National Breastfeeding Month

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

August is National Breastfeeding Month. It is a time when communities and health organizations work in tandem to share the many health benefits of breastfeeding for the nursing mother and baby and to celebrate the natural and healthful bond between a new mother and her infant.

There are five great health benefits of breastfeeding, including:

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies. As the baby grows, the mother’s breast milk will change to meet the baby’s nutritional needs.

Breastfeeding can help protect babies against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, Type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs.

Breast milk shares antibodies from a mother to her baby. These antibodies help babies develop a strong immune system and protect them from illnesses.

Mothers can breastfeed anytime and anywhere. Mothers can feed their babies on the go without worrying about having to mix formula or prepare bottles. Breastfeeding can also provide a source of comfort for babies whose normal routine is disrupted while traveling.

Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother as well. Breastfeeding can reduce the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Ways you can celebrate National Breastfeeding Month include:

Learn more and educate others about breastfeeding

Support breastfeeding mothers

Advocate for better breastfeeding policies

Donate to relevant breastfeeding advocacy organizations

Share stories and experiences about breastfeeding

Volunteer during National Breastfeeding Month

Participate in breastfeeding events

Express gratitude for those who are breastfeeding

At Jamaica Hospital’s Baby Friendly USA-designated Department of Women’s Health Services, we are passionate about meeting the various needs of women in our community. We proudly treat women from all walks of life, and we provide a warm and welcoming environment. To learn more about our OB/GYN services, such as breastfeeding, please contact us at 718-291-3276 for more information.

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.

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. As many parents prepare their children for the new school year, it is essential to have their eyes checked.

Vision is a vital part of a child’s development. It is how they learn, play, and interact with the world around them. Uncorrected vision problems can impair child development, interfere with learning, and even lead to permanent vision loss.

Unfortunately, many eye problems in children go undetected, which can lead to long-term issues. Regular eye exams are crucial in identifying problems early, ensuring your child has the best chance for healthy vision. Good vision is essential for their performance in school, in sports, and for their overall well-being.

Vision issues in children are common in the United States. They are vulnerable to many eye problems, including:

Injuries

Infections

Nearsightedness

There are many things to be aware of that may indicate a problem with your child’s eyes, including:

Their eyes do not line up or appear crossed

Their eyelids are red-rimmed, crusted, or swollen

Their eyes are watery or inflamed

They rub their eyes a lot

They close or cover one eye

They tilt their head forward

They have trouble reading or doing other close-up work

They hold objects close to their eyes to see

They blink more than usual or seem cranky when doing close-up work

Things are blurry or hard to see for them

There are many ways to protect your child’s eye health, including:

Getting regular eye exams

Wearing protective eyewear during sports and other activities

Limiting screen time

Practicing healthy nutrition

If you would like to schedule an eye exam for your child, you can visit an ophthalmologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-5900.

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. It is observed as a month that encourages education about the battle against the disease, which affects more than 30,000 people in the United States.

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, causing constant lung infections. It also impacts other organs in the body where mucus builds up, such as the pancreas.

There are two types of cystic fibrosis, classic cystic fibrosis and atypical cystic fibrosis.

Classic cystic fibrosis often affects multiple organs. It is usually diagnosed in the first few years of life.

Symptoms of classic cystic fibrosis include:

Frequent lung infections
Loose or oily poop
Trouble breathing
Frequent wheezing
Frequent sinus infections
A nagging cough
Slow growth
Failure to thrive (inability to gain weight despite having a good appetite and taking in enough calories)

Atypical cystic fibrosis is a milder form of the disease. It may only affect one organ, or symptoms may come and go. It is usually diagnosed in older children or adults.

People with atypical cystic fibrosis may have some of the same symptoms as those with classic cystic fibrosis. Over time, they might experience symptoms that can include:

Chronic sinusitis
Nasal polyps
Dehydration or heatstroke from abnormal electrolyte levels
Diarrhea
Pancreatitis
Unintended weight loss

Changes to the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene cause cystic fibrosis. It affects the cells that make mucus, sweat, and digestive juices. When the CFTR protein doesn’t work as it should, it results in a thick, sticky mucus in the respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems, as well as extra salt in sweat.

Changes in the CFTR gene that cause cystic fibrosis are divided into several different groups based on the problems they cause. Different groups of gene changes affect how much CFTR protein is made and how well it works.

To have cystic fibrosis, children must get one copy of the changed CFTR gene from each parent. If children get only one copy, they won’t develop cystic fibrosis. But they will be carriers and could pass the changed gene to their children. People who are carriers may have no symptoms of cystic fibrosis or a few mild symptoms.

Because cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition, family history is a risk factor. Cystic fibrosis occurs in all races. However, it is most common in white people of North European ancestry. Because it is less common in people who are Black, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Native American, or Asian, this may lead to a much later diagnosis.

A late diagnosis may cause worse health issues. Early and effective treatment can improve your quality of life, prevent complications, and help you live longer. If you are a person of color and have symptoms that could be cystic fibrosis, talk to your healthcare provider so you can get tested for it.

To diagnose cystic fibrosis, healthcare providers usually perform a physical exam, review your symptoms, and perform tests.

Every state in the U.S. now routinely screens newborns for cystic fibrosis. Early diagnosis means treatment can begin right away. Testing can include:

Newborn screening
A sweat test
Genetic testing

Cystic fibrosis tests may be recommended for older children and adults who weren’t screened at birth. A healthcare provider may suggest genetic and sweat tests if you have repeated bouts of symptoms of cystic fibrosis.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for cystic fibrosis, however, treatment can ease symptoms, lessen complications, and improve quality of life. Close monitoring and early, aggressive intervention are recommended to slow the worsening of cystic fibrosis over time, which can lead to a longer life.

The goals of treatment include:

Preventing and controlling infections that occur in the lungs
Removing and loosening mucus from the lungs
Treating and preventing intestinal blockages
Getting enough nutrition

To learn more about cystic fibrosis or to make an appointment with a pulmonologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call (718) 206-7126.

Lazy Eye in Children

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

Lazy eye or amblyopia is reduced vision in one eye caused by abnormal visual development early in life. The weaker or lazy eye often wanders inward or outward. Amblyopia generally develops from birth up to seven years old, and rarely affects both eyes.

Signs and symptoms of lazy eye include:

A wandering or crossed eye
Eyes that appear not to work together
Poor depth perception
Squinting or shutting an eye
Head tilting
Abnormal results of vision screening tests

It is important to note that some children display no symptoms of amblyopia. The child’s strong eye and brain can compensate for the weaker eye, making it appear that the child has good vision. Over time, the brain gets used to working with only one eye. The eye that’s being ignored by the brain doesn’t develop normal vision.

There are three main causes of amblyopia, including:

Strabismus- which occurs when a child’s eyes aren’t aligned. The eyes don’t work together, leading the brain to ignore one eye
Refractive error or need for glasses- children are especially at risk if one eye has a larger need for glasses compared to the other eye
Conditions that cause poor vision in one eye, like cataracts or droopy eyelid, prompt the brain to ignore the blurry pictures seen by that eye

Additional factors that can place a child at a higher risk for amblyopia, include:

A family history of amblyopia
Prematurity
Developmental delay
Craniofacial disorders
Certain genetic conditions, such as:
- Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
- 22q deletion syndrome
- Williams syndrome
- Noonan syndrome

Vision screening is the best way to diagnose amblyopia and its risk factors. Photoscreening, a type of vision screening that uses a special camera to determine how well a child can see, is often performed in conjunction with vision testing.

Treatment options depend on the cause of lazy eye and how much the condition affects your child’s vision. Treatment your doctor may recommend include:

Corrective eyewear
Eye patches
Bangerter filter
Eye drops
Surgery

Treatment while your child is young and the eyes are still developing, gives them a better chance of overcoming amblyopia. The goal is to make your child’s brain use both eyes. Getting the eyes to work as a team becomes harder as your child grows. Therefore, early treatment is best. Treatment may not work if started after seven to ten years of age.

If your child is experiencing symptoms of lazy eye, schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ophthalmology Center now by calling (718) 206-5900.

National Bullying Prevention Month

Posted on October 2, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. It is a time to acknowledge that bullying has devastating effects on children and families.

There are many forms of bullying. It can be verbal, physical, through social exclusion, or digital sources like email, texts, or social media. Unlike mutual teasing or fighting, bullying occurs when one person or group of people is perceived as being more powerful than another and takes advantage of that power through repeated physical assaults, threats of harm, intimidation, or by purposely excluding a person from a valued social group.

Being bullied can severely affect a person’s self-image, social interactions, and school performance, leading to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. It can lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors as well.

There are many steps you can take to prevent bullying, including:

Addressing bullying at school- educators and teachers can create a safe and supportive learning environment and a classroom culture of positivity, inclusivity, and respect.
Talking about bullying at home- parents and caregivers can talk with their children about their school and digital life, and the many roles children can play in bullying.
Supporting your community- mentors can model kindness, inclusivity, and respect.
Raising awareness- share information about bullying prevention, its impact, and resources for support on social media to educate your community.
Support anti-bullying organizations- contribute to or volunteer with organizations dedicated to bullying prevention and support for victims.
Organize anti-bullying events- plan or participate in events, workshops, and seminars in your community that focus on bullying prevention and promote empathy.
Engage in school programs- encourage schools to implement anti-bullying programs and provide resources for students, teachers, and parents.
Be an upstander- teach children and teenagers the importance of standing up for others and reporting bullying incidents when they occur.

Participating in bullying prevention allows you to join the fight against bullying and create a more inclusive and empathetic society.

Hand Hygiene for Children

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

Hand hygiene is essential for overall health. Parents and caretakers play an important role in teaching children how to wash their hands. Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses as it is the best way to keep children from getting sick.

Here are some tips you can use to turn handwashing into a healthy habit for life:

Explain the benefits of handwashing
Demonstrate the correct steps of handwashing
- Step 1: Wet hands with running water
- Step 2: Apply enough soap to cover wet hands
- Step 3: Scrub all surfaces of the hands, including the back of the hands, between the fingers, and under the nails
- Step 4: Rinse hands thoroughly with running water
- Step 5: Dry hands with a clean cloth or a single-use towel
Hands should be washed with soap for at least 20-30 seconds. An easy way to determine the time is by singing the entire “Happy Birthday” song twice.
Set the times when they should be washing their hands
- When they are visibly dirty
- Before and after eating
- After using the toilet
- After touching animals and pets
- After blowing their nose or when they cough or sneeze
- Before and after visiting friends and relatives
Turn it into a fun family activity

There might be moments when children can’t get to a bathroom to wash their hands with soap and water. Teach them how to use hand sanitizer, especially one that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Handwashing can become a lifelong habit if you start teaching it to children at an early age. The time you spend at the sink could save you trips to the doctor’s office.

Updated Vaccine for Returning Students

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

The new school year is right around the corner. That means parents will be taking their children shopping for new school supplies and clothes. In addition to updating their child’s wardrobe and supplies, parents should remember to schedule vaccinations before the school year begins.

Vaccines are the best way to prevent your child from getting many illnesses and spreading them to others. Each age group has recommended vaccines they need to receive before starting their new grade:

Vaccines for children aged four to six before they start kindergarten:

Flu – needed every year
COVID-19
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP)
Chickenpox
Polio

Vaccines for children aged seven to 10 before they start elementary school:

Flu
COVID-19

Vaccines for children aged 11 to 12 before they begin middle school:

Flu
COVID-19
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)
Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY)
HPV

Vaccines for children aged 13-18 before they enter junior and high school:

Flu
COVID-19
Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY)
HPV

Vaccines for college-aged teenagers:

Flu
COVID-19
Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY)
HPV

You can find the complete schedule of recommended vaccines for your child by age on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website. To schedule an appointment for your child to receive the vaccines needed, you can call Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718-206-7001.

Group B Strep Awareness Month

Posted on July 5, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

Group B Strep (GBS), or Strep B, is a bacteria that lives naturally in our bodies and comes and goes without showing symptoms or causing harm unless it enters a part of the body free from bacteria. If the bacteria infects the lining around the brain it causes it to swell resulting in meningitis.

GBS bacteria live in the gastrointestinal and genital tracts. It can cause many types of infection which can be life-threatening. These infections and their symptoms include:

Bacteremia (bloodstream infection)

Fever
Chills
Low alertness.

Sepsis (the body’s extreme response to an infection)

Fever
Chills
Low alertness.

Bone and joint infections

Fever
Chills
Swelling
Stiffness or inability to use the affected limb or joint.

Urinary tract infections

Pain or burning while urinating.
Frequent urination.
Feeling the need to urinate despite having an empty bladder.
Bloody urine.
Pressure or cramping in the groin or lower abdomen.

Meningitis

Fever
Headache
Stiff neck.
Nausea and vomiting.
Sensitivity to light.
Confusion

Pneumonia

Chest pain when breathing or coughing.
Confusion
Cough
Fatigue
Fever or chills.
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Shortness of breath.

Skin and soft tissue infections

Fever
Red skin.
Swollen skin or infected area.
Skin or infected area is warm to the touch.
Skin or infected area is full of pus or other drainage.

GBS bacteria most commonly causes bacteremia, sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis in newborns. This occurs when bacteria is passed on to the newborn as it goes through the birth canal during vaginal delivery.

GBS disease symptoms in newborns and babies include:

Fever
Difficulty when feeding.
Irritability or lethargy in the infant.
Difficulty breathing.
A blueish color to their skin.

Doctors diagnose GBS disease by taking samples of a patient’s blood, urine, or spinal fluid depending on the type of infection.

Treatment for GBS depends on the type of infection. Doctors usually treat GBS disease with antibiotics. People with soft tissue and bone infections may need surgery.

It is important to start treatment as soon as possible.

If you would like to get screened for GBS bacteria, you can schedule an appointment with an OB/GYN at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center. To learn more, please call (718) 291-3276.

Scoliosis Awareness Month

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

Scoliosis is a spinal disorder that causes an abnormal spine curvature, in which the spine resembles the letters “S” or “C”.

The most common type of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis, which means the cause is unknown but is thought to be genetic. There are three types of idiopathic scoliosis:

Infantile idiopathic scoliosis- occurs from birth to three years old.
Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis- occurs from three to nine years old.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis- occurs from 10 to 18 years old.

Some other forms of scoliosis include:

Congenital scoliosis- when scoliosis is present at birth.
Neuromuscular scoliosis- when scoliosis is caused by an underlying systemic condition such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, spinal cord tumors, or paralysis.
Syndromic scoliosis- when a unique group of spine conditions causes scoliosis. The most common diseases that cause syndromic scoliosis are:
- Marfan’s syndrome
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Neurofibromatosis
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Arthrogryposis
- Riley-Day syndrome

There are a wide range of causes and ages for when scoliosis can occur. However, scoliosis may appear during the main growth years for children (years 10 to 12), which is the growth spurt period for children before puberty.

During this time, scoliosis will often present with the following symptoms:

One of the child’s shoulder blades is higher than the other.
The appearance of the child’s head is not centered with the rest of the body.
Uneven hips or one hip sticks out more than the other.
Pushed-out ribs
Difficulty breathing due to a reduced area for lung expansion.
Back pain and discomfort
When the child bends forward, it appears that the two sides of the back are different heights.

The main goal for patients with scoliosis is to get an early diagnosis. Scoliosis is diagnosed when a pediatric orthopedist uses a physical exam and X-rays to diagnose early-onset scoliosis.

Scoliosis can be treated non-surgically and surgically. Some non-surgical treatments for scoliosis include:

Observation
Bracing
The Risser cast

Some surgical treatments for scoliosis include:

Spinal fusion surgery
The growing rod technique

Scoliosis is treatable. The sooner a child is diagnosed, the less likely they will need surgery and the healthier they will be.

If you think your child may have an abnormal spine curvature, consult your pediatrician about an evaluation. To schedule an appointment with a pediatrician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-7001.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Jacob Lobosco

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of sudden unexpected infant death, typically affecting babies between one month and one year of age. The cause of SIDS is unknown, but it occurs most frequently in children aged between one and four months, typically while they’re sleeping.

It can be difficult to properly diagnose SIDS as a cause of death in many cases due to the fact that it’s often only determined once other potential causes of death have been ruled out. Although its frequency has drastically decreased in recent years, it still remains a serious threat to newborn children.

Most SIDS deaths occur in boys during the fall, winter, and early spring seasons. Babies that are most often affected are also premature or underweight, have a sibling that died due to SIDS, live in a household with people who smoke, and often sleep on their stomach or side on a sleeping surface that’s too soft. Many of these babies may also overheat during sleep.

Additionally, certain risk factors are linked to a child’s mother, including childbirth at under 20 years of age, smoking while pregnant, and receiving minimal prenatal care.

The best way to prevent SIDS is to eliminate as many of these risk factors as possible. You can:

Make sure the baby sleeps on their back
Remove soft surfaces, such as fluffy blankets and toys, from sleeping areas
Prevent smoking in the presence of the baby and the household in general
Breastfeed your baby or provide the closest possible alternative, such as donated milk or formula

If your baby becomes unresponsive during sleep, please dial 9-1-1 to get emergency medical assistance immediately.