low red blood cell count)
• Muscle cramps
• Growth problems (mostly found in children)
• Seizures
• Tingling sensation in the legs
• Mouth sores
• Missed menstrual period

Celiac disease can be diagnosed by a series of blood tests that examine gluten auto-antibodies and by a minor bowel biopsy to assess gut damage. Since gluten is a staple in the average person’s diet, it is important to continue eating this protein until the tests are completed and evaluated for the most accurate diagnosis.
The only treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free diets are mainly composed of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, beans, nuts and most dairy products. Healthy, gluten-free alternatives to wheat and grains include almond meal flour, corn, quinoa, potatoes, and soy flour.
If you think you have celiac disease, a doctor can perform tests to diagnose your condition. For more information, please call Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Gastroenterology Department at 718-206-7001.

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

Rheumatic heart disease, also known as RHD, is a chronic heart disease that is caused by rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is the result of an untreated or severe case of streptococcal infection, or strep throat. RHD is considered one of the most common forms of heart disease and is frequently found in children, especially in developing countries and poverty-stricken areas.

Symptoms of rheumatic fever include:
• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Swollen and painful joints
• Rashes
• Involuntary movements of the body, also known as Sydenham’s chorea, a temporary nervous system disorder

Rheumatic fever is caused by a severe, inflammatory reaction to strep throat. The body produces antibodies that are meant to fight the infection’s bacteria, but instead attack the body’s tissue. These antibodies usually begin by attacking joint tissue and, if untreated, continue to attack the heart and the tissue surrounding it.

Factors that contribute to rheumatic fever are a weak immune system and poor living conditions. If this disease persists or reoccurs, it can cause valve damage, which can lead to heart disease, heart failure, and, in some cases, death.

Rheumatic fever can be prevented by treating strep throat during its early stages. If you are experiencing a sore throat without common cold symptoms and have a fever of 101 Fahrenheit or above, it could be strep throat. Strep throat is commonly treated by a 10-day oral antibiotic or one intramuscular penicillin injection. In order to prevent rheumatic fever from reoccurring, it is important to receive regulated injections of antibiotics, which are given for an extended period of time, also known as secondary prevention.

If you have strep throat that has gone untreated and may have rheumatic fever, seek medical attention immediately at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Family Medicine Department. For more information, please call 718-206-6942.