Jamaica Hospital Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Xavia Malcolm

Today Jamaica Hospital Medical Center hosted a baby shower for women in our community in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. Our lactation consultants along with special guests spoke to moms-to-be about the importance of breastfeeding and the many health benefits it provides.

Each year, August first to seventh is designated World Breastfeeding Week to encourage breastfeeding around the world and improve the health of babies.

World Breastfeeding Week was created 25 years ago by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) to promote the health benefits infants receive from being fed breast milk exclusively for the first six months of life. The observation is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

Organizations including WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics have found that in addition to being an optimal source of nutrition, breastfeeding offers babies protection from bacteria and viruses that can lead to potential life threatening diseases. Breastfeeding also benefits mothers; women who choose to breastfeed are less likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer, diabetes and post-partum depression.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is a designated Baby-Friendly USA facility that promotes exclusive breastfeeding. Our hospital provides several social and clinical programs to support pregnant and nursing mothers. Some of our programs include breastfeeding education classes, CenteringPregnancy and breastfeeding support groups.

Last year, we opened a lactation lounge for our community to utilize and access 24 hours, 7 days a week.

For more information about the services we provide, please visit www.JamaicaHospital.org.

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.

Bobby Serina, RN

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

The entire staff of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Emergency Department is critical to treating hundreds of patients every day. For over twenty years, one of the people who has dedicated his career to taking care of patients is Bobby Serina, RN.
Bobby grew up in the Philippines where he attended Liceo De Cagayan College of Nursing. He graduated in 1979 then started working at Doctor’s General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City in 1980 as an ER/OR nurse. Bobby furthered his education during this time and obtained his BSN Supplemental in 1981. In 1985 he decided to go abroad, traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he worked at the 1400 bed Riyadh Central Hospital in the emergency room.
While Bobby was working in Saudi Arabia he met his beautiful wife Menchi who is also an ER nurse. They are blessed with three beautiful children and two grandchildren. He worked in Saudi Arabia for ten years and had the opportunity of a lifetime when he went to work in the Royal Palace clinic in Riyadh. In the years that Bobby spent in Saudi Arabia he learned the culture of the country and the Arabic language which he still speaks very well. In 1983 Bobby’s wife came to the United States and shortly afterwards, he followed.
Bobby has been working at Jamaica Hospital for twenty years and he describes his experiences at the hospital as amazing and would not trade it for anything. He feels that he learns something new every day which he feels is so important. He enjoys working with the wonderful people at the hospital who come from so many different parts of the world. Bobby describes the ER as a collaborative effort between the EMS responders, PCA’s, PAR’s, transporters, PA’s, physicians and hospital administration. The camaraderie amongst the staff and the fact that they share a common goal of helping our patients is why they work together so well. Bobby really enjoys making a big difference in patients’ lives and he says, no matter how stressful each day can be, at the end of the day he says he feels a great deal of accomplishment.
Bobby is dedicated to his profession and to providing patients with the highest level of care and compassion. When he isn’t working, he enjoys running, working out, playing tennis and basketball. What is especially important to Bobby is his family and he enjoys spending time with them as often as possible.

Can Yoga Naturally Lower your Blood Pressure?

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Joann Ariola

Practicing yoga can give your overall health an added boost. Studies have found that it is also helpful in fighting hypertension when combined with other methods of management such as a healthy diet, medication and aerobic exercise. Research indicates that on average patients who incorporated yoga into their care management routine saw a notable reduction in their systolic blood pressure (top number) and diastolic blood pressure (bottom number).

It is believed that yoga is an effective complementary treatment for hypertension because it increases and strengthens the body’s ability to take in oxygen. Additionally it can help improve resiliency to stress; a trigger in elevating blood pressure levels.

If you decide to include yoga as a part of your care, it is important to know that not all yoga poses are created equal in high blood pressure management. There are some poses that are helpful and there are others that can be harmful.

Yoga poses that can be beneficial are:

Bridge pose
Posterior stretch pose
Savasana pose
Child pose

Yoga poses that should be avoided or modified include:

Bow pose
Camel pose
Feathered peacock pose
Balasana pose

It is important that you speak with your physician before trying yoga. Your physician will assess your health and advise if you are physically capable. If your doctor has given you the green light, inform your yoga instructor about your hypertension. This information will help in the prevention of injuries or the exacerbation of your medical condition.

Do You Need More Or Less Sleep As You Get Older?

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Research indicates that as you get older, you will need less sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following hours for each age group:

• Newborns (0-3 months): 14-17 hours

• Infants (4-11 months): 12-15 hours

• Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours

• Preschoolers (3-5): 10-13 hours

• School-age children (6-13): to 9-11 hours

• Teenagers (14-17): to 8-10 hours

• Younger adults (18-25): 7-9 hours

• Adults (26-64): 7-9 hours

• Older adults (65+): 7-8 hours

It was also found that adults tend to take longer to doze off, sleep more lightly and wake up more often during the night than children and adolescents.

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How Long After a Meal Should I Wait to Swim?

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Joann Ariola

We have all been warned to wait 30 minutes after eating before going into the pool, but is that a Fact or a Myth?

Well, in this instance, it is a myth. Swimming on a full stomach does not impact your ability to swim. It is true that blood rushes into the stomach to aid in the digestion process, but it is not enough blood to cause your muscles to lose energy and function.

There are cases of stomach upset when swimming after eating a large meal such as cheese burgers, fries, or wings. A good suggestion would be, if you desire to go into the pool directly after eating, you may want to make a healthier food choice to avoid any type of stomach upset and if you have eaten a heavy meal start off with a low to moderate level of swimming intensity.

Although developing cramps can happen while swimming on a full stomach, they would not be debilitating enough to cause drowning. In fact, Less than one percent of drowning deaths in the United States have been linked to a full stomach.

What’s Bugging You?

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Joann Ariola

Summer usually means picnics and family reunions, but it also means a reunion with insects that can wreak havoc on outdoor activities. Follow these tips to minimize the potential for bug bites and bee stings.

When outdoors – especially in wooded areas – wear long sleeves, pants, and socks to help protect your skin from insect bites. Be aware that insects may be drawn to scented soaps and perfumes. Also, cover food and drain or dump standing water, which attracts most insects.

Mosquito bites can be more than just annoying and itchy, they can also make you really sick. Using insect repellent is the best way to protect yourself and your family, especially when traveling overseas. Repellent is the best way to prevent diseases like Zika that are primarily spread by mosquitoes.

Treating Bites and Bee Stings

If a sting occurs, remove the stinger as soon as possible by scraping the area with your fingernail or something with a flat surface, such as a credit card. For bee and wasp stings and non-poisonous spider bites, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and apply ice to reduce swelling. Continue to wash two or three times daily until the skin has healed.

Severe Reactions

If you are stung in the mouth, seek medical attention immediately. Severe swelling occurs quickly in oral mucous membranes and can block airways, making breathing difficult or impossible.

If you have a severe reaction to a bug bite, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Room or call 911. Otherwise Jamaica Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center is available to help, to schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-7001.

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Hospital Staff Spotlight – Laurie Regan, RN

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

Laurie Regan is a familiar face to many people at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Laurie has been at Jamaica Hospital since 1997. She has been a nurse in our pediatric emergency department for the past eight years and prior to that, a nurse on the pediatric inpatient unit for 12 years. She is a Queens native, having grown up in Whitestone, where she still resides with her three daughters and two dogs.
During her time at Jamaica Hospital Laurie has had the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. Laurie describes her experience at Jamaica Hospital as being a one-of-a-kind opportunity. She has worked with many wonderful people through the years and has learned a lot. The environment is very exciting as you never know what is going to come in to the emergency room and you always have to be prepared to handle all kinds of situations. Laurie works long hours but it doesn’t bother her because of the great team of people she works with and the level of fulfilment she gets from helping people who come in seeking medical attention.
In addition to working at Jamaica Hospital, Laurie also works for the NYC Department of Health where she has the opportunity to go in to the different schools and build relationships with the students and the staff. It was thanks to Laurie’s connection to a local school that Jamaica Hospital was the recipient of six pieces of art that now hang outside the pediatric emergency department.
Laurie is also very community minded and is active in the Malba Civic Association, where she helps to keep the neighborhood beautiful and safe. Laurie has a strong interest in forensic nursing and would like to one day pursue an advanced degree in that field. Laurie looks forward to continuing to learn and continuing to contribute to the well-being of our patients.

Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Joann Ariola

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. During this month, the Alzheimer’s Association is asking healthcare providers to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease affects over 5 million Americans and is fatal. It is a progressive brain disease that currently has no cure. Alzheimer’s is more than memory loss and can appear through a variety of signs and symptoms such as:

Memory loss
Difficulty planning and solving problems
Difficulty completing familiar tasks
Difficulty determining time or place
Difficulty finding the right words
Misplacing items often
Difficulty making decisions
Personality and mood changes
Withdrawing from work and social events

Alzheimer’s, unlike Dementia (which is syndrome that affects mental cognitive tasks such as memory and reasoning) causes the person to lose the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.

Jamaica Hospital is committed to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia through social media and providing medical services to those who are experiencing the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

If you or a loved one has questions or concerns and would like to see a medical professional, call Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center for an appointment at 718-206-7001.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, visit

Today is National HIV Testing Day

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Xavia Malcolm

There are 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States, and one in seven are unaware they have the virus.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, along with other health organizations is working together to raise awareness about the importance of getting tested and early HIV diagnosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends “that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care.”

We are encouraging people to know their status. There are now more ways than ever to get tested.

Jamaica Hospital’s clinics offer HIV testing to the community. For a list of our clinics and contact information, please visit https://jamaicahospital.org/clinical-services/ambulatory-care/

If a patient tests positive we also provide HIV counseling and treatment. We offer integrated clinical care, social and educational services in a comfortable and caring environment.

To receive more information about National HIV Testing Day and to learn more about the virus, please visit, https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/awareness/testingday.html

Tips for Healthy Summer Living

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Xavia Malcolm

It is not unusual for people to ignore their weight and fitness goals during summer. The season puts many in the state of mind to relax or let loose, often abandoning diet and exercise regimens once followed.

In the summer, we tend to have less time to work out because a good portion of our time is spent attending social obligations such as barbecues; where we typically eat and drink more than normal.

Additionally, we travel more and fast food often becomes our meal of choice because it is easy to grab and go. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many healthy fast food options.

Following these tips can help you to keep diet and fitness goals while enjoying the spoils of summer:

Reduce consumption of sugary drinks. Summer drinks such as lemonade or iced- tea are sometimes packed with large amounts of sugar. If sugar calories are not burned by the body, they can be converted into fat.
Drink alcoholic beverages in moderation. Did you know that having a pint of beer could be equivalent to having a slice of pepperoni pizza? Alcoholic beverages can be high in empty calories. Moderating your alcohol consumption or having light versions of your favorite drink (also in moderation); can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Be mindful of your portions. When we are socializing we tend to eat more but paying attention to portion size can help reduce excessive consumption. Other helpful tips are eating before going to your event, as well as steering clear of foods that tempt you the most and opting for healthier choices.
Pack healthy meals to go. Packing healthy meals to go is easy. Grab items such as apples, nuts and yogurt that will easily fit in your bag.
Squeeze in exercise. There is the saying, “something is better than nothing.” This is true with exercise. A few minutes of exercise each day can offer many benefits to your health. If it is too hot outside, doing simple activities such as dancing or jogging in place in your home can help you to stay active and manage your weight.

These guidelines can be helpful; however, it is recommended that you speak to your doctor if weight gain persists. Abnormal weight gain is at times an indicator of a more serious health issue.