Best Exercises for Asthmatics

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

Exercise -Induced Asthma (EIA) attacks can be triggered when participating in certain physical activities that are exertive or strenuous in nature. However, this should not discourage asthmatics from exercising. In fact exercise along with proper medical management is encouraged to help maintain a normal and healthy lifestyle. An added benefit of exercise is it can help in increasing lung capacity, which improves breathing.

If asthmatics choose to exercise, it is advised that they know their physical limitations and engage in activities that will not aggravate attacks. Activities that are lengthy, vigorous, conducted on freshly mowed fields and played in cold or dry air – such as ice hockey or skiing are usually not recommended.

Exercises that are asthma-friendly include: swimming, walking, lifting weights, golf, bicycling and yoga. These activities are often recommended because they allow control in breathing, they can be performed in an air-controlled environment or combine both short activities with long workouts.

There are several precautions asthmatics should follow or keep in mind before participating in any form of exercise. Some of which include:

Having an inhaler or prescribed medication on hand.
Warming up before exercising.
Doing breathing exercises before and after working out.
Taking into account pollen levels –if activity is performed outdoors.
Avoiding pools with too much chlorine. Pools that have a heavy chlorine smell tend to have excessive chlorine.
If you must exercise when it is cold outside use a scarf or wear a mask to cover up your nose and mouth.

Asthmatics can enjoy the benefits of exercise by following the recommendations of a physician, managing their medication and being aware of limitations. If you are experiencing difficulty breathing while participating in strenuous activities, you should consult a pulmonologist for a complete respiratory evaluation. Please call 718-206-6742 to schedule an appointment with a pulmonologist at Jamaica Hospital.

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.

Six Natural Tips That Can Help Ease Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

Do you tend to feel depressed each winter but feel much better during spring or summer? There is a possibility that you may be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD), also known as winter depression or seasonal depression.

Symptoms of SAD may include:

Craving foods rich in carbohydrates
Tiredness
Irritability
Oversleeping
Weight gain

Natural Tips that can help you combat these symptoms include:

Moderate your intake of carbohydrates- Excessive consumption of simple carbohydrates such as white rice or bread can raise your blood sugar, which can lead to mood swings and irritability.
Exercise- Fifteen to twenty minutes of exercise can improve your mood and increase endorphins; which is the hormone attributed to creating feelings of happiness.
Check your Vitamin D levels- Vitamin D levels may be low due to lack of sunlight during the winter months. Try to also get as much natural light as possible.
Include Omega 3 in your diet-It is suggested that incorporating foods rich in Omega-3 such as salmon can help improve your mood.
Socialize- Interacting with friends and family can help alleviate feelings of depression.
Brighten up your space-Open blinds and curtains to let in natural light. It also suggested that using bright colors and patterns in your space may improve your mood.

If symptoms of depression prolong it is recommended that you speak with a mental health professional.

Why Do Our Teeth Chatter?

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Michael Hinck

Did you ever wonder why your teeth chatter when you are cold?

Teeth chattering is a way of your body to maintain a proper temperature.
We come equipped with our own internal thermostat; it is a part of our brain called the hypothalamus and its job is to keep our body at a constant temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

When the temperature outside drops, so too can your internal body temperature. When that happens, the hypothalamus sends a message to your body that it needs to warm up.
One way the body can generate heat is to force your muscles to move in a rapid fashion. This is commonly known as shivering. Teeth chattering is just a form of shivering.

So next time you find yourself chilled and your teeth begin to chatter, don’t worry. Just thank your body for trying to heat you up.

How Does Being In Love Affect Your Body?

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

Being in love evokes several emotions. Emotions that are associated with being in love include happiness, anxiety, attachment, desire and excitement. These emotions are linked to several chemicals and hormones produced by the body, such as dopamine, norepinephrine and adrenaline.

When someone is in love, they may feel euphoric or addicted. This is a result of an increase in dopamine levels. Dopamine is a chemical that controls the brain’s pleasure and rewards centers. Hormones such as adrenaline and norepinephrine are also shown to increase. These hormones can make your palms sweat and cause restlessness or your heart to race.

A study using MRI indicated that when people are in love, blood flow increases to the brain’s pleasure center. An increase in cerebral blood flow can cause the experience of “feeling chills down the spine.”

People become attached when in love; this attachment can trigger the development of hormones such as vasopressin and oxytocin. These hormones create feelings of security and comfort.

Science has shown that the emotions of love are universally shared and can be broken down into three stages of lust, attachment and attraction. The combination of chemicals can also explain why being in love can often feel like an emotional roller coaster.

Diabetes and Circulation

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Andrew Rubin

If diabetes isn’t controlled, it can lead to complications within the body. One of the more common conditions is poor circulation. Diabetes can cause the blood vessels to narrow, harden and impair the ability of blood to circulate properly. If there is decreased blood flow in the body, especially the feet and legs, complications can occur. The following complications can occur:

• Poor wound healing
• Loss of sensation
• Muscle cramps while walking
• Higher rate of amputation

Some of the warning signs of circulatory problems caused by diabetes include:

• Blurry vision
• Foot sores
• Burning or tingling in the feet and hands
• Weight gain
• Swelling of the extremities

The long term effects of poor circulation caused by diabetes can eventually lead to blindness, kidney failure, high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.

Exercise, especially walking, can help to improve circulation. Depending on the severity of the problem, a physician may be able to prescribe medications that will help the circulation. Speak to your physician about how to keep your diabetes under control. You may schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist at Jamaica Hospital by calling 718-206-6742.

Natural Remedies for Bad Breath

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

Bad breath, medically known as halitosis can be caused by a number of factors including health problems, smoking, certain foods and poor dental health habits. If the cause of bad breath is not the result of chronic conditions such as diabetes, sinus infections or kidney disease, then chances are there is a build-up of bacteria in the mouth that gives off gases or odors.

The best recommendation is to practice good oral hygiene. There are also a few natural remedies that can help combat bad breath, such as:

Drinking plenty of water.
Chewing a piece of lemon or orange rind.
Taking probiotics or eating foods that are rich in probiotics, such as yogurt.
Eating raw fruits and vegetables such as apples or celery.
Gargling with salt water.
Consulting a physician about colon cleansing.
Chewing a tablespoon of fennel seeds or making fennel tea.
Drinking cinnamon tea.
Chewing on fresh parsley.
Mixing apple cider vinegar with water and gargling.

Trying these natural remedies can help in keeping breath fresh; however, the best remedy is to practice good oral health by brushing and flossing teeth daily.

Pacifiers Effect on a Baby’s Teeth

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Andrew Rubin

There has been much debate on whether or not a baby should be given a pacifier and for how long. A baby starts sucking on his or her fingers before it is even born. Using a pacifier can have both positive and negative effects. The positives are that it helps to keep the baby calm, it has a relaxing effect, and it is believed to help reduce the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

The negative effects of a baby using a pacifier include:

Top teeth that slant outwards
Bottom teeth that slant inwards
Misalignment of the top and bottom jaws
Malformation of the roof of the mouth
Delay the falling out of the baby teeth

During the first two years of a child’s life, using a pacifier won’t really affect the growth of their permanent teeth. It is a good idea to have a baby’s teeth checked regularly by a dentist to make sure that they are developing correctly. To schedule an appointment with a dentist at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-6980.

10 Unusual Phobias

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

Many people are afflicted with unusual phobias such as Venustraphobia, which is the fear of beautiful women. A phobia is defined as an irrational fear or anxiety disorder. People with phobias tend to be extremely fearful of a specific situation, person, object or activity. There is still uncertainty of what actually causes phobias; however they can be linked to genetics, life experiences or environmental reasons.

A few unusual phobias include:

Bibliophobia- A fear of books.
Coulrophobia-A fear of clowns.
Aulophobia- A fear of flutes.
Porphyrophobia- A fear of the color purple.
Nyctohylophobia- A fear of the woods in the night.
Octophobia- A fear of the figure 8.
Selenophobia- A fear of the moon.
Lutraphobia- A fear of otters.
Heliophobia- A fear of sunlight.
Chionophobia- A fear of snow.

Although these phobias are unusual they should not be taken lightly. They can be harmful to people who have them and can potentially lead to depression, social isolation or substance abuse. It is advised that you seek help immediately if you or someone you know is suffering from the complications of a phobia.

How Smoking Affects Your Good Looks

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

Smoking is harmful to your body; the toxins found in tobacco and cigarettes can damage your body from the inside out. The smoke from cigarettes contains 7,000 hazardous chemicals which may lead to lung cancer, asthma, complications with diabetes and damage to your heart. These chemicals are also known to wreak havoc on your physical appearance.

Here are some of the ways smoking can ruin your good looks:

Bags under the eyes-Smokers are four times as likely to have bags under the eyes. Nicotine slows the circulation of blood throughout the body, which in turn affects the flow of circulation around the eyes.
Dental health-Cigarette smoke can also interfere with the normal function of the cells in the gum, which leads to discoloration of your pearly whites, bad breath and other dental problems.
Premature wrinkles- Smoking limits circulation and causes deprivation of blood to the tissues that keep the skin supple. Studies show that smokers tend to look older than their peers because the aging process has been accelerated.
Sagging arms or breasts- Is often a tell-tale sign of a person who has smoked for an extended period of time. It has been discovered that the chemicals in cigarettes destroy collagen and elastin. With the loss of these fibers, the skin will begin to lose its elasticity and strength.
Yellow nails and fingers- Nicotine can stain fingers and nails making them brown or yellow in color.
Hair loss- Studies show that smoking can accelerate hair loss. The circulation of blood flowing to the hair follicles is hampered, this disrupts the normal growth cycle of hair.

The damages caused by smoking affect the body internally and externally. Some of the effects are immediate and can be seen instantly or some may develop over time. However, several of these conditions can be reversed once a person stops smoking. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center encourages you to quit today. For help with smoking cessation you can enroll in our free Freedom From Smoking Program by calling 718- 206 -8494 or visiting www.cdc.gov/tobacco for a list of resources near you.

Palliative Care vs Hospice Care

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Joann Ariola

When you are faced with the decision of choosing whether palliative care or hospice care better suites the needs of you, or your loved ones; it is best to know the definition and relationship between the two before deciding.

Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms that are related to a chronic illness, such as cancer, cardiac disease, respiratory disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s and other dementias, AIDS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological diseases. Palliative care can be used at any stage of illness –not just advanced stages.

Hospice care is palliative by nature, but is only offered when the patient has progress to a point where curative treatment is no longer desired. Hospice care supports the patient, and their families, on the journey to end of life focusing on relieving symptoms and offering comfort from pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, anxiety and insomnia.

Although there are differences between palliative care and hospice care, there is a relationship between the two. Knowing the treatment differences and similarities may be helpful when making your decision, including:

Treatments are not limited with palliative care and can range from conservative to aggressive or curative.
Hospice care treatments are limited and focus on the palliation of symptoms. The goal is no longer to cure, but to promote comfort.
Palliative care can be considered at any time during the course of a chronic illness.
With hospice care, Medicare requires that a physician certify that a patient’s condition is terminal. The physician must certify that a patient’s life expectancy is six months or less.
Both palliative and hospice care can be delivered at any location.
Palliative care services are typically provided through regular physician and nursing visits.
Hospice care services are more inclusive than palliative care services. Hospice care includes physician services, nursing services, social worker, spiritual care, bereavement care and volunteers. In some cases physical, occupational, speech and dietary therapy services, as well as other counseling services are deemed necessary as part of the hospice holistic care plan to manage terminal symptoms and provide support for the individual and their family.

It is important to know that choosing palliative care or hospice care is about comfort, control, dignity and quality of life and not about giving up. If you, or a loved one should need information on palliative or hospice care, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Palliative Care and Hospice Care services can help. To schedule an appointment for an evaluation, or to just talk, call 718-206-6914.