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.

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.

Diabetes and Your Kidneys

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Michael Hinck

The kidneys serve an important function – to filter waste products from the blood. For people with diabetes, however, the small blood vessels in the kidneys can become injured and fail to clean the blood properly.

Waste products are created when our bodies digest food. In the kidneys, millions of tiny blood vessels act as filters for this waste. As blood flows through the blood vessels, small molecules, such as waste products, squeeze through these holes and produce urine. Useful substances, such as protein, are too big to be filtered and remain in the blood.

A high level of blood sugar can damage the kidneys and after many years of strain, they start to leak and these useful proteins are lost into the urine. This overwork to compensate for a failing filtering system is the reason why there are no early symptoms of kidney disease. In fact, kidney damage can begin 5 to 10 years before symptoms start.

SYMPTOMS
The first symptom of kidney disease is often weight gain due to fluid buildup. Other symptoms include swelling of the ankles and legs, frequent urination, nausea, poor appetite, loss of sleep, and fatigue.

“Not everyone with diabetes develops kidney problems, but it is still important for anyone with diabetes to have their kidney function checked on a yearly basis” states Dr. Alan Roth, Chairman of Family Medicine at Jamaica Hospital, “A doctor can check blood pressure, urine (for protein), blood (for waste products), and other organs for related complications. When kidney disease is diagnosed early, there are several treatments available to prevent kidney disease from getting worse.”

Diabetics can also manage of their condition by keeping their blood sugar and blood pressure under control. Eating a low fat and low sodium diet, taking proper medications, and getting regular exercise can also help prevent or slow kidney damage.
Failure to diagnose and take proper action to slow or prevent kidney disease can result in the kidneys completely failing. At this point, the only options are dialysis or a kidney transplant.

If you have diabetes and want to make an appointment to have your kidneys examined, please call 718-657-7093.

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Seatbelts Save Lives

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

One of the best ways to prevent an injury while riding in an automobile is to use a seatbelt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), using a seat belt properly can reduce the risk of crash injuries by 50 percent. Seatbelts are estimated to save almost 13,000 lives in theUnited Stateseach year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than half of the people killed in car crashes were not restrained at the time of the crash.

When a motor vehicle comes to a sudden stop, the occupants of that vehicle come to a stop as well, but not always simultaneously. When the occupants are not wearing their seatbelts and the vehicle comes to a sudden stop, they can be thrown forward. This often results in either people hitting the windshield of the vehicle or being thrown from the car if the impact is forceful enough.

How does a seatbelt work? A seatbelt when worn properly will disperse the motor vehicle’s stopping force across a person’s chest and pelvis. Seatbelts are usually made from material that has a little elasticity, so the stopping action isn’t as severe. The main objective of the seat belt is to prevent a person from making sharp impact with the windshield, the dashboard, or other rigid areas in the vehicle. By dispersing the force across the body, this will help to reduce the amount of trauma that is inflicted.

Seatbelts are only helpful when they are worn. Even though it is mandatory to wear a seatbelt in most states, there are still people who don’t always wear one. Anyone who has ever been involved in a motor vehicle accident and who was wearing a seat belt at the time will tell you that it probably saved their life. Seat belts that went across the lap started appearing in cars in the early 1960’s and were supplemented by shoulder harnesses in the late 1960’s. At first people found them to be very uncomfortable to wear but as time passed, car manufacturers were able to design the modern three point belt that is easier to use and more comfortable to wear.

Everyone should buckle up, seatbelts save lives.

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.

Put a lid on it! – The Benefits of Wearing a Bike Helmet for Safety

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Joann Ariola

It’s no secret that the main advantage of wearing a helmet while riding your bicycle to increase safety. This is exactly why helmets were devised and it’s the reason that they’re required, by law, in the New York State.

Since you can never predict exactly when, where and how you’ll fall from your bike, it pays to heed the warning of the experts and statistics that prove the benefit of wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle a bit further.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cites that 70% of bicyclists involved in a fatal crash suffer from head injuries. The NHTSA further cites that helmets are 85 to 88 percent effective in preventing head and brain injuries and refers to helmets as “the single most effective way to reduce head injuries and fatalities from bicycle crashes.”

The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute goes on to state that non-helmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than helmeted riders. While there’s no guarantee that a helmet will save your life, it’s clear that wearing one is much safer than not wearing one.

If you are going to riding your bicycle, it would be a wise safety measure to purchase a helmet before taking that bike on the road.

Vitamin C – Does it cure the common cold ?

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

It has always been believed that taking vitamin C can cure the common cold. While this has never been scientifically proven, studies have shown that taking vitamin C can reduce the severity of a cold, but not by much.

Vitamin C is very important to the body’s immune system, and has been shown to act as an antihistamine. Most people often reach for vitamin C once they feel a cold developing or they begin to experience cold symptoms. To really benefit from the effects of vitamin C, it is recommended that a person eat foods rich in vitamin C on a daily basis or supplement their diet with a vitamin C tablet. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin C is 90 mg for men and 75 mg for women. Many people claim that by taking 500 mg a day of vitamin C helps them to prevent getting colds, but this has not been proven. As much as we would like to believe that certain foods or vitamins work miracles, there really is no known cure for the common cold.

Can Your Diet Affect Your Sleep?

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Michael Hinck

Do you suffer from a sleep disorder? Your diet may be the key to giving you a better night’s sleep. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 50 to 70 million people in the United States suffer from a wide variety of sleep disorders.

Studies show that certain foods tend to produce a more restful night’s sleep. Foods that you can pick up at any local grocery store that are likely to give you a deeper sleep are:
• Milk
• Turkey
• Honey
• Nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, etc.)
• Kale
• Rice (or other forms of carbohydrates)

The secret to these foods are the vitamins they contain, as well as the hormones they help the brain produce. The old wives’ tale of drinking a warm glass of milk before bedtime is not all that inaccurate. Calcium is a natural sleep inducer, especially when consumed with magnesium, which can be found in bananas. Melatonin is a hormone the brain produces naturally that also greatly contributes to a good night’s sleep. Calcium and magnesium both naturally produce melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain that promotes sleepiness, so eating dairy products, wheat, and beans can all lead to a more restful sleep. Additionally, some proteins, such as lean meats, produce tryptophan, an amino acid that causes sleepiness. Carbohydrates, such as starches and fibers, can also cause fatigue because the body breaks them down into sugars that become glucose, which ultimately becomes blood sugar. Some healthy carbohydrates can be found in whole grain, cereal, and vegetables.

While some foods can help you get a better night’s sleep, other foods and eating habits can reduce your amount of sleep. Some of these include:
• Eating too much or too little
• Caffeine (after lunchtime)
• Fatty foods (fast food, junk food, etc.)
• Eating late at night
• Alcohol (in large doses)

Try to avoid these bad eating habits and replace them with healthy foods that are high in calcium, magnesium, healthy carbohydrates, and protein. If you think you are suffering from a sleep disorder that cannot be helped by your diet, speak with your physician about making an appointment at Jamaica Hospital’s Sleep Center. To make an appointment, please call 718-206-5916.

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Back Pain? You May Have a Herniated Disc

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Natifia Mullings

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, between 60% and 80% of people in the United States will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Herniated discs are considered the cause in a high percentage of all sufferers.

The spinal column is made up of 26 bones, called vertebrae. In between the vertebrae are soft discs that cushion them. A herniated disc occurs when one of these discs rupture and begin to irritate nearby nerves. This can cause a person to experience arm or leg pain, numbness or tingling, and/or muscle weakness.

“Herniated discs commonly occur in the lower back, and often in the neck as well. In both instances, a herniated disc can be very painful,” explained Dr. Nader Paksima, Chairman of the Division of Orthopedic Surgery at Jamaica Hospital.

Dr. Paksima, adds: “With inflamed spinal nerves and intense pressure on these nerves, the pain experienced by someone with a herniated disc can be debilitating and lead to further problems.”

There are several risk factors that can increase the likelihood of suffering from a herniated disc. In addition to gradual wear and tear, the following risk factors can also cause a herniated disc:

being male
improper lifting
being overweight
repetitive activities that strain your spine
frequent driving
sedentary lifestyle
smoking

Being aware of these risk factors is extremely important as people can have a herniated disc, in the neck or back, without knowing it. Sometimes, spinal images show a herniated disc although the person has no symptoms.

Physicians can diagnose a herniated disc with either a physical exam or imaging tests. Most people usually recover with rest, pain and anti-inflammatory medicines, and physical therapy. In some cases, herniated discs are treated with surgery.

If you’re experiencing neck or back pain that travels down your arm or leg, or is accompanied by numbness, tingling or weakness, you should seek medical help. To schedule an appointment with one of Jamaica Hospital’s orthopedic surgeons, please call 718-206-6923.

Skin Complications When You Have Diabetes

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Natifia Mullings

Believe it or not, skin complications are sometimes the first sign that you may have diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), people with diabetes develop skin diseases much more easily than those without the condition, making them more susceptible to general skin conditions such as bacterial infections, fungal infections, and localized itching. More specifically, styes, boils, jock itch, athlete’s foot, and ringworm.

“When you have too much sugar in the blood for a long time it can cause several complications, including those of the skin,” said Dr. Richard Pinsker, Endocrinologist at Jamaica Hospital. “Your body loses fluid which causes your skin to become dry. Additionally, nerve damage decreases the amount you sweat, which usually helps keep the skin moist. Dry skin can then crack and peel, allowing germs to enter the body to cause an infection.”

Dr. Pinsker added, “a reduced blood supply to the skin and a resistance to insulin can also lead to skin complications.”

There are several skin conditions that mostly affect or only affect people with diabetes, such as diabetic dermopathy and diabetic blisters. Some of these conditions are painful, while others are found to be embarrassing.

Fortunately, most of these conditions can be prevented or easily treated, if caught early. To reduce the risk of developing skin-related complications of diabetes, it is recommended that individuals keep their glucose levels in a safe range by eating healthy, exercising and taking their medication. It is also important that proper skin care is practiced. Individuals with diabetes should consider the following tips for good skin care:

Keep skin clean and moisturized.
Avoid very hot baths and showers, and use moisturizing soap and mild shampoos.
Treat cuts right away. Wash minor cuts with soap and water.
During cold, dry months, keep your home more humid. Bathe less during this weather, if possible.

If not cared for properly, these conditions, in a person with diabetes, can turn into a serious problem with potentially severe consequences. If you have diabetes and have noticed changes to your skin, please call 718-206-6742 to schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist or dermatologist.

The Importance of Prenatal Vitamins

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

Proper nutrition during pregnancy is so important to both mom and her developing baby.

Eating well balanced meals should be every expectant mother’s goal, unfortunately it isn’t always possible. In order to make sure that mother and child are getting all the vitamins and minerals necessary, doctors will often prescribe a prenatal vitamin.

One of the key ingredients in a prenatal vitamin is folic acid. This is important because it will help to prevent neural tube defects which lead to abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord. It is also important to have the proper amount of vitamin D and calcium as they are important for bone development and growth.. If an expectant mom doesn’t have a diet with sufficient quantities of dairy products fortified with vitamin D or other calcium rich food, then she could consider a supplement containing them.

Prenatal vitamins should contain iron (30 mg), vitamin C (50 mg), zinc (15 mg), copper (2mg), and vitamin B-6 (2mg)

The best way to take prenatal vitamins is start them before you conceive so there is a proper level of these vitamins and minerals in the body from the very beginning of pregnancy. Continue to take them during the full term of the pregnancy and continue them if you are going to breast feed.

Prenatal vitamins are not meant to substitute for well balanced meals but they certainly serve a very important role in keeping mom and her baby healthy. Before you start taking prenatal vitamins you should consult with your physician.