Medical Marijuana

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

For centuries marijuana has been used to cure various ailments. Does it work ?

Throughout ancient history, marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes. The Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, known as the father of Chinese medicine, discussed the healing properties of marijuana in 2700 BC. The Egyptians used it for glaucoma and inflammation as early as 1200 BC. In 1000 BC, marijuana was used inIndiaas an anesthetic. It was also used in treating leprosy, reducing fevers, as a cure for dysentery and to help people sleep. As time progressed, more and more benefits of marijuana were described all over the world.

In the late 1700’s George Washington grew marijuana on his plantation for his troops. At about the same time, Napoleon brought it fromEgypttoFrancefor medicinal purposes. In 1840 QueenVictoriaofEnglandsaid that it was a good way to treat menstrual cramps and for inducing labor. In 1925 theLeague of Nationssaid that marijuana should only be used for medicinal purposes. In 1937, the government of theUnited Statesenacted the Marijuana Tax Act which by means of taxing producers, sellers and buyers was an attempt to control its use. By then, most states had already made laws criminalizing the possession and sale of marijuana.

In 1970, The United States adopted the Controlled Substance Act which classified marijuana as a drug and determined that it should not be allowed for medicinal purposes. Though people have been saying for centuries that marijuana has medicinal benefits, there now seems to be real scientific evidence that marijuana really does work. It is a slow process but some states have decided to allow marijuana use for medicinal purposes, and on July 5^th New York State became the 23^rd state to legalize medical marijuana.

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.

A Yogurt a Day…

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Studies have proven the benefit of yogurt being added to your diet. By consuming as little as a cup of yogurt each day can make a big difference. Especially, if you are suffering from post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Yogurt is a healthy snack that is packed with calcium and several other nutrients that help post-menopausal women maintain strong and healthy bones.

If you are concerned about developing osteoporosis or looking for a way to manage the disease, you should incorporate yogurt into your diet.

Benefitting from yogurt depends on what kind you are eating. Below is a quick checklist of which types of yogurt are best for your post-menopausal diet:

Plain yogurt as opposed to the fruit-flavored varieties because it usually contains more calcium and less sugar
Low-fat yogurt will help you watch your cholesterol
Fresh yogurt is better than frozen yogurt, which does not have as many live cultures
Plain, nonfat Greek strained yogurt could be the best option because it is rich in calcium and other essential nutrients. It also has twice as much protein as other yogurts

Need to satisfy your sweet tooth? You can boost the flavor, and sweetness, of plain yogurt by adding fresh strawberries, blueberries or raspberries.

If you are suffering from post-menopausal osteoporosis and would like to control it with diet, you can contact 718-206-6023 at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for an appointment with a nutritionist.

Your Spinning World Could be Due to Vertigo.

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

Have you ever experienced dizziness or a spinning sensation when in fact everything is standing still? You may have experienced vertigo.

Vertigo can cause a person to feel light headed, off balance, spinning, seeing double, or as though they are falling. In severe cases it can be accompanied by nausea, difficulty walking, or loss of balance.

Vertigo is often related to a problem within the inner ear. It may be due to a buildup of fluid and changing pressure (Meniere’s disease), or due to an accumulation of tiny calcium particles called canaliths in the canals of the inner ear ( BPPV or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). It may also be caused by an infection, usually viral, in the inner ear. All of these conditions can lead to loss of balance.

Symptoms of vertigo:

 A sensation of movement accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sweating..

 Head positioning leading to dizziness

 Ringing in the ears and changes in hearing

 Abnormal eye movement

 Symptoms that are fairly constant in regularity
A [physician can diagnose vertigo through physical examination that may include a CT scan of the head to see if there are any brain injuries blood tests to see if the blood glucose is normal and an EKG to see if the heart rhythm is normal.

Frequently the symptoms of vertigo will resolve by themselves. Depending on the cause, some form of medical treatment may be necessary. When the cause is due to an infection, medications may be prescribed to cure it, and sometimes steroids will be given to reduce the inflammation. If the problem is being caused by a buildup of fluid in the ear, medication may be prescribed to help reduce it. If vertigo is being caused by an accumulation of tiny calcium crystals, a series of head and neck positioning exercises may be given to help move them out of the inner ear into a location where they can be more easily absorbed by the body. In extreme cases of vertigo, surgery may be needed to resolve the problem.

If you are experiencing symptoms of vertigo and would like to schedule an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist, please call 718-206-6742.

Vertigo

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

Have you ever experienced dizziness or a spinning sensation when in fact everything is standing still? You may have experienced vertigo.

Symptoms of vertigo:

A sensation of movement accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sweating..
Head positioning leading to dizziness
Ringing in the ears and changes in hearing
Abnormal eye movement
Symptoms that are fairly constant in regularity

A physician can diagnose vertigo through physical examination that may include a CT scan of the head to see if there are any brain injuries blood tests to see if the blood glucose is normal and an EKG to see if the heart rhythm is normal.

If you are experiencing symptoms of vertigo and would like to schedule an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist, please call 718-206-6742.

What is Herbal Medicine?

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Herbal medicine, also known as herbalism or botanical medicine is a method of treating health-related issues, based on the use of plants or plant extracts that may be eaten or applied to the skin.

Herbal remedies are well rooted in medical practice. Since ancient times, doctors have collected information about herbs to treat a variety of illnesses and to assist with bodily functions.

As a result, more than a quarter of all medicines used today contain active ingredients derived from those same ancient plants. While herbal medicine is not a licensed profession in theUnited States, herbal remedies, in the form of extracts, tinctures, capsules and tablets, as well as teas, may be recommended by healthcare professionals.

Herbal medicine blurs the line between foods and medicines. Using herbs and spices that have a disease-preventive affect in foods is one of the best ways to take advantage of their healing power.

Herbal medicine has been used to treat or alleviate virtually every possible medical condition. Some of the most popular herbal remedies and conditions for which they are used include:

Aloe – used topically for minor burns, sunburns, skin irritation or inflammation
Chamomile Tea – ingested for upset stomach, heartburn, indigestion and colic
Echinacea – ingested for colds, flu, and sore throat
Garlic – ingested to possibly reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, treat fungal infections and colds
Ginger – ingested for nausea and motion sickness and as an anti-inflammatory
Peppermint Tea – ingested for indigestion, nausea and other digestive problems
Tea Tree Oil – applied topically for fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and fungal infections of the toenails and fingernails
Tumeric – ingested to combat inflammation and protect against cancer and Alzheimers disease

This information is solely for informational purposes. It is not intended to be medical advice. Before undertaking any course of treatment, you should seek the advice of your physician or other health care provider.

Are Headphones Bad for your Hearing?

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

Headphones are popular for a multitude of reasons, such as convenience and sound quality, but there is a downside to these devices. According to The Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of teens who have experienced hearing loss has increased by 33% since 1994. Do you catch yourself blasting music while listening to your headphones for long periods of time? If so, your hearing may be at risk.

Headphones come in a variety of styles, but the two most commonly used are earbuds and around-ear headphones. While around-ear headphones can have negative side effects, earbuds are the more dangerous because they are inserted directly into your ears, providing an uninterrupted route for the music to travel through your ear and straight to your eardrum. When sound enters the ear, the eardrum vibrates. These vibrations travel to the cochlea, where fluid carries them to fine hairs that trigger the auditory nerve fibers, which travel to the brain. When a sound is too loud, the hairs can become damaged, causing permanent hearing loss.

Noise is damaging at about 85 decibels, or the volume of a hair dryer. People who tend to play music up to 110-120 decibels over a long period of time while using earbuds, which increases the sound by 7-9 decibels, can experience a significant amount of hearing loss.

Want to avoid further hearing loss? Try some of these helpful tips:
• Listen to your music for no longer than an hour and no louder than 60% of volume.
• Purchase around-ear headphones with noise-cancelling technology so you can avoid blasting music and prevent music from having direct contact with your eardrum.
• Remove earwax. Earwax builds up every time you push earbuds into your ear canal, so make sure you gently clean it out to prevent hearing loss, discomfort and infection.

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What is a 3-D Ultrasound?

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Michael Hinck

One of the most exciting events during a couple’s pregnancy is receiving the ultrasound images of their baby, but many traditional ultrasound images leave a lot to the imagination.

Now, through the advent of 3-D ultrasounds, expectant parents can see much clearer, further defined images of their unborn children.

2-D, or traditional ultrasounds, are created by interpreting reflected sound waves to form a picture. These pictures are captured by listening to sound waves on a single plain. Three dimensional ultrasounds, however, work by a different process known as “surface rendering”. In this case, the same 2D images are taken, but this time at different angles. These reflections are interpreted through sophisticated software, and a 3D image of the baby is instantly created. The software that creates these images usually also has “coloring” capabilities that can add different flesh tones to enhance the realism of the image.

The benefits of 3D ultrasound extend beyond just an improved picture to share with family. Women who have had a 3D ultrasound believe it has had a positive impact on their pregnancy by enhancing the bond it created with their baby. Recent studies have also shown that women who received a 3D ultrasound have improved their maternal health habits as a result, including increased exercise, improved diet and the elimination of harmful habits. Another potential benefit is increased paternal involvement during pregnancy.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center now offers all of its prenatal patients a digital package, which includes a set of 3D images. “The response by the patients has been overwhelming” states Mitchell Cornett, Administrator of OB/GYN at Jamaica Hospital. “To see their faces when they receive the CD with the high definition ultrasound is priceless.”

To make an appointment to receive your prenatal care at Jamaica Hospital’s Women’s Health Center, please call 718-206-3276.

Meditteranean Diet

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

Did you know that following a Mediterranean diet has shown to effectively control and prevent heart diseases for many people ? This diet which originated in Greece and the surrounding areas of the Mediterranean basin has recently gained popularity. It is based on eating mainly vegetables, fruits, fish, and whole grains, while limiting foods that contain unhealthy fats.

The Mediterranean diet focuses on:

Consuming mainly plant based foods such as nuts, legumes, whole grains, vegetables and fruits.

Eating very limited amounts of red meat, usually no more than once or twice a month

Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week

Substituting salt with herbs and spices

Using olive oil instead of butter

Red wine, on occasion, is considered to be acceptable

Limiting consumption of sweets and eggs

Research has indicated that people who follow the Mediterranean diet have a lower risk of heart disease, certain cancers, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This is attributed to more stable blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol and triglycerides.

People in the Mediterranean area have been eating this way for centuries and seem to be much healthier because of it.

Are Backpacks Better than Shoulder Bags?

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

With summer in full swing and beach days becoming more frequent, how do you carry your beach necessities? While many people choose to wear a shoulder bag, this might not be the best option for your health.

While shoulder bags, such as totes, are easy to grab and are usually spacious, carrying a heavy one for a long period of time can be detrimental to your natural gait. Your natural gait is the way your arms and legs swing as you walk and is imperative to your body’s overall balance. When you carry a shoulder bag, this puts extra weight on one of your shoulders, making the other arm work harder to compensate for the weight of the bag. This can throw off your balance and result in back and muscle pain.

If you tend to carry your tote on the same arm, this can cause the muscles to grow bigger while the other arm remains the same, causing further imbalance. Depending on the heaviness of your shoulder bag, carrying it predominantly on one shoulder can also cause the opposite side of your spine to spasm, causing tightness and pain in your lower back and sacrum.
Other results of carrying a heavy shoulder bag can include:
• Muscle tightness
• Backaches
• Decreased curve of the neck due to tightness, also known as “military neck”
• Neck pain that causes the turning of the head to be difficult
• Headaches

If you want to avoid any of these results, using a backpack instead of a shoulder bag can be the answer. Backpacks distribute the weight that you are carrying evenly across your back instead of focusing it on one side, maintaining your body’s natural gait and maintaining a balanced muscle tone.
While backpacks are generally better, they too can cause problems. Carrying too heavy of a load can force your spine to bend backward, causing you to pull forward to maintain balance. This action can make your spine compress unnaturally, which can create hip and back pain and a hunched posture.

Some helpful tips to avoid experiencing the symptoms of a heavy weight on your back and shoulders due to a shoulder bag or a backpack include:
• Choose a bag with wider straps that will further distribute the weight across your back and shoulders
• Periodically switch shoulders
• Choose bags with alternative strap options
• Avoid wearing heels while carrying your bag, this will cause further imbalance and pain

If you are having back and shoulder pain, please call Jamaica Hospital’s Orthopedics Department at 718-206-6923 with any questions.

Bad Air Quality and Asthma

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Joann Ariola

About 25 million Americans have experienced Asthma symptoms. Asthma is a condition that constricts your airways, causing them to become swollen and filled with mucous. It has many triggers, such as, tobacco or dust but, what if your trigger is the air you breathe outdoors?

Air pollutants can trigger asthma. The air around you can carry particulate matter, such as, dust, soot, smoke, diesel exhaust particles, and smog. These particulates can cause you to labor while breathing and feel a shortness of breathe.

Recent studies have shown that air pollution is a major cause of asthma attacks. More than 40% of the nation’s populations live in areas with poor quality air.

If you have asthma, your doctor can help you design a plan to control and prevent an asthma attack. Limiting your exposure to air pollution can be an important part of that plan. The EPA keeps tabs on local air quality across the country through its daily Air Quality Index, which measures levels of major air pollutants.

Completely avoiding air pollution is impossible, but you can take steps to reduce your family’s exposure to air pollution and reduce the health risks.

For more information, or treatment, call The Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’sAmbulatoryCareCenterat, 718-206-7005.