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.

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.

Summer Weight Loss Tips For Kids

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Michael Hinck

Is your child at risk of gaining weight this summer?

We consider summer to be a time when kids run around, go swimming and generally remain active. With all this physical activity, it is a common belief that children keep weight off or maybe even lose a few pounds in the summer, but that is not the case. There are many reasons why parents are now noticing that their children are actually gaining weight during the summer.

The rate of childhood obesity has tripled in America in recent decades. Now, one out of three children in this country is considered overweight or obese. When are children gaining the most weight? Recent studies have revealed that during the summer, the rate of weight gain in children is double that of the rest of the year. Why?

One of the biggest contributing factors is that children today live a more sedentary lifestyle. During the school year, children participate in fitness programs, both during recess and in physical education classes. Without a regimented exercise program, children opt to spend their free time playing video games or watching television.

Another factor in summer weight gain is the foods children have access to in their home. In an effort to fight obesity and promote healthy eating habits, many schools provide healthy alternatives for lunches and snacks during the year. During the summer, however, kids have access to whatever snacks are in the home. Kids will often choose unhealthy snacks, such as cookies, chips, and soda, if they are available to them.

In an effort to reverse this trend, Jamaica Hospital offers the following summer healthy living tips for your kids:

• Stock your home with healthy food options like yogurt, carrots, or summer fruits like peaches, berries, or melons.

• Make water the beverage of choice. Juices and sodas are high in calories and low in nutrients. To make water more flavorful, consider adding fruit slices or berries.

• Limit TV and video game usage. It will force kids to become more physically active and prevent them from enticing junk food commercials..

• Walk more. Everyone can do it. Incorporate regular family walks to the park or around the neighborhood.

• Be inventive. Not every child is interested in formal team sports, but every kid loves to run around. Encourage activities like hopscotch, jump rope or a simple game of “tag.”

• Be a role mode. Children often take cues from their parent’s eating habits so if you want your kids to eat healthier, you should eat healthier

Asthma and Exercise

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

Do your asthma attacks coincide with participation in physical activity such as exercise? As in all types of asthma, the airways tighten, it becomes difficult to take a complete breath, and the airways produce extra mucous.

The symptoms of exertional asthma include:

Wheezing
Tightness of the chest
Coughing
Feeling tired
Inability to catch your breath

Some activities that can lead to heavier than normal breathing such as recreational sports including running, basketball, football, soccer, and aerobic exercise. These can lead to exertional asthma. Additionally, when the air is cold and dry, activities such as shoveling snow or walking for long periods of time can also trigger an asthma attack.

Other contributing factors of exertional asthma can include:

Smoke or smog
High pollen counts
Having a cold or other respiratory infection
Chlorinated pools or other chemical irritants

Treatment of exertional asthma includes taking medications both on a regular basis and prior to doing strenuous exercise to limit symptoms and control breathing. Some activities and sports should be avoided if they bring on asthma attacks.

If you are experiencing difficulty breathing while participating in strenuous activities, you should consult with a pulmonary specialist for a complete respiratory evaluation. Please call 718-206-6742 to schedule an appointment with a pulmonologist at Jamaica Hospital.

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!!

Are You Properly Using Sunscreen?

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Michael Hinck

Everyone understands the importance of sunscreen, but are we using it correctly?

We all look forward to going to the beach, the pool or participating in other outdoor activities during the sunny summer months, but without properly using sunscreen to protect our skin, summer fun today can turn into serious problems down the road. While many of us use sunscreen, not everyone uses it appropriately.

Here are some tips to ensure proper protection against harmful UV rays:

Don’t wait until you are in the sun to apply sunscreen. It is recommended that sunscreen is applied 30 minutes before exposure to the sun.
Make sure you re-apply. Once a day is not enough. Try to re-apply every 90 minutes.
Make sure to use a sunscreen with a high enough SPF. Sunscreens with a SPF of 30 block 97% of the of UV rays.
Use sunscreens that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. These sunscreens are usually labeled “broad spectrum” on the container.
Don’t forget commonly missed body parts. The locations that are most often missed are our feet, underarms, back of the neck and ears.
If you are planning on swimming or being physically active, make sure you are using a water-resistant sunscreen. Non-resistant versions tend to run off in the water or when you perspire.
Don’t only apply sunscreen on sunny days. 80% of UV rays can penetrate through the clouds on overcast days.
Make sure you apply enough. This can be difficult with the more popular spray-on sunscreens. When applying, hold the can 6 inches from your skin so you can see the moisture cover your skin.
Sunscreens expire so throw out any bottles that are a few years old
Don’t forget to protect your lips, but don’t use the same sunscreen you use on your body. Instead, buy a lip balm with SPF protection.

If you follow these tips the next time you are outdoors this summer, you can avoid painful burns or even more serious, long-term conditions.

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.

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

Electronic Cigarettes – are they safe ?

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

Electronic cigarettes, or as they are more popularly called, e-cigarettes, are designed to look like traditional tobacco cigarettes. Though the e-cigarettes contain no tobacco, they can be harmful because they contain nicotine which is a cancer causing chemical. Their manufacturers would like the public to believe that they are a safer alternative to cigarettes, but this may not be the case.

How they work – The user inhales through a mouthpiece similar to traditional cigarettes. This flow of air triggers a sensor that turns on a small battery operated heater. The heater warms up a capsule that contains nicotine and propylene glycol. The vapor that is created gives the user the sensation of smoking a traditional cigarette. The vapor from these e-cigarettes also contains formaldehyde and acetaldehyde which can also cause cancer.

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration has done a preliminary analysis of these devices and concluded that the vapors that they emit contain other carcinogens, such as nitrosamines and diethylene glycol. It is presumed that the effects of smoking these e-cigarettes would have similar second hand effects as regular tobacco products and their use should be regulated in a similar manner.

Though they have been marketed as an aid to stop smoking for those trying to quit, there is no evidence that proves that these e-cigarettes accomplish that goal.. If you smoke, or know someone who does, and are interested in quitting we recommend speaking with your physician or joining our Freedom From Smoking program.

Jamaica Hospital’s smoking cessation team wants to help you develop a plan leading to your “quit day”. Our 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

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