A Parent’s Guide to Chicken Pox

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

Chicken pox is a common childhood infection that is highly contagious and caused by the varicella- zoster virus, the same virus that causes shingles. The virus can spread by contact with skin and clothing or by the exchange of bodily fluids which can be transferred by sneezing and coughing.

Chicken pox is characterized by itchy red bumps which can eventually develop into blisters. Additional symptoms associated with chicken pox are fever, sore throat, loss of appetite and body aches.

If left untreated chicken pox may lead to other complications such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, inflammation of the brain or toxic shock syndrome.

The first step parents should take in treating a child with chicken pox is bringing them to see their pediatrician to confirm that they have the virus. If diagnosed with chicken pox, there are several methods of treatment the physician may choose. Your pediatrician may prescribe antiviral medications and will advise you to keep your child at home and away from others who are at risk for contracting the virus.

While at home, there are several remedies and practices that you can use to bring relief to your child. Some of which include:

Ensuring proper hydration.
Adding oatmeal or baking soda to baths.
Applying calamine lotion to relieve itching.
Gargling salt mixed in warm water to bring relief to mouth sores.
Trimming fingernails or covering hands to prevent scratching. Scratching can lead to an infection.

The best way to prevent chicken pox is to get your child vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children should receive two doses of the vaccine. The first dose is usually given around 12-15 months of age and the second at around 18 months. If you believe your child has chicken pox and would like to make an appointment with a pediatrician please call Jamaica Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718 206 7050.

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.

Honey Hastens Healing

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Joann Ariola

Did you know that out of all areas in the home, the kitchen is number one for getting burns and did you, also, know that the kitchen is a place you can find home remedies for that burn?

While most minor burns will heal on their own, there are home treatment remedies that can relieve your symptoms and promote healing, such as:

Honey – Honey has long been a remedy to disinfect wounds and heal burns. When applied to a burn, honey draws out fluids from the tissues, effectively cleaning the wound. You may also apply the honey to a gauze bandage, which is less sticky than direct application. On a piece of sterile gauze, place a dollop of honey and put the bandage directly on the burn, honey-side down. The dressing should be changed three to four times per day.
Additional home remedies for burns that can be found in your kitchen are:
Oatmeal – Oatmeal baths can help relieve the itch while the burn is healing
Tea bags – Tea bags contain tannic acid and help draw the heat from a burn. Gently dab the liquid, from a luke-warm water moistened tea bag, on the burn site.
Vinegar – Vinegar works as an astringent and antiseptic on minor burns and helps prevent infection. Dilute the vinegar with equal parts water, and rinse the burned area with the solution.
Cool water. – While ice is nice for sore muscles, cool water is the best liquid refreshment for burned skin. Ice can restrict blood flow to the burn site and further damage delicate tissues. Instead, gently run cool water or place cool compresses over the burn site for ten minutes. Do this as quickly as possible, preferably within seconds of getting a burn. Cool water not only feels good but will help stop the burn from spreading, and the sooner you run cool water on the burn, the greater the effect will be to reduce it.

Do’s and Don’ts to avoid burns:

DO lower the temperature of your hot-water heater to below 120 degrees F. A second-degree burn can happen within seconds in water that’s hotter than 120 degrees.
DO turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
DO keep that steaming cup of java out of a child’s reach, which means off the coffee table or other low-lying areas.
DON’T ever leave a child unattended in the kitchen.
DO make the stove area off-limits to children.
DO put a childproof lock on the oven door.
DO keep oven mitts and potholders handy when cooking.

You can try these remedies for minor burns, but if you suspect you may have a more severe injury, please seek medical treatment immediately.

Follow Proper Roadside Safety This Summer

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Michael Hinck

As summer approaches, most Americans are beginning to plan vacation “road trips” to the beach, amusement parks, and other destinations. With more families on the road, the chances of roadside accidents increase as well. Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Center wants to take this opportunity to advise motorists on what to do (and what not to do) if your car breaks down on the road.

Whether it’s a flat tire, dead battery, engine failure, or a fender bender, every year millions of Americans encounter some form of vehicle trouble. If you find yourself in one of these situations, responding appropriately and taking proper precautions can mean the difference between life and death. According to the Federal Highway Administration, 59,000 pedestrians are injured during roadway crashes every year, with roughly 4,000 people killed, accounting for 12% of traffic accidents.

Follow these tips to ensure proper roadside safety to avoid making a bad situation even worse:

• Know your location. Look for street signs, restaurants, mile markers, or other surrounding identifiers so when you call for help, it will arrive with minimal delay.

• If you get stuck, make sure your vehicle is as visible as possible. Put your hazard lights on immediately. If you have them in your trunk, use flares, reflective lights or brightly colored flags as well. Another trick to bring attention to your car is to lift the hood.

• If you are able to, get your car out of the line of traffic. Moving your car onto highway shoulders, medians, and exit ramps are all safer options than leaving it in the middle of the road. Never try to repair or assess damage to your car on a busy highway.

• Once you are away from traffic, the safest choice is to remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened. This is a much better option than waiting outside your car for assistance. If you must get out of your car, make sure to get out on the side furthest from the flow of traffic.

• If you cannot get off the road, do not stay in your vehicle. Exit your car or truck with extreme caution and get to a safe, out-of-the-way location and wait for help to arrive.

Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Department wants you to remember that if you encounter a roadside emergency, your well-being and that of your family should be your number one priority. Following proper roadside safety precautions and using good judgment will have a direct bearing on your personal safety.

How Much Sweat is Normal ?

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Andrew Rubin

The amount of sweat that a person produces varies from person to person and is dependent on the activity a person is doing. A person that works in a climate controlled environment is going to sweat less than a person working out in a gym or doing manual labor. Excess sweating is called hyperhidrosis and this occurs when a person is sweating more than what might be considered normal. There is no quantifiable number that can be associated with excess sweating but a person who sweats through their clothes in an environment where it isn’t routine for heavy sweating, should be evaluated. Certain people sweat excessively due to the medications they are taking, sometimes there may be an infection that the body is trying to fight, and some people have a family history of excessive sweating.
A simple way to treat perspiration is by using an over the counter anti-perspirant. In more severe cases a physician may prescribe medication that will help to control excess sweating and in very severe cases there are procedures that can be performed that will help control the perspiration.
If you think that you may be sweating excessively, contact your physician and have a thorough exam performed. You can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Jamaica Hospital by calling 718-206-7001.

6 Top Conditions that Threaten Men’s Health

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

There is the ongoing joke that getting most men to see a doctor for regular checkups may take as much persuasion as getting them to ask for directions. A national survey has shown that women are three times more likely to see a physician for checkups than men and men are more likely to see a doctor only when they experience alarming symptoms of illness.

Despite the reluctance to go for checkups, it is important for men to see their doctors because as they get older, the risks for developing life-threatening health conditions can increase. Many of these conditions are preventative or can be controlled if they are detected early. Some of the leading conditions that threaten men’s health include:

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)-The risk of hypertension increases with men who are 45 years old and older; however, it is not uncommon for younger men to be diagnosed with this condition. Your level of alcohol consumption can also affect your chances of developing high blood pressure. Men who consume alcohol heavily are at a higher risk for hypertension than non-drinkers.
Cancer- According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the leading causes of cancer deaths among men is prostate cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer.
High cholesterol –Men over the age of twenty years old are at risk for high cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to other health conditions such as heart disease. A study found that men with high levels of cholesterol had more than three times more likely to have heart attacks than women.
Stroke- Studies have indicated that men who are African American, seniors or smokers are at higher risk for developing strokes.
Diabetes- The number of men affected by Type 2 diabetes has increased significantly. The risk of this disease tends to increase with age. It is recommended that men are screened regularly after the age of 45.
Cardiovascular disease- The American Heart Association has estimated that one in three adult men have some form of cardiovascular disease.

Men-waiting for the onset of debilitating health symptoms is not the best way to gauge your health. There are serious health conditions that can often go undetected until they are at an advanced stage. Going for regular checkups may give your physician a better chance of detecting symptoms that indicate serious health issues. It is important to keep in mind that many health conditions are preventative or treatable with early detection.

The Fight Against Obesity is a Family Affair

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Joann Ariola

The childhood obesity problem in the United States has reached epidemic proportions with many political leaders and health advocates turning their attention to bringing awareness to this issue.

Interventions have been suggested, school lunches have become healthier and more attention has been given to the benefit of outside play, recess, and cutting back on the consumption of processed foods.

One of the most effective solutions to the issue of childhood obesity may be a simple one; scheduling time for a healthy family dinner. The ritual of eating meals together, as a family, has shown to greatly improve healthy eating habits.

Studies have shown that families who dine while watching television tend to be heavier than those who make to time to sit down, together, for a meal on a regular basis. As a parent, eating with your family will give you the opportunity to encourage our children to eat mindfully, reinforce healthy eating habits and teach your children to eat slowly.

Some idea’s to make family meals regular events at your house are:

Turn off the TV
Make a date to have a meal together
Share the meal preparation process with the whole family
Select a healthy alternative to a favorite meal

In addition, eating is about so much more than the food and nutrients we receive from it. Meal time should be pleasurable, social and a time to connect with each other.

If you or someone you know is struggling with obesity, contact the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory care Center to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed Nutritionist’s at 718-206-7001.

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Michael Hinck

An “Achoo,” followed by a courteous “God bless you.” It’s an exchange that we hear or experience every day, but what is a sneeze, what causes us to sneeze and why do we bless someone after sneezing?

Basically, sneezing is the result of your nerves sending your brain a message that there is something in your nose that needs to come out. In many cases, it is an allergen, bacteria or a virus that your nerves are forcing out of your nose, so the act of sneezing is actually an important part of our immune system and serves to keep us healthy.

There are many superstitions about sneezes. Some believe that your heart stops when you sneeze or that your eyeballs can pop out if you sneeze too hard. These are obviously not true. The fact is that when something enters your nose, a trigger is sent to a “sneeze center” of your brain, located in the lower stem. This portion of the brain sends signals to tightly close your throat, eyes, and moth. Next, your chest muscles contract, and then your throat muscles quickly relax and mucus and saliva is forced out of your nose, along with whatever triggered the impulse.

In addition to ridding your body of germs, many other things can cause someone to sneeze and they vary from person to person. One of the most common triggers is sunlight. Bright light causes one out of three people to sneeze. Other things that can cause someone to sneeze is plucking their eyebrows, exercising, and even sex. While everyone has different sneeze triggers, one common truth for all of us is that we do usually not sneeze when we sleep. This is because when our body is at rest, so too are our sneezing nerves.

As for blessing someone after they sneeze, that too is based in superstition. It was an ancient belief that sneezing was a near-death experience and that a blessing would prevent your soul from escaping your body and deter evil spirits from entering.

Cataract Surgery

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Andrew Rubin

A cataract is defined as the clouding of the lens of the eye. The lens of the eye is made up of water and protein. When the lens is healthy, the proteins are arranged in a very precise pattern allowing light to pass through to the retina in a clear manner. As we age, these proteins may begin to clump together and cause the lens to become cloudy which leads to blurry and dim vision. They are commonly found in people as they get older, and can start when people are in their forties but become noticeable after the age of sixty. Besides aging other factors that can contribute to cataract formation are diabetes, smoking and alcohol abuse.
Some of the symptoms of cataracts include:
• Cloudy or blurred vision
• Colors that appear faded
• Glare from headlights, lamps
• Diminished night vision
Cataracts can be corrected by performing surgery to replace the lens of the eye with an artificial lens. There are two types of procedures that can be performed:
Phacoemulsification – a procedure where a small incision is made to the side of the cornea. The lens is broken up by ultrasound and removed by suction.
Extracapsular surgery – a procedure where a bigger incision is made in the side of the cornea and the lens is removed in one piece.
After both types of surgery a new plastic lens is inserted and allowed to heal. Most people see immediate improvement in their vision. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures done today. Ninety percent of patients who undergo this procedure have their vision restored completely.
From annual eye examinations to surgical procedures, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s board certified and fellowship trained ophthalmologists are dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of eye disorders and ophthalmic conditions.
To schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist at Jamaica Hospital please call 718-206-7001.

Is Your Constant State of Nervousness and Worry a Sign of an Anxiety Disorder?

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

Anxiety is an emotion we all experience. Feeling anxious is a normal reaction to stressful situations such as waiting for the results of a test, speaking in public or preparing for a job interview. Anxiety is often synonymous with feelings of distress, nervousness, panic and fear. These reactions are normally triggered when our bodies feel that there is danger or there is a threatening situation.

For most the feeling of anxiety is temporary and will subside once stressful or threatening circumstances are resolved. However for an estimated 18.1 percent of adults living in the United States, anxiety does not go away and develops into a serious mental health disorder that affects their ability to lead a normal life.

There are six major types of anxiety disorders: panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorders, social anxiety disorders, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorders. Symptoms can be specific to a condition and can differ based on the individual.

The following symptoms of anxiety may be indicative of a developing problem, especially if they continue for an extended period of time:

Experiencing a constant state of worry or fear.
Having trouble concentrating.
Insomnia or other chronic sleep related problems.
Heart palpitations or chest pain during a state of panic.
A fear of being around people or being in public places.
Suffering from overwhelming compulsions, such as constantly washing hands.
Irrational fears of objects or activities that pose little to no danger.
Experiencing anxiety as a result of a traumatic event.

If the preceding symptoms occur on a regular basis and have become so great that they are interfering with your ability to function daily, it is recommended that you seek the help of a mental health professional.

The Department of Psychiatry at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center offers psychiatric consultation and treatment services. Our team of mental health professionals consists of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, creative arts therapists and support staff who are dedicated to positive outcomes and work closely with each patient to provide necessary clinical treatment and services. To learn more about the Psychiatry Department at Jamaica Hospital visit www.JamaicaHospital.org or call 718 206 5575.

Fact or Myth? Some People are Born Without Fingerprints

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

This is a fact. Adermatoglyphia is a very rare condition, related to a genetic mutation which causes the finger tips of a person to be entirely smooth. It has been found that people with adermatoglyphia are also at risk for heat stroke because they have fewer sweat glands than normal.