Living Statue Syndrome-Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP)

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Xavia Malcolm

Living Statue Syndrome or Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is an extremely rare medical condition. It is known to affect one in every two million people worldwide. The condition causes bones to form in areas such as muscles, tendons, ligaments and across the joints. Essentially FOP forms a second skeleton in the body, which makes movement restricted or impossible in severe cases. It progressively imprisons the body in bones.

The condition is inherited and is believed to be caused by a genetic mutation. Symptoms typically begin during early childhood and gets worse as individuals age. Common symptoms include:

Malformation of the big toe and thumbs
Abnormally short toes and fingers
Malformation of the upper spinal column
Short and broad femoral necks
Difficulty breathing ( Due to excess bone formation around the ribcage)
Inflammation and pain during flare ups.

Diagnosis is done by administering a series of genetic tests. Currently there are no cures and treatment is focused toward reducing the severity of symptoms.

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.

Grandma’s Chicken Soup

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Joann Ariola

When you have a cold or flu, it is best to keep hydrated and drink at least eight glasses of fluid a day. A great way to keep hydrated, help relieve the symptomscongested nose and sore throat is to eat chicken soup.

Researchers believe that substances in chicken soup can help reduce the inflammation associated with a cold or flu.

If you would like to test the effects of chicken soup on your cold or flu you may want to try

Grandma’s Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe –

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups wide egg noodles

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

12 cups chicken broth

1 ½ tablespoons salt

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup diced carrots

1 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup cornstarch

¼ cup water

3 cups diced, cooked chicken meat

Directions:

Bring large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles and oil, boil for 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain and rinse under cool running water.
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, combine broth, salt, and poultry seasoning. Bring to a boil. Stir in celery and onion. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water together until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Gradually add to soup, stirring constantly. Stir in noodles and chicken, and heat through.

Serves 12

For this and other easy, delicious recipes you may want to visit .

Cavity Prevention for Children

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Zakiya Hazel-Jemmott

Dental cavities can be prevented for most children. To keep those pearly whites pearly it takes being mindful about eating, drinking and brushing habits along with being knowledgeable about your child’s water supply. Remember, every time we eat or drink something that contains sugar or starches, bacteria in our mouth uses the sugar and starch to produce acids. These acids begin to eat away at the tooth’s enamel. Our saliva can help fight off this acid attack unless there are a lot of foods high in starch and sugar in your diet. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on how often your children eat as well as what they eat.

A key source in strengthening teeth against cavities is fluoride. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is important for preventing cavities. Most bottled water does not contain enough fluoride to prevent tooth decay. If your child drinks only bottled water, speak with a dentist about whether your child needs additional fluoride in the form of a vitamin, varnish, or gel.

Young children cannot get their teeth clean by themselves. For children aged two to six, it is recommended that an adult puts the toothpaste on the brush. Use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.Try brushing your child’s teeth first, then let him/her finish. Until they are seven or eight years old, you will need to help your child brush.

Encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste rather than swallow it. Children under six years old tend to swallow much of the toothpaste on their brush. If children regularly consume higher-than-recommended amounts of fluoride during the teeth-forming years (age eight and younger), their permanent teeth may develop white lines or flecks called dental fluorosis. Fluorosis is usually mild; in many cases, only a dental professional would notice it. (In children under age two, dental experts recommend that you do not use fluoride toothpaste unless directed by a dentist.)

It is recommended that children see their dentist every six months for regular check-ups and cavity prevention. To make an appointment at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-6980.

How Do You Know if You Need Gallbladder Surgery?

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Michael Hinck

One of the most common forms of surgery is a Cholecystectomy (koh-luh-sis-TEK-tuh-me), a procedure to remove the gallbladder. The gallbladder is an organ that sits just below your liver on the upper right side of your abdomen. It collects and stores bile — a digestive fluid produced in your liver.
Removal of the gallbladder might be necessary when pain occurs due to complications from gallstones which block the flow of bile or from inflammation in the gallbladder or surrounding area. Below are reasons why a surgeon would recommend a cholecystectomy:

Gallstones in the gallbladder (cholelithiasis)
Gallstones in the bile duct (choledocholithiasis)
Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
Pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis)

Jamaica Hospital surgeons perform this procedure laparoscopically. This minimally invasive surgical option involves the surgeon making small incisions in the abdomen. A tube with a tiny video camera is inserted into your abdomen through one of the incisions. The surgeon watches a video monitor in the operating room as special surgical tools are inserted and the gallbladder is removed. The procedure is done using general anesthesia and patients fully recover in less than a week.

After surgery, bile will flow from the liver through the common bile duct and into the small intestine. Because the gallbladder has been removed, the body is unable to store bile between meals. In most people, this has little or no effect on digestion.

If you suspect you need gallbladder surgery, please see your doctor. If you do not have a doctor, the surgeons at Jamaica Hospital can perform an evaluation and schedule for the procedure if necessary. To make an appointment, please call 718-206-7110.

Electronic Medical Records

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Andrew Rubin

For as long as anyone can remember, patient’s medical records have been hand written and kept in a filing cabinet in each provider’s office. In order to access this information it was necessary to call the doctor’s office and have the requested information read over the phone, or have it sent through the mail.

Now the modern way for patients to access their medical records at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is through an electronic health record system called MyChart. This system allows the patient access, in a secure manner, portions of their health record online. Patients can have access to their lab results, immunization history, allergies, medication list, and their ambulatory care and emergency room visit summaries. Patients can also see what appointments they have on their schedule, can ask their physicians questions and request medication refills.

To use MyChart a patient must set up account. This is an easy process and only takes a few minutes. If you are a patient at Jamaica Hospital and would like to have access to your medical records through MyChart, please ask one of our registration associates who can assist you.

Arthritis and Exercise

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Joann Ariola

Did you know that if you have arthritis, exercise may benefit your bones, muscles and joints?

Now, that doesn’t mean you have to run a marathon or swim with the intensity of an Olympic competitor. Low impact exercise can help improve your health and fitness without hurting your joints. These exercises may include raising your arms over head or rolling your shoulders.

In conjunction with a treatment plan, exercise can:

Strengthen the muscles around your joints
Help you maintain bone strength
Give you more energy to get through the day
Make it easier to get a good night’s sleep
Help you control your weight
Improve your balance
Enhance your quality of life

Exercises can relieve stiffness and increase your ability to move your joints through their full range of motion. It is always good to speak with your doctor about fitting exercise into your treatment plan. The types of exercises that are best for you will depend on your type of arthritis and which joints are affected.

If you have arthritis and would like to explore adding exercise to your treatment plan, you can speak with one of the dozens of trained physicians at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To make an appointment with a physician, call 718-206-7001.

5 Natural Sleep Aids

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Xavia Malcolm

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults should receive between seven to eight hours of sleep each day. However, the National Sleep Council reports that a staggering 48% of people living in the United States do not get enough sleep. Additionally, one- third of our population states that they lay awake a few nights out of each week because they are unable to fall asleep.

These statistics clearly indicate that many of us are having problems falling asleep and getting adequate rest. Without enough sleep, our bodies will not function properly. Sleep is needed to restore parts of the body such as the blood vessels and the heart. It is also needed to promote proper brain function and maintain a healthy balance in hormones.

Trying these natural sleep aids can help you combat sleeplessness and get the rest needed to revitalize your body:

Tart cherries or cherry juice-Tart cherries such as Montmorency cherries contain the amino acid tryptophan, which is essential in producing the hormones serotonin and melatonin. Increased levels of these hormones in the body can create the urge to sleep.
Valerian– Is a natural supplement that is commonly used to ease insomnia. Some studies suggest that it helps people fall asleep faster and improves the quality of sleep.
Hops– Hops are not only known for making beer, this herb is also known for promoting relaxation. Hops are typically boiled and steeped to make a tea. Drinking this a few minutes before bed is said to help in achieving a restful night’s sleep.
Chamomile– This herb is usually ingested in the form of a tea. It contains several compounds such as apigenin and coumarin that are found to have a calming effect on the body.
Melatonin – Melatonin is naturally produced by the body but some people increase their levels by taking supplements. It can be used to help people with disruptive sleep cycles. Physicians recommend that you adhere to taking low dosages (speak to a doctor about which dose is right for you.) This is because taking too much melatonin can cause adverse reactions such as dizziness, headaches and hallucinations.

It is highly recommended that you consult a physician before trying these sleep aids. Although natural, there is the possibility that they can cause side effects. Be certain to inform the doctor of all medications that you are taking, as mixing medications with certain herbs can be hazardous to your health.

Monday Motivation

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Zakiya Hazel-Jemmott

Dr. Jane Cooke Wright was a physician and cancer researcher who dedicated her professional career to the advancement of chemotherapy techniques. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Dr. Jane Cooke Wright to the President’s Commission on Heart Disease, Cancer, and Stroke. In 1967, at the age of 48, Wright became professor of surgery, head of the cancer chemotherapy department, and associate dean at New York Medical College. These accomplishments made her the highest-ranking black woman at a nationally-recognized medical institution. In 1971, Wright also became the first female president of the New York Cancer Society.

Motivational Monday

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Zakiya Hazel-Jemmott

“Without a struggle, there can be no progress.” – Frederick Douglass

Information About Thyroid Disease

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Michael Hinck

The thyroid gland serves many functions. It regulates our rate of metabolism, growth and development, and our body temperature. So when it isn’t working properly it can have a major impact on our health.

According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), thyroid disease is a more common disorder than diabetes or heart disease. It affects as many as 30 million Americans, more than half of whom remain undiagnosed. To raise awareness about the thyroid gland and symptoms of thyroid disease, January has been designated Thyroid Awareness Month.

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck.. Although small in size, the gland plays a large role by producing thyroid hormone which influences the function of many of the body’s most important organs, including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. When the thyroid gland is not producing the right amount of hormone (either too much or too little), problems can start to arise.

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid does not produce enough hormones. This can result in a range of symptoms that include unexplained fatigue, weight gain, depression, forgetfulness, feeling cold, hair loss, or low sex drive. Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, is a condition when the body produces an abundance of thyroid hormones. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include rapid heart rate, heat intolerance and unexplained weight loss and anxiety. For both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, medication can be prescribed to regulate hormone levels.

A more serious concern involving the thyroid gland is thyroid cancer, which can develop independent of the above thyroid disease. According to the AACE, about 60,000 cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed annually in the U.S. In most cases, thyroid cancer has a good prognosis and high survival rates—especially when diagnosed in its early stages.

Through attention raised by Thyroid Awareness Month, more and more primary care physicians are screening for thyroid disease, which has greatly helped those who would have otherwise had their condition go undiagnosed.

Jamaica Hospital is proud to help raise awareness for thyroid disease and encourages everyone experiencing symptoms to ask their doctor to do an evaluation. If you do not have a doctor, call Jamaica Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center to make an appointment at 718-206-7001.