Gut Health

Posted on April 8, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Digestive problems such as heartburn, gas, bloating, and constipation reflect what is happening throughout your body. They can also be indicative of problems that may be affecting your gut health.

The main drivers of gut health change are shifts in stomach acid, gut immunity, and gastrointestinal flora, or the “gut microbiome.” The gut microbiome refers to the microorganisms living in your intestines.

Each person has about 200 different species of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in their digestive tract. Some microorganisms can be harmful to our health; however, many are incredibly beneficial and even necessary for a healthy body.

Research indicates that having a large variety of bacteria in the gut may help reduce the risk of conditions that include:

Diabetes
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Psoriatic arthritis

Over the past few decades, research has found a connection between gut health and mental health disorders, autoimmune diseases, endocrine conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

A higher level of diversity in gut bacteria may be associated with improved gut health, as well as your general mental and physical health.

You may be able to improve and possibly reset your gut health through lifestyle and diet changes. Some ways you can improve your gut health naturally include:

Managing and lowering your stress levels
Eating the right foods
Getting enough sleep
Eating slowly
Staying hydrated
Taking a prebiotic or probiotic
Checking for food intolerances
Changing your diet
Being more physically active
Getting help for issues such as anxiety and depression

Diet and gut health are very closely linked. Avoiding processed foods, high-fat foods, and foods high in refined sugars is important for maintaining a healthy microbiome, as these foods may promote the growth of damaging bacteria.

Eating certain foods that actively promote the growth of beneficial bacteria contributes to your overall health. These foods include:

Foods high in fiber
Garlic
Fermented foods
Collagen-boosting foods

Jamaica Hospital’s Division of Gastroenterology consists of board-certified gastroenterologists who provide high-quality, expert care to patients suffering from such conditions in inpatient and outpatient settings. To schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-6742 or 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.

MS Awareness Month

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

March is observed as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, a month that raises awareness about the disease.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that causes the breakdown of the protective covering of nerves called myelin. Multiple sclerosis can cause numbness, weakness, trouble walking, vision changes, and other symptoms. This interrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body. MS eventually causes permanent damage to the nerve fibers.

Launched in 2003, National MS Education and Awareness Month is a nationwide effort by MS Focus: The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and affiliated groups to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis. The vital goals of this campaign are to promote an understanding of the scope of the disease and to assist those with MS in making educated decisions about their healthcare.

MS Awareness Month benefits those with MS, their families, and communities. It is also an opportunity for family and friends of people with MS to learn more about the disease.

There are several ways to get involved in MS Awareness Month, including:

Sign up for an MS walk
Attend educational events
Share your story
Make a donation
Wear orange
Spread the word on social media

MS affects everyone differently. MS Awareness Month brings awareness to the condition’s many forms.

Getting involved during MS Awareness Month can help raise awareness for this condition and lead to a cure.

The Difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it produces effectively.

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have similar names, however, they are different diseases with distinctive causes.

A key difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is type 1 is caused by an autoimmune reaction and develops early in life. Type 2 diabetes develops over several years and is related to lifestyle factors such as being inactive and carrying excess weight, and is usually diagnosed in adults.

Type 1 diabetes is believed to be caused by an autoimmune reaction where the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, mistaking them for foreign invaders. After the beta cells are destroyed, the body can no longer produce insulin.

Researchers are unsure why the immune system attacks the body’s cells. They believe it may be due to genetic and environmental factors, such as being exposed to viruses.

People who have type 2 diabetes have an insulin resistance. The body can still produce insulin but is unable to use it effectively.

Researchers aren’t sure why some people become insulin-resistant and others don’t, but several lifestyle factors may contribute to it, such as being inactive and carrying excess weight.

Other genetic and environmental factors may also play a role. When a person develops type 2 diabetes, the pancreas will overcompensate by producing more insulin. Because the body can’t effectively use the insulin, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream.

Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are less clear than risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

The known risk factors for type 1 diabetes include:

Family history
Age

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

Having prediabetes or slightly elevated blood sugar levels
Carrying excess weight or having obesity
Having a lot of belly fat
Being physically active less than three times a week
Being over the age of 45
Having had gestational diabetes
Giving birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds
Being Black, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native due to structural inequities contributing to health disparities
Having an immediate family member with type 2 diabetes
Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

If not managed properly, type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to symptoms that can include:

Urinating frequently
Feeling very thirsty and drinking a lot of fluids
Feeling very hungry
Feeling very fatigued
Having blurry vision
Having cuts or sores that don’t heal properly
Having very dry skin
Having more infections than usual

People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes can also experience irritability, mood changes, and unintentional weight loss.

Unfortunately, type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented. However, it is possible to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes that include:

Maintaining a moderate weight
Working with a healthcare provider to develop a healthy weight-loss plan, if you are overweight
Increasing activity levels
Eating a balanced diet and reducing the intake of sugary foods and overly processed foods

If you are experiencing diabetes symptoms, you can call to schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center at (718) 206-7001.

How to Cope When a Family Member is in Hospice

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Hospice care or end-of-life care is specialized care that provides physical comfort alongside emotional, social, and spiritual support for people nearing the end of life.

The grief we experience while coping with a dying loved one is different than what we experience after someone has died.

Here are some strategies to help both the patient and their loved ones during hospice care:

Understand your grief

Anticipatory grief is the deep sadness felt during the last days of life. It can be felt by both the patient and their loved ones.

Feeling grief while your loved one is still alive doesn’t mean you are abandoning your loved one or giving up. Instead, anticipatory grief can give you a chance to gain meaning and closure you might not have had otherwise.

You may feel like you are somewhere between holding on and letting go. Some people find this very painful. They may feel like they are betraying their loved one if they lean towards letting go. The truth is that it is possible to live with both holding on and letting go simultaneously. You don’t have to choose.

Let yourself feel and grieve

Everyone grieves and responds differently to news about a terminal diagnosis. Anticipatory grief can begin as soon as you’re told a loved one may die soon. You could also experience a delay as you process the information about your loved one’s diagnosis.

Let yourself feel the pain. This helps you to be honest and true with yourself.

Anticipatory grief is not just grief for the coming death of a loved one. It is also grief for other losses that go along with death, such as:

The loss of a companion
The loss of shared memories
The loss of dreams for the future

Sometimes, grief from the past can resurface during this time.

Denying the pain you are feeling can prolong the grief you feel later on. Grief serves a purpose, whether it occurs before or after death.

Researchers have identified four phases and tasks of grief. They include:

Accepting the impending loss
Working through the pain
Adjusting to a new reality where your loved one is absent
Connecting to your departed loved one differently as you move forward

Implementing these tasks doesn’t mean you should give up on your loved one or forget them. Instead, these tasks will help you hold onto the joy and love you once shared. They can also help temper the deep sadness that may make remembering painful.

Don’t go it alone: Express your pain

Trying to stay strong when a parent or loved one is dying can be challenging. Always give yourself permission to feel sad or ask for support from other people in your life.

It is important to let yourself feel your pain. However, many people find it hard to express grief before death. They may feel they are being unsupportive of their loved one. Talking to a trusted friend is a good way to cope with these feelings.

One huge difference between anticipatory grief and the grief you feel after someone dies is that there is often more anger in anticipatory grief. You may also find it more difficult to control your emotions.

Find a friend who doesn’t judge and will let you express anger. This person should be a good listener and should not try to “fix things” or tell you how you should feel.

There is no easy fix for your emotions. However, a good listener can help you feel less alone.

Spend time with your dying loved one

People sometimes talk about how difficult it is to spend time with a dying loved one because they may not want to remember them as they were dying. They may want to remember how the person was before instead.

Spending time with a dying loved one is important for many people. This isn’t just true for the person who is dying, but also for their close loved ones. If you decide not to visit your loved one, you may regret it later.

Find meaningful ways to spend time together. Share old photographs or keepsakes. If possible, ask your loved one to share stories about themselves, family heirlooms, and other possessions. You may find reminiscing to be healing.

Try journaling

Keeping a journal can be healing. It can help you express things you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing with a friend. A journal can be a place to record thoughts you had around the time of your loved one’s death.

You can also try writing letters. A letter to your dying loved one may also help you say all the things you’ve been wanting to say.

Take advantage of holistic methods of coping

A holistic approach may be helpful for both the person dying and their loved ones. “Holistic” means treating the whole person, including their mental and emotional health. Some of these therapies have been found to help with emotions like anxiety.

A holistic approach can help bring hope and healing to those grieving. Some examples include:

Guided imagery
Meditation
Art therapy
Massage therapy
Qigong, a Chinese practice of meditation and breathing
Music therapy

Nurture your spirituality

Spirituality is important for those who are dying and for their caregivers. Spirituality can take many forms, including:

Organized religion and prayer
Meditation
Communing with nature
Listening to music that is meaningful to you

Studies have shown that people have a better quality of life in their last days if they have an active spiritual life. Caregivers may also experience less depression if their dying loved one has an active spiritual life.

Maintain a sense of humor

There isn’t much room for humor when someone is dying. However, in the right setting, humor can sometimes be healing. One review found a strong benefit of humor in the end-of-life setting. Humor can benefit the person dying and their loved ones.

Practice forgiveness

Forgiveness can be healing. Learning to forgive yourself is just as important as forgiving others.

The time before death is very emotional. There may be anger and resentment among family members. However, it is also a time to resolve differences.

Listening is an important first step toward forgiveness. Sometimes, two people can say the same things, but in different ways. At other times, you may continue to disagree with what your loved one is saying even after talking it through. When this happens, ask yourself this question: “Is it more important to love or to be right?”

Letting go of resentment and pain from the past can be freeing. Give yourself the gift of forgiveness.

Give your loved one permission to die

Sometimes a dying person can live until a specific moment. Some people seem to wait until after a loved one says goodbye. This goodbye can act as permission to die. This can be helpful for the dying person and their loved ones. A goodbye can be a beautiful gift.

Anticipatory grief is a common experience. There are many ways to cope with anticipatory grief, but everyone grieves differently. It is important to allow yourself to grieve.

Signs of High Stress

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Stress is a natural human reaction that happens to everyone. Your body is built to react to stress in ways meant to protect you against threats from predators and other aggressors. These threats are rare today, however, that doesn’t mean that life is free of stress.

Stress responses help your body adjust to new situations. Stress can be positive by keeping you alert, motivated, and ready to avoid danger. However, stress becomes a problem when stressors continue without relief or periods of relaxation.

Stressors can be positive and negative; getting a new job or losing a job can cause stress. Other causes of stress include:

An illness or death of a loved one
Marriage, separation, or divorce
Financial issues
Moving into a new house
Going on vacation
Having a baby
Retiring

There are three main types of stress: acute, episodic acute, and chronic.

Acute stress- is a short-term stress that comes and goes quickly. It can be positive or negative. It is the feeling you get when you ride a rollercoaster or have a fight with a significant other. Everyone experiences acute stress from time to time.
Episodic acute stress- is when you experience acute stress regularly. With this type of stress, you don’t get the time you need to return to a calm, relaxed state. Episodic stress frequently affects people working in certain professions, such as healthcare providers.
Chronic stress- is long-term stress that can last for weeks or months. It can be caused by troubles in your marriage, issues at work, or financial problems. It is important to find ways to manage chronic stress because it can lead to health issues.

The body’s autonomic nervous system controls the heart rate, breathing, vision changes, and more. It also triggers the body’s “flight-or-fight” response as a way to react to stressful situations.

Having a continuous activation of this stress response can cause wear and tear on the body. It can cause you to develop stress symptoms that are physical, psychological, or behavioral.

Physical stress symptoms can include:

Aches and pains
Chest pain or the feeling of your heart racing
Exhaustion or insomnia
Headaches, dizziness, or shaking
High blood pressure
Muscle tension or jaw clenching
Stomach or digestive problems
Trouble having sex
A weakened immune system

Psychological stress symptoms can include:

Anxiety or irritability
Depression
Panic attacks
Sadness

Chronic stress can lead to several long-term issues that affect your immune, digestive, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems.

People with chronic stress try different things to cope. Some of these things can become habit-forming and can impact your health. Behavioral stress symptoms can include:

Alcohol use disorder
Gambling disorder
Overeating or developing an eating disorder
Participating compulsively in sex, shopping, or internet browsing
Smoking
Substance abuse disorder

It can be difficult to diagnose stress due to its subjectivity. It isn’t measurable with tests because only the person experiencing it can determine whether it is present and how severe it feels. A healthcare provider may use questionnaires to understand your stress and how it affects your life.

If you have chronic stress, your healthcare provider can evaluate symptoms that result from stress, such as diagnosing and treating high blood pressure.

Stress is something that can’t be avoided. However, you can prevent it from becoming overwhelming by practicing daily stress relief strategies, including the following:

Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise and sleep
Doing relaxation exercises such as yoga, deep breathing, massages, or meditation
Keeping a gratitude journal
Taking time for hobbies
Fostering healthy relationships and talking with your friends and family
Finding ways to include humor and laughter in your life
Volunteering in your community
Organizing and focusing on what you need to get done at home and work and removing unneeded tasks
Seeking professional counseling

Embracing mindfulness and learning to manage stress can reward you with peace of mind, fewer stressors and less anxiety, and a better quality of life. If you need the assistance and support of a mental health professional at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-5575 to schedule an appointment.

COPD Myths

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a group of health conditions, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that limit airflow in the lungs.

Many myths and misconceptions exist about COPD. Here are some misconceptions surrounding COPD:

Myth #1: Only people who smoke get COPD

COPD is often associated with smoking, as smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products is the most common cause of the damage done to the lungs and airways. However, nearly 30% of people with COPD have never smoked a cigarette. Nonsmoking causes of COPD include:

Long-term exposure to polluted air, such as smog in an urban area or dust and fumes at a workplace
Genetics plays a role, specifically a condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1)
Asthma that’s active or even inactive. Researchers have found that 29% of people with asthma eventually receive a COPD diagnosis
Childhood respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia

Myth #2: COPD is rare

According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over six in 100 adults in the U.S. had a COPD diagnosis in 2022.

That means millions of adults across the country have received a diagnosis of COPD. The actual proportion of adults with COPD may be higher due to delays in obtaining a diagnosis.

Myth #3: Exercise is too hard if you have COPD

Shortness of breath, wheezing, a chronic cough, and fatigue can all be a part of COPD. Any one of these symptoms can make exercising challenging.

Moderate exercise may not affect your lungs. In some cases, exercise can minimize the symptoms of COPD while strengthening the heart and helping reduce stress.

Try to build up to 20 to 30 minutes of exercise three to four times a week. Combine safe cardiovascular activities such as walking or biking with stretching and strength-building. It won’t be easy to start exercising. Speak with your healthcare provider about building an exercise plan that works for you. They may be able to connect you with a respiratory therapist for breathing techniques and exercises you can do. It is recommended that you speak to your doctor about your health before starting a new exercise regimen.

Myth #4: Only older people develop COPD

COPD is more common in people 65 or older. However, younger people can also develop this condition.

A 2023 study found that COPD affected more than 1.6% of adults ages 20 to 50 in the U.S. Adults aged 35 to 50 had a higher risk of COPD than those under the age of 35.

A history of smoking or secondhand smoke exposure significantly increases the risk of COPD in young adults.

Myth #5: COPD is a man’s disease

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that women are more likely to develop COPD than men in the U.S.

More women than men have also died from COPD since 2000 in the U.S.

Exposure to tobacco smoke and other pollutants raises the risk of COPD for anyone; however, women can experience more harmful effects than men from these pollutants.

Women with COPD also tend to get a diagnosis later than men, after the disease has progressed and treatment is less effective. This may contribute to reduced survival in women with COPD.

Myth #6: Nothing can be done to treat COPD

COPD treatments are available to help limit symptoms and potentially slow the progression of COPD.

Your treatment plan can include lifestyle changes like quitting smoking (if you smoke), as well as one or more of the following:

Vaccinations
Medications
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Supplemental oxygen
Lung transplant
Surgery

Talk with your healthcare provider to learn more about your treatment options.

Myth #7: There’s no point in quitting smoking after you develop COPD

Avoiding tobacco smoke is one of the most important things you can do to manage COPD.

If you smoke, cutting back and quitting can help limit symptoms and slow the progression of COPD.

Although more research is necessary, it may also be helpful to avoid e-cigarettes and other vaping products.

Avoiding smoking and vaping altogether is likely your healthiest option. Talk with a healthcare provider to learn about smoking cessation counseling, medication, or other resources that can help you cut back and quit smoking or vaping.

Jamaica Hospital’s Medical Home Department has partnered with the American Lung Association to bring you Freedom from Smoking, a comprehensive and successful group-based smoking cessation program. For more information or to register, call: 718-206-8494

Trauma Department- Pedestrian Safety

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Pedestrian safety is critical whether you are driving or walking on the sidewalk. We each have a responsibility to keep each other safe. Here are some safety tips for drivers that will keep themselves and pedestrians safe:

Look out for pedestrians everywhere at all times
Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather
Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk
Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to allow other vehicles to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too
Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see
Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in schools, and in neighborhoods where children are present
Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians

Here are some safety tips for pedestrians:

Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals
Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available
If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible
Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right
If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely and continue watching for traffic as you cross
Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots
Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking as they impair your abilities and your judgment

Taking the proper precautions whether you are a driver or pedestrian is for your safety and the safety of others.

If you or anyone you know is injured due to a car accident, make sure to call 911 right away. Each day Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Level 1 Trauma Center treats a high volume of motor vehicle collision injuries in New York City. To learn more, please call (718) 206-6000.

Robotics: Appendectomy

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

An appendectomy is a surgical procedure to remove an inflamed or infected appendix. An inflamed or infected appendix is the result of appendicitis.

Appendicitis occurs when your appendix, the finger-shaped pouch that sticks out from the colon on the lower right side of the abdomen gets clogged, infected, and inflamed. It can cause acute pain in your lower abdomen, however, for most people, pain begins around the belly button and then moves. As inflammation worsens, appendicitis pain typically increases and eventually becomes serious.

Symptoms of appendicitis include:

Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower belly
Sudden pain that begins around the belly button and often shifts to the lower right belly
Pain that worsens with coughing, walking, or making other jarring movements
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Low-grade fever that may rise as the illness worsens
Constipation or diarrhea
Belly bloating
Gas

Additional symptoms that may develop later in some people can include:

Malaise
Urinary symptoms- needing to go more frequently or more urgently
Bowel paralysis

The size and location of the appendix make it easy for it to become clogged and infected. Your large intestine is home to many bacteria. If they become trapped in your appendix, they overgrow and cause an infection. The bacteria then multiplies quickly causing the appendix to become inflamed and filled with pus. If it is not treated right away, the appendix may burst or break open.

Some common causes of inflammation, swelling, obstruction, and infection in your appendix include:

Hardened poop (appendix stones)
Lymphoid hyperplasia
Colitis

Other factors that could block the opening of your appendix can include:

Tumors
Parasites
Cystic fibrosis

Risk factors for appendicitis include:

Age – anyone can develop appendicitis, but it most often happens in people between the ages of 10 and 30
Your sex – men have a slightly higher risk of appendicitis than women

To help diagnose appendicitis, a healthcare provider will likely take a history of symptoms and examine the abdomen. Tests used to diagnose appendicitis can include:

A physical exam
Blood tests
Urine tests
Imaging tests

Appendicitis may spontaneously resolve if the cause suddenly goes away on its own. This might happen if an obstruction in your appendix gets unblocked and passes through the intestines, or if an infection causing lymphoid hyperplasia in your appendix suddenly improves. However, you shouldn’t assume this will happen or that it has happened, even if your pain has reduced.

The standard treatment includes medicine such as antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix. Appendicitis is considered an emergency, so it is treated in the emergency room.

An appendectomy can be performed open, laparoscopically, or robot-assisted.

Through the acquisition of the Da Vinci robot surgical platform, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center can now perform minimally invasive robotic surgical procedures.

There are many potential advantages of robotic-assisted surgery over other types of surgery, including:

Robot-assisted surgery provides the surgeon with 3D images inside the abdomen and pelvis that create a clearer picture to reference as they operate.
Under the surgeon’s direction, the robot can move more freely and with more versatility than a human hand
You’ll have a few tiny scars.
You’re more likely to experience less pain and less bleeding after surgery compared to open surgery.
A shorter hospital stay.

For more information about robotic surgery or to learn more about other surgical options at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Surgery, please call (718) 206-7001 to make an appointment.

Podiatry: What Your Feet Can Tell You about Your Health

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Our bodies present many signs and symptoms to show us that we are sick, such as a runny nose, fever, and body aches. However, your feet can tell us a lot about our health, including:

Dry, flaking, itchy, or peeling skin may be signs of a thyroid condition or a fungal infection.
Foot numbness may be a sign of circulation problems such as peripheral artery disease (PAD), peripheral neuropathy associated with type 2 diabetes, other neurological problems, arthritis, or long-standing alcoholism.
A foot sore that won’t heal may be a sign of diabetes or peripheral vascular disease. In addition to causing nerve damage, high blood sugar might also damage the blood vessels that supply nerves, causing circulation problems that prevent healing.
Swollen ankles and feet may be signs of heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, or a blood clot. Painless swelling in the feet is gravity in action. If your heart, liver, or kidneys aren’t working properly, you will have excess fluid in the body that leaks into your tissues and drains down to the feet.
A suddenly, intensely painful, and swollen big toe may be a sign of gout, inflammation caused by a buildup of uric acid that forms crystals in the joints.
Pain in the foot when walking or exercising that goes away when resting may be a sign of a stress fracture or osteoporosis.
Sore toe joints in both feet may be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.
Frequent foot cramping may be a sign of dehydration and nutritional deficiencies.
Heel pain may be a sign of plantar fasciitis, the strain of the ligament that supports the arch in your foot.
Yellow toenails may be a sign of a fungal infection, such as athlete’s foot.
Balding or hairless feet and toes may be a sign of circulation problems, such as peripheral artery disease.
Foot or heel pain upon standing or rising in the morning may be a sign of arthritis or plantar fasciitis.
Frequently cold feet may be a sign of hypothyroidism, peripheral artery disease, or Raynaud’s disease, a condition where blood vessels spasm and constrict when experiencing cold temperatures.

Some ways you can care for your feet include:

Wash and examine your feet daily
Keep the skin on your feet moisturized
Treat any callouses and corns
Trim toenails weekly or as needed
Wear protective clothing on your feet
Maintain blood flow to the feet

If you are experiencing any of these foot ailments, contact Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Queens Podiatry Center at (718) 206-6713-6712 to make an appointment.

Signs and Symptoms of Stroke in Women

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Men are more likely to have a stroke. However, women have a higher lifetime risk and are also more likely to die from a stroke.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in five women will have a stroke. Women have a higher lifetime risk of stroke because they tend to live longer than men. They also have unique risk factors, including:

Pregnancy
Preeclampsia
The use of hormonal birth control
Hormone replacement therapy
Obesity
Migraine with aura, which is more common in women
Atrial fibrillation (AFib), which is more common in women over 75 years of age

Many symptoms of stroke are common in both men and women, including:

Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face and limbs, most likely on one side of the body
Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding
Sudden and severe headaches with no known cause
Sudden dizziness, difficulty walking, or loss of balance or coordination

Women may report symptoms that are often not associated with strokes in men. These symptoms can include:

Nausea or vomiting
Seizures
Hiccups
Shortness of breath
Pain
Fainting or loss of consciousness
General weakness

Because these symptoms can signify a different condition, it can be difficult to connect them immediately to a stroke. This can delay treatment and slow recovery.

The American Stroke Association recommends an easy strategy for identifying the symptoms of a stroke. If you think you or someone around you may be having a stroke, you should act FAST:

Face – ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
Arms – ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech – ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
Time – if you observe any of these symptoms, it is time to call 911 or your local emergency services.

When it comes to a stroke, every minute counts. The longer you wait to call emergency services, the more likely it is that the stroke will result in brain damage or disability.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has been accredited as a Comprehensive Stroke Center (the highest designation of stroke care) by the Joint Commission. Whether you’ve survived a stroke or may be at risk of experiencing one, you can schedule an appointment for neuroendovascular screening, stroke rehabilitation, or any other form of stroke treatment that we provide. To schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-7001.