Household Pests: An Avoidable Asthma Trigger

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Natifia Mullings

Those annoying little insects and rodents commonly found in crowded inner-cities do more than just disgust people. They also trigger asthma.

According to the American Lung Association, pests, such as rats, mice, and cockroaches, produce allergens that aggravate asthma by inflaming the airway of the lungs and causing them to tighten. It is also being determined if allergens can actually cause asthma to develop in preschool aged children.

Pests produce allergens when they shed skin, leave behind waste products, or die. These pest-related asthma triggers, as well as the pesticides used to eliminate them, can worsen asthma. When possible, pesticides should be avoided.

“Asthma affects almost 20 million Americans and is one of the most chronic childhood diseases,” said Dr. Alan Roth, Chairman of Family Medicine at Jamaica Hospital. “It accounts for countless work and school absences, as well as frequent emergency visits and hospitalizations. In crowded urban areas, such as New York City, the environment can play a role in the onset of symptoms.”
Instead, Dr. Roth suggests individuals take the following precautions to safeguard their homes:

Keep food sealed and stored properly
Clean kitchen floors and counters daily
Seal cracks and holes in homes
Keep basements and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry

“If you’re aware of what triggers your asthma, you can take steps to avoid them, which can ultimately help prevent an asthma attack,” said Dr. Roth.

If you suffer from asthma and would like to schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center, please call 718-206-6942.

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.

Celiac Disease

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder in which an individual is unable to digest gluten, the name for the general proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley, as well as certain vitamins, medicines and lip balms.
Celiac disease is both a disease of malabsorption (nutrients are not absorbed properly) and an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. This intolerance to gluten triggers an immune response that damages and/or destroys villi, the tiny protrusions that line the small intestine and absorb nutrients from foods such as fat, calcium and iron into the bloodstream. Without the properly functioning villi, nutrients will fail to reach the bloodstream and an individual with celiac disease can become malnourished.

There are many causes and triggers of celiac disease, which include:
• Genetic
• Surgery
• Childbirth
• Pregnancy
• Viral infection
• Severe emotional stress or trauma

Symptoms of celiac disease include:
• Digestive problems (bloating, pain, gas, diarrhea, and weight loss)
• Dermatitis Herpetiformis (a severe skin rash)
• Iron deficiency anemia (a low red blood cell count)
• Muscle cramps
• Growth problems (mostly found in children)
• Seizures
• Tingling sensation in the legs
• Mouth sores
• Missed menstrual period

Celiac disease can be diagnosed by a series of blood tests that examine gluten auto-antibodies and by a minor bowel biopsy to assess gut damage. Since gluten is a staple in the average person’s diet, it is important to continue eating this protein until the tests are completed and evaluated for the most accurate diagnosis.
The only treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free diets are mainly composed of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, beans, nuts and most dairy products. Healthy, gluten-free alternatives to wheat and grains include almond meal flour, corn, quinoa, potatoes, and soy flour.
If you think you have celiac disease, a doctor can perform tests to diagnose your condition. For more information, please call Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Gastroenterology Department at 718-206-7001.

How to Control Diabetes With Exercise

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Joann Ariola

The three cornerstones in the treatment of diabetes are food, medications, and activity. Of these three, activity is often a first choice for the person who has diabetes. Moving toward a more physically active life is generally inexpensive, convenient, usually produces great rewards in terms of blood glucose control and a general feeling of well-being.

Whenever you actively use a muscle, you burn both fatty acids and glucose. During and after periods of activity, your falling glucose level is sensed by the beta cells in your pancreas, and they relax their output of insulin.

This gives your beta cells a break from excessive insulin production. In addition, the lower insulin levels signal your liver to empty its glucose reserves (glycogen) into the blood to supply the muscles with needed energy.

As physical activity continues, the liver converts amino acids, lactic acid, and fats into glucose to supply the muscles. If the activity continues long enough, even the body’s fat cells are affected. They compensate for the reduced fatty acid levels in your blood by converting their stored triglycerides into fatty acids.

When all of these steps are considered, it’s easy to see why using your muscles is the perfect treatment for diabetes.

Exercising can:

Lower blood glucose
Lower Fatty Acid levels in your blood
Reduce the workload of your pancreas

Becoming more physically active is not completely without risks for people with diabetes. On the other hand, remaining sedentary is no bargain, either; it does nothing to help your glucose control, your weight management, or your overall well-being. To gain the benefits of increased physical activity and minimize potential risks, you need to understand and evaluate those risks up front and take steps to prevent problems before they occur.

Before you increase your activity level, you need to account for any diabetic complications or related conditions that may be present. Some types of activity may not be wise for people with certain medical conditions. Any activity that includes straining, such as weight lifting, can dramatically increase blood pressure during the actual activity, further aggravating any hypertension that may be present.

Assistance For Women Who Choose to Breastfeed

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Michael Hinck

For women who choose to breastfeed, but can’t nurse all the time, a breast pump is necessary. Yet, the costs of buying or renting one can be a major expense.

Now, thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), women who are returning to work, want their spouse to participate in feedings, or who can’t breastfeed because of medical reasons, can pump and not worry about the associated costs.

The ACA is a law that was implemented by President Obama in 2010 and became effective in 2012. The main purpose of the ACA is to improve the quality and accessibility of health insurance coverage for Americans, as well as decrease the costs. Part of the ACA mandates that health care plans now cover the costs of equipment and consultations necessary to help mothers take care of their babies. This provision includes the cost of breast pumps, breast feeding supplies, and lactation support.

Individual health plans have different coverage allowances, supplies, vendors, and timelines required to request a breast pump. It’s important to ask your insurance company the right questions when determining what your plan covers. Benefits vary, as some insurance plans will cover the cost of a double electric pump, while others will only cover a manual hand pump. Benefits may also vary if your baby has a medical condition, such as prematurity or Down Syndrome.

If you intend on obtaining a breast pump through your heath insurance plan, start researching your coverage early. It’s important to check out all the available options for breast pumps. Here are some questions you might want to ask your provider:
�
• What types and brands of pumps are covered (hospital-grade rental, double or single electric, manual pump)?
• Do I need to go through a durable medical equipment supply company to obtain a breast pump?�
• Is it possible to purchase a breast pump out-of-network and be reimbursed? If so, how much will I be reimbursed?
• When will I be able to get a breast pump – before or after I deliver?�
• Do I have to submit proof of medical necessity in order to acquire a breast pump? If so, do I need a letter of medical necessity and/or a physician order?�
• Is there a rental breast pump option? If so, what does it cover?

The Affordable Healthcare Act applies to you if you have private or commercial medical insurance. The ACA became effective on August 1, 2012. Once the plan went into effect, insurance companies had one year to implement a fee structure and details of the benefits for each specific health care plan.

Earwax: A Common Cause of Earaches

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Michael Hinck

If you are experiencing earaches or partial hearing loss, the problem might be excessive ear wax buildup.

Ear wax serves an important purpose. It traps harmful bacteria and other small particles, preventing them from entering the ear. It also coats the skin of the ear and serves as a water repellant.

Everyone produces ear wax. It is produced by tiny hair follicles and glands in the ear canal. For most, the wax usually falls out on its own or while washing. For others however, the glands produce more ear wax than can be naturally removed. Those with smaller ear canals might also experience ear wax buildup because a narrower ear canal may have a more difficult time pushing the wax out. When this excess wax fails to fall out, it can harden in the ear canal and become impacted.

The misuse of cotton swabs greatly contribute to ear wax build-up because when used incorrectly, they push the ear wax deeper into the ear canal, causing a blockage. Hearing aids and ear buds can similarly cause ear wax impactions.

There are many symptoms of ear wax impaction, including:

Dizziness
Pain
Plugged or fullness sensation
Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
Partial & progressive hearing loss

In fact, wax blockage is one of the most common reasons for hearing loss

Blockage due to ear wax build-up is a ear problem doctors frequently see, affecting about 6% of all Americans, but it is easily treatable. A doctor can examine and diagnose ear wax buildup using an otoscope. There are a variety of over-the-counter drops designed to soften the wax. A bulb syringe can also be used to gently flush the ear with warm water. If these remedies don’t work, a doctor can suction the ear canal or remove impacted wax with a curette.

If left untreated, symptoms can worsen and lead to an infection. To make an appointment at Jamaica Hospital’s Audiology Center, please call 718-206-7110.

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Katherine Mobila

Rheumatic heart disease, also known as RHD, is a chronic heart disease that is caused by rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is the result of an untreated or severe case of streptococcal infection, or strep throat. RHD is considered one of the most common forms of heart disease and is frequently found in children, especially in developing countries and poverty-stricken areas.

Symptoms of rheumatic fever include:
• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Swollen and painful joints
• Rashes
• Involuntary movements of the body, also known as Sydenham’s chorea, a temporary nervous system disorder

Rheumatic fever is caused by a severe, inflammatory reaction to strep throat. The body produces antibodies that are meant to fight the infection’s bacteria, but instead attack the body’s tissue. These antibodies usually begin by attacking joint tissue and, if untreated, continue to attack the heart and the tissue surrounding it.

Factors that contribute to rheumatic fever are a weak immune system and poor living conditions. If this disease persists or reoccurs, it can cause valve damage, which can lead to heart disease, heart failure, and, in some cases, death.

Rheumatic fever can be prevented by treating strep throat during its early stages. If you are experiencing a sore throat without common cold symptoms and have a fever of 101 Fahrenheit or above, it could be strep throat. Strep throat is commonly treated by a 10-day oral antibiotic or one intramuscular penicillin injection. In order to prevent rheumatic fever from reoccurring, it is important to receive regulated injections of antibiotics, which are given for an extended period of time, also known as secondary prevention.

If you have strep throat that has gone untreated and may have rheumatic fever, seek medical attention immediately at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Family Medicine Department. For more information, please call 718-206-6942.

Diabetes and Your Kidneys

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Michael Hinck

The kidneys serve an important function – to filter waste products from the blood. For people with diabetes, however, the small blood vessels in the kidneys can become injured and fail to clean the blood properly.

Waste products are created when our bodies digest food. In the kidneys, millions of tiny blood vessels act as filters for this waste. As blood flows through the blood vessels, small molecules, such as waste products, squeeze through these holes and produce urine. Useful substances, such as protein, are too big to be filtered and remain in the blood.

A high level of blood sugar can damage the kidneys and after many years of strain, they start to leak and these useful proteins are lost into the urine. This overwork to compensate for a failing filtering system is the reason why there are no early symptoms of kidney disease. In fact, kidney damage can begin 5 to 10 years before symptoms start.

SYMPTOMS
The first symptom of kidney disease is often weight gain due to fluid buildup. Other symptoms include swelling of the ankles and legs, frequent urination, nausea, poor appetite, loss of sleep, and fatigue.

“Not everyone with diabetes develops kidney problems, but it is still important for anyone with diabetes to have their kidney function checked on a yearly basis” states Dr. Alan Roth, Chairman of Family Medicine at Jamaica Hospital, “A doctor can check blood pressure, urine (for protein), blood (for waste products), and other organs for related complications. When kidney disease is diagnosed early, there are several treatments available to prevent kidney disease from getting worse.”

Diabetics can also manage of their condition by keeping their blood sugar and blood pressure under control. Eating a low fat and low sodium diet, taking proper medications, and getting regular exercise can also help prevent or slow kidney damage.
Failure to diagnose and take proper action to slow or prevent kidney disease can result in the kidneys completely failing. At this point, the only options are dialysis or a kidney transplant.

If you have diabetes and want to make an appointment to have your kidneys examined, please call 718-657-7093.

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Seatbelts Save Lives

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

One of the best ways to prevent an injury while riding in an automobile is to use a seatbelt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), using a seat belt properly can reduce the risk of crash injuries by 50 percent. Seatbelts are estimated to save almost 13,000 lives in theUnited Stateseach year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than half of the people killed in car crashes were not restrained at the time of the crash.

When a motor vehicle comes to a sudden stop, the occupants of that vehicle come to a stop as well, but not always simultaneously. When the occupants are not wearing their seatbelts and the vehicle comes to a sudden stop, they can be thrown forward. This often results in either people hitting the windshield of the vehicle or being thrown from the car if the impact is forceful enough.

How does a seatbelt work? A seatbelt when worn properly will disperse the motor vehicle’s stopping force across a person’s chest and pelvis. Seatbelts are usually made from material that has a little elasticity, so the stopping action isn’t as severe. The main objective of the seat belt is to prevent a person from making sharp impact with the windshield, the dashboard, or other rigid areas in the vehicle. By dispersing the force across the body, this will help to reduce the amount of trauma that is inflicted.

Seatbelts are only helpful when they are worn. Even though it is mandatory to wear a seatbelt in most states, there are still people who don’t always wear one. Anyone who has ever been involved in a motor vehicle accident and who was wearing a seat belt at the time will tell you that it probably saved their life. Seat belts that went across the lap started appearing in cars in the early 1960’s and were supplemented by shoulder harnesses in the late 1960’s. At first people found them to be very uncomfortable to wear but as time passed, car manufacturers were able to design the modern three point belt that is easier to use and more comfortable to wear.

Everyone should buckle up, seatbelts save lives.

Are Gummy Vitamins Good For My Child?

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Gummy vitamins contain important nutrients to maintain a child’s health, but they can be damaging to your child’s teeth. Similar to candy, gummy vitamins stick to the grooves of your child’s teeth and can cause cavities.

Although your child may brush their teeth the recommended two times per day, toothbrush bristles cannot reach the deepest grooves of the back molars. Sticky sugar particles can remain embedded in the grooves, causing cavities when not brushed properly.

Dr. Deborah A. Pasquale ,Chairperson of the Department of Dentistry, recommends switching to traditional chewable tablets if you’re giving your child gummy vitamins. Before the age of two years, speak with your children’s pediatrician or pediatric dentist about a liquid vitamin.

If you believe your child has developed a cavity, ask at your child’s next dental visit or call Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Dentistry at 718-206-6982 to schedule an appointment.

Put a lid on it! – The Benefits of Wearing a Bike Helmet for Safety

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Joann Ariola

It’s no secret that the main advantage of wearing a helmet while riding your bicycle to increase safety. This is exactly why helmets were devised and it’s the reason that they’re required, by law, in the New York State.

Since you can never predict exactly when, where and how you’ll fall from your bike, it pays to heed the warning of the experts and statistics that prove the benefit of wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle a bit further.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cites that 70% of bicyclists involved in a fatal crash suffer from head injuries. The NHTSA further cites that helmets are 85 to 88 percent effective in preventing head and brain injuries and refers to helmets as “the single most effective way to reduce head injuries and fatalities from bicycle crashes.”

The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute goes on to state that non-helmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than helmeted riders. While there’s no guarantee that a helmet will save your life, it’s clear that wearing one is much safer than not wearing one.

If you are going to riding your bicycle, it would be a wise safety measure to purchase a helmet before taking that bike on the road.