Seasonal Allergies Tips and Treatments

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Xavia Malcolm

While spring signals the beginning of beautiful weather and warmer days for many; it also marks the beginning of allergy symptoms for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. If you are one of these people, symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion and headaches can leave you feeling miserable.

Dr. Lisa Roth, allergist and immunologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center advises, “There are several things you can do to find relief. If symptoms are mild, try the following suggestions which may provide temporary relief:

Closing windows and doors at night or whenever pollen counts are high
Trying over the counter remedies such as decongestants or antihistamines
Rinsing your eyes with a saline solution
Trying nasal irrigation
Taking steamy showers
Wearing a mask while doing yard work
Washing clothes and linens frequently
Using air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters
Keeping indoor air dry by using a dehumidifier
Thoroughly washing your face and hair when you get home

If your symptoms are continuous and affect your ability to carry out routine activities- you should speak with an allergist. Your allergist will be able to help you identify what triggers your seasonal allergies and provide the best course of treatment to offer relief or stop symptoms.

Treatment options may include prescription medication to control symptoms or immunotherapy. “Allergy immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is a form of long-term treatment for allergic disorders that decreases symptoms for many people by modulating the immune system in a beneficial way. Allergy shots decrease sensitivity to allergens providing lasting relief of allergy symptoms,” explains Dr. Roth. Allergy shots are highly effective and can help alleviate many symptoms.

The Division of Allergy and Immunology at Jamaica Hospital focuses on the diagnosis and long-term treatment of allergic and immunologic conditions. To schedule an appointment with an allergist such as Dr. Lisa Roth, please call 718-206-6742.

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.

Can Diabetics be Vegans/Vegeterians

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Zakiya Hazel-Jemmott

Tuesday, March 24 is , a one-day wake-up call to inform the American public about the seriousness of diabetes, particularly when diabetes is left undiagnosed or untreated. Often times, diabetics wonder if they can be a vegetarian or vegan? The answer is yes, it is possible.

There are many different types of vegetarian diets. The most common types are:

Vegan- This group does not eat meat, eggs, or dairy products.
Lacto-vegetarian- This group does not eat meat or eggs. However, they will eat dairy products.
Lacto-ovo vegetarian- This group does not eat any meat. However, they will eat both dairy products and eggs.

If diabetics decide to become vegetarian or vegan, their diets should be rich in protein, iron, vitamin B12, calcium and vitamin D. Eating a good mix of vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, and low-fat dairy products guarantee the body receives the vitamins and proper fuel required to normally function. As a vegetarian or vegan, this kind of diet should not solely concentrate on simple carbohydrates rich in starches, such as potatoes, white rice and white bread or even fruits, which can have the opposite effect on blood sugar levels for diabetics. A focus on a well-rounded diet can help to improve blood sugar levels and make the body more responsive to insulin. It can also help with weight management which can be a concern to many diabetics.

The key to a healthy vegetarian/vegan diet as a diabetic is balance and planning. Every person who has diabetes has his, or her, own individual energy and nutrient needs. Anyone interested in changing their dietary lifestyle should consult with their health care professional.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center now offers a free, innovative approach to treat patients at risk of developing diabetes. The hospital’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was created by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and is aimed at managing the health of individuals with prediabetes, or borderline diabetes. The DPP is open to all who meet the basic medical criteria. For more information about eligibility or to sign up for the Diabetes Prevention Program, please call 718-206-7088.

National Save Your Vision Month

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

Ophthalmology eyesight examination

The month of March has been designated as “National Save Your Vision Month” by the American Optometric Association as a way to promote good eye health. This year, the campaign wants to bring attention to eye problems that can occur at work. More people are using electronic devices for both work and for pleasure than ever before and this can lead to eye problems for some people. This year the campaign wants to bring attention to eye problems that can occur at work.
People who use computers all the time, especially at work, should be aware of developing dry eyes, blurred vision and eye strain. This is because the eyes are focused for long periods of time on an object that is at a fixed distance rather than seeing objects that are moving or at varying distances which allow the muscles of the eyes to constantly move. Also, people who use computer screens for long periods of time don’t blink as frequently and this can lead to dry eyes. To alleviate some of these problems it is important to take a break from time to time and look out a window or at least look around the room.
Some tips for good eye health include keeping the computer monitor about twenty inches from your eyes, keeping the top of the screen tilted a little below eye level, the screen should be kept clean to avoid anything that can blur the images. It is also important to eat a healthy diet which will keep the eyes well nourished.
Regular eye exams can detect problems before they become serious. Correcting faulty vision early can prevent the problem from becoming serious later on. If you would like to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-5900.

Managing Your Stress

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Joann Ariola

For many, dealing with excessive stress has become a way of life. We often hear the words “just relax,” but sometimes we find it difficult to take that advice and de-stress due to every day hassles.

When you are stressed the body releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline- which causes the fight or flight reaction. This can speed up the normal function of several organs, including the heart. The fight or flight reaction is appropriate when we face immediate threats but can be damaging if prolonged; as our bodies are only designed to deal with the effects of stress for short intervals.

Extended periods of stress can take its toll on our health in many ways. Long-term stress is known to negatively affect several systems of the body, including:

The Nervous System– High levels of cortisol and adrenaline can impair the nervous system, which regulates heart rates, the excretion of waste, breathing rates and the dilation and constriction of blood vessels.
The Immune System– Chronic stress can weaken the immune system, which increases the risk of infections, infectious diseases, skin problems such as eczema and can slow down wound healing rates.
The Digestive System– Excessive levels of stress can stimulate the muscles of the intestines and cause diarrhea or constipation. It can also lead to indigestion or nausea and increase the risk of ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome.
The Endocrine System– Stress hormones can cause the liver to increase blood sugar levels. This is particularly dangerous for diabetics.

Some helpful techniques that can assist you in managing your daily stress are:

Meditation – is helpful to the brain’s neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress
Breathing Deeply – triggers our parasympathetic nervous system, neutralizes stress and elicits a calming feeling
Exercise – all forms of exercise can ease depression and anxiety by helping the brain releasing feel-good chemicals giving your body a chance to practice dealing with stress
Eating Healthy – choosing a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and fiber may reduce the chance that stress can boost the body’s natural defense system

It is important to reduce excessive and prolonged periods of stress. A healthy lifestyle that helps manage stress often requires changing your mindset. But, if you are willing to make the changes that will improve your health, the impact can be far-reaching.

Shingles and Pregnant Women

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Zakiya Hazel-Jemmott

Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles. Shingles is the term used for a skin rash that is caused by the herpes-zoster (varicella) virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. In some cases it can reactivate and cause shingles. Anyone who has had chickenpox may develop shingles, including pregnant women and even children.

As a new or expecting mother there are a lot of concerns for staying as healthy as you can for you and your baby during pregnancy. Although you can’t give anybody shingles, you can pass the virus on as chickenpox. Whereas shingles is harmless in pregnancy, chickenpox can cause problems for an unborn baby. For this reason, stay away from other pregnant women while you have shingles.

If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant:

First, get a blood test to find out if you’re immune to chickenpox. If you’re not immune, you can get a vaccine. It’s best to wait 1 month after the vaccine before getting pregnant.
If you’re already pregnant, don’t get the vaccine until after you give birth. In the meantime, avoid contact with anyone who has chickenpox or shingles.
If you’re not immune to chickenpox and you come into contact with someone who has it, tell your doctor right away. Your doctor can treat you with medicine that has chickenpox antibodies.
Tell your doctor if you come in contact with a person who has shingles. Your doctor may want to treat you with an antiviral medication. Antiviral medication will shorten the length of time that the symptoms will be present.

There isn’t a cure for shingles but a physician will usually prescribe medications to make the symptoms less intense. If you have questions about shingles send them to

To learn more about prenatal treatments please call the Women’s Health Center at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center at 718-291-3276.

Protecting Your Children From Youth Sports Overuse Injuries

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Michael Hinck

The days when kids just went out and played seem like a distant memory. Today, more and more kids participate in organized sports that can be very demanding. While keeping your children active has many advantages, there are also some potential risks.

The Physical Therapy Department at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center wants to warn parents against children sustaining “overuse injuries.” An overuse injury is damage to a bone, muscle, ligament, or tendon due to repetitive stress without allowing time for the body to heal.

Overuse injuries can lead to problems with the lower back, hips, shins, or heels. In children, overuse injuries are especially dangerous when growth plates are involved. When a growth plate is injured it can affect the size and shape of the bones as children mature.

Organized youth sports, especially when played at a high level, often require year-round commitments, with children spending an increased amount of time on the field or court. Unfortunately, their bodies simply aren’t ready for this level of physical intensity.

To avoid overuse injuries, the Physical Therapy Department at Jamaica Hospital suggest the following tips:

Diversification – It is highly recommended that children participate in multiple sports throughout the year instead of just one sport all year around. The variation in activity will give children an opportunity to exercise different muscles.

Make Rest a Priority – Your children are still growing and they need their rest. Children should not exceed 10 hours of sports in a week and they should take one to two days off per week. The increased rest will allow their bodies extra time to heal.

Don’t Forget to Stretch – Make sure your child’s coach sets aside time before practice to warm-up. All athletes such begin each workout with light activity and concentrated stretching exercises for all major muscle groups.

Encourage Children to Speak Up When They are Injured – All youth athletes should tell coaches or parents when they sustain an injury. The quicker injuries are addressed and treated, the quicker they can recover.

Physical therapists can help by determining how or why a current injury occurred as well provide advice to prevent future injuries from taking place. A physical therapist can work with patients by building cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, endurance, agility and coordination.

Jamaica Hospital offers outpatient physical therapy services. For more information, please call 718-206-7140.

Q and A: Medication Expiration Dates

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Xavia Malcolm

Q: Do over -the-counter and prescription medications have expiration dates? Do they mean anything and is it safe to take them past the expiration date?

A: Over-the-counter and prescription medications are time stamped with expiration dates. Time stamps can be found on the labels or on the actual container. It is important that you pay attention to these dates. The expiration dates indicate a guarantee of full potency and safety within the recommended shelf life.

According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – “Don’t be tempted to take expired medications.” The FDA states, using expired medical products is “risky and possibly harmful to your health.” This is because the efficiency of a medication may lessen over time due to changes in its chemical composition or a decrease in its potency.

Do You Know How to Dispose of your Expired Medications?

Read here to learn how:

Rapid Response Notification

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

To best serve our patients, Jamaica Hospital has implemented a patient safety initiative known as a Rapid Response Notification. A Rapid Response Notification is initiated whenever a staff member, a patient or a patient’s visitor believes that the patient is experiencing a medical crisis that requires urgent attention.

The criteria for a Rapid Response Notification include:

There is a patient emergency and no staff member is present
There is a change in the patient’s condition that the health care team is not aware of
There are concerns about the patient’s care that they feel are not being addressed.

The Rapid Response Team, comprised of a Third Year Medical Resident and / or Senior Surgical, a Primary Care Nurse, a Critical Care Nurse, a Respiratory Therapist and a Nursing Supervisor will respond to the notification. The Rapid Response Team is committed to providing critical care resources to patients who may be in crisis.

In the event that a health care provider is not present when a medical crisis occurs, Jamaica Hospital has empowered the patient’s bedside visitor to activate a Rapid Response Notification by dialing extension 1234 and providing the patient’s room and bed number.

Colorectal Cancer Risk factors and Prevention

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Xavia Malcolm

Colorectal cancer is a disease that causes abnormal cells or tumors to develop in the colon or rectum. It is the third most commonly diagnosed type of cancer found in men and women in the United States.

Although colorectal cancer causes the deaths of approximately 50,000 people each year; the rate of survival is improving due to education, early detection and treatment.

Learning the risk factors of colorectal cancer is essential as there are risk factors you can control and some you cannot. The risk factors you can control include:

Smoking
Being overweight or obese
Lack of physical activity
Poor diet – a diet rich in red meats and processed meats can increase your risk
Heavy alcohol consumption

These factors can be addressed by quitting smoking, exercising, eating a healthy and balanced diet and moderating your consumption of alcoholic beverages.

The factors that you cannot control that may contribute to colorectal cancer are:

Age- people over the age of 50 have a higher risk in developing the disease
A family history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
A personal history of colorectal polyps, colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease
Having an inherited gene defect that can cause family cancer syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Gardner syndrome, Turcot syndrome or Lynch syndrome
Race or ethnicity
Having type 2 diabetes

Knowing your risk factors and taking appropriate actions can help you to reduce the probability of developing the disease.

Although it is not completely clear what causes colorectal cancer; it can be prevented by receiving regular screenings. With regular screenings, polyps or colon cancer can be found and treated early before advancing.

There are several testing methods your doctor may use to screen for colorectal cancer. Screening tests may include a colonoscopy or other testing methods such as fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, CT colonography or double-contrast barium enema. The American Cancer Society recommends that men and women should receive screenings beginning at the age of 50.

For a complete guide to the American Cancer Society’s recommendations for colorectal cancer early detection, please visit https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/early-detection/acs-recommendations.html

Dr’s Tips- Snoring and Solutions

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Xavia Malcolm

Here is a wake-up call for snorers; did you know that snoring affects approximately 90 million adults living in the United States? “Although snoring is common and many of us have learned to live with it, the truth is snoring is not normal and should not be ignored,” states Dr. Mayank Shukla; sleep specialist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

Snoring occurs when air flow through the nose or mouth is physically obstructed while sleeping. This can be the result of several factors including nasal congestion, excessive throat and nasal tissue, sleep deprivation or a tongue muscle that has become too relaxed during sleep.

Snoring on occasion does not raise cause for great concern. People who snore occasionally could try the following solutions recommended by Dr. Shukla to help them or their loved ones to get a restful night’s sleep:

Avoid sleeping on your back
Use a humidifier if the air in your room is dry
Adjust your pillows to keep your head elevated
Open nasal passages by using steam , nasal strips or salt water rinse
Reduce consumption of alcohol or other sedatives
Stay hydrated
Get your recommended amount of sleep

However, if you are a frequent snorer, these solutions may not benefit you as there may be serious health conditions such as stroke, heart disease or hypertension connected to your chronic snoring. Dr. Shukla suggests that you consult your physician as soon as possible if you are experiencing the following symptoms:

Frequent waking from sleep
Chronic headaches
Daytime sleepiness
Irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Gasping for air or choking while snoring

These symptoms are commonly associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a disorder which causes a person to stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep. OSA can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke and in severe cases, death. A sleep study may be required to diagnose OSA.

There are several treatments your doctor may recommend; the most common is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. Additional methods of treatment may include medication, oral appliances, surgery, or lifestyle adjustments such as losing weight or quitting smoking.

Jamaica Hospital’s state- of-the-art Sleep Center provides several testing options to diagnose and treat sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. Our staff consists of highly skilled, board-certified sleep specialists and respiratory therapists. We also boast an impressive 2:1 technician patient ratio, which provides our patients with the optimal attention they need during their sleep study. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mayank Shuklah or other sleep specialists at Jamaica Hospital, please call, 718-206-5916.