Health Beat

Breast Pain While Breastfeeding

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Xavia Malcolm

It is common to experience discomfort while breastfeeding within the first few days after giving birth. You may experience some pain, soreness, or tenderness of the breast or nipple. These problems should ease over time with proper care and breastfeeding techniques.

Continued pain or discomfort while breastfeeding is often indicative of a serious problem and should not be ignored. Pain is not a normal part of breastfeeding; therefore, you should try to investigate the cause or seek help from a lactation consultant.

One of the most common causes of nipple pain is an incorrect latch. Check your baby’s latch to see if it is the cause of the problem. Signs of a good latch include the following:

The baby is positioned well against your body (The American Pregnancy Association recommends that babies be positioned tummy-to-tummy with you at all times. Babies’ heads should be tilted slightly back and their ears, shoulders, and hips in alignment)
The baby’s chin and nose are touching your breast
The baby has a large part of the lower portion of the areola in the mouth
The baby’s lips are turned out, like fish lips, and flat against the breast

Signs of a poor latch are:

Nipple pain
The baby is making clicking or smacking noises
The baby is sucking in their cheeks
The baby is showing signs of hunger after feeding

Additional causes for breast or nipple pain during breastfeeding are:

Mastitis or inflammation in the breast
Breast abscess
Clogged milk ducts
Engorgement
Thrush
Cracked nipples
Tongue-tie or the baby having a short frenulum

Breastfeeding should be enjoyable for mom and baby, and both should be comfortable. If you are experiencing breast or nipple pain, speak with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. A lactation consultant can help parents and babies with breastfeeding challenges such as low milk supply, latching on, or other barriers to breastfeeding.

Making sure that you and your baby have the best start is one of our highest priorities. Breastfeeding your baby will help to provide a strong foundation for their health. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center provides free breastfeeding/chestfeeding education classes. To learn more about or sign up for our classes, please email breastfeedingclasses@jhmc.org

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 Delicious Fall Recipe for Roast Pork and Sweet Potatoes

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Here is a Fall season recipe from the Food Network for roast pork and sweet potatoes that we think you will enjoy https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/roast-pork-and-sweet-potatoes-3363155

3 Common Causes of Foot Pain

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Foot pain is common; any time you walk, run, or perform other activities that place stress on your feet, it increases their risk of becoming injured. This risk can also increase as a result of a variety of medical conditions.

One of the most helpful steps for alleviating foot pain is to determine what could potentially be causing it. A few common causes of foot pain include:

Poorly-fitting shoes: Foot pain and discomfort often occurs as a result of wearing shoes that do not properly fit. Both the size and shape of the shoe are important for maximizing your comfort and preventing pain.

Foot deformities: Many people experience some form of foot deformity, meaning that one or both of their feet have not properly developed physically in some way. A few common examples of foot deformities include hammer toes (which bend downward instead of pointing forward), clubfoot (a childhood deformity in which the foot is turned inward), and flat foot (meaning that the foot lacks an arch in a standing position).

Injury: The feet are involved significantly in many physical activities, such as walking, jogging, or sports. During these types of activities, you’re more likely to experience injuries such as sprained or twisted ankles, Achilles tendinitis, or nerve damage. Your risk of experiencing these injuries can be even higher due to factors such as improperly-fitting shoes and untreated foot deformities.

If you experience foot pain or have a medical condition that increases your risk of injury, it’s important that you talk to a podiatrist to get the specialized treatment you need. You can schedule an appointment with a podiatrist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center by calling (718) 206-6712.

3 Warning Signs of Kidney Disease

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Kidney disease occurs due to a loss of function in the kidneys over time. The main function of the kidneys is to filter out wastes, toxins, and excess fluids from the blood; as damage to the kidneys increases, these substances begin to build up to unhealthy levels, leading to a variety of health problems.

Without appropriate treatment, kidney disease can escalate to kidney failure, at which point you would require dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive. Your chances of getting prompt treatment for kidney disease are higher when you can recognize warning signs as they appear. While many of these indicators are not exclusive to kidney disease, they may warrant diagnostic examination by your doctor. Some of the warning signs you should look out for include:

Urinary problems: Kidney disease involves damage to the kidney’s filters, which can cause a multitude of urinary issues, such as needing to urinate more frequently, particularly at night. This damage can also lead to foaminess (indicating the presence of protein in the urine) and blood.

Fatigue: A buildup of toxins and waste substances in the blood due to kidney disease can also lead to increased tiredness and difficulty concentrating. In some cases, this occurs due to anemia, which can develop as a complication of kidney disease.

Dry and itchy skin: Kidney disease can lead to mineral and bone disease, which involves an imbalance of minerals and nutrients in the blood; this imbalance can cause you to develop dry, itchy skin, also known as pruritis. This occurs more often in people with advanced or end-stage kidney disease, but can also occur in people in the early stages of the disease.

If you have noticed any of these signs, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. A primary care physician can screen you for a variety of potential causes of these symptoms; if they notice additional indicators of kidney disease, they may refer you to a nephrologist, a specialist in this type of disease.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Division of Nephrology can provide treatment for kidney disease and a variety of other kidney-related medical problems. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-6742.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Every year, millions of people in the United States are found to be living with a mental illness. To address this issue, in 1990, Congress designated the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week. The reason for this designation is to bring attention to the fact that mental illness not only affects the person who has it, but also their family, friends and others that they interact with.

.Mental illness affects one in twenty people in the Untied States each year and for one in five of these people it is very serious. Less than half of the people with mental illness in the nation are receiving adequate treatment.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, the organization that has advocated for Mental Illness Awareness Week, hopes to bring attention to this serious issue through their 2023 campaign “Together we care. Together we share”. The objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues and resources by engaging communities and encouraging people to share their experiences.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has a comprehensive Mental Health Department. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-5575.

National ADHD Awareness Month

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in the United States among children, affecting nearly 10% of all children between the ages of 3 and 17. It can also occur in adults, affecting up to about 5% of all adults in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), doctors must determine if a patient’s symptoms demonstrate a clear pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity to diagnose ADHD. For children, six or more of these symptoms must remain consistent for at least six months; for adults, only five symptoms need to present in this manner to provide a diagnosis.

Some common symptoms of inattention that doctors may take into consideration when diagnosing ADHD include:

Failure to pay close attention to tasks during school, work, or other activities
Difficulty holding attention on tasks or play activities
Failure to listen when spoken to directly
Failure to follow through on instructions for schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace
Frequent trouble organizing tasks and activities
Avoidance, dislike, or reluctance to do tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework)
Frequently losing things necessary for tasks and activities
Often easily distracted
Often forgetful in daily activities

Symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity, on the other hand, often display persistent, excessively high energy levels in a variety of settings and activities. Some of these symptoms include:

Frequent fidgeting with or tapping hands or feet, or squirming in seat
Frequently leaving seat in situations when remaining seated is expected
Often running about or climbing in situations where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may just feel restless)
Inability to play or take part in leisure activities quietly
Excessive talking
Blurting out an answer before a question has been completed
Impatience
Often interrupting or intruding on others

Several symptoms from either of these categories need to have been present before the age of 12 and in two or more settings (such as at work, school, or home). There also needs to be clear evidence that these symptoms are disrupting the individual’s normal functions in school, work, or social settings, and that the symptoms are not better explained by another mental disorder.

Whether you’re an adult with symptoms of ADHD or the parent of a child presenting these symptoms, it’s essential to begin working with a doctor to get the medical care needed to manage these symptoms and reduce their disruptions to daily life as much as possible. You can schedule an appointment for diagnosis and treatment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 206-7001.

Allergic Asthma Testing

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

If you have asthma, now is the time to determine if seasonal allergies are worsening your symptoms. So, before you head out to do all the fun fall festivities, talk with your healthcare provider to see if a blood test for allergies is right for you.

Up to 90 percent of children and 60 percent of adults with asthma suffer from allergies. Identifying your triggers and reducing exposure could help you reduce the need for medication and improve your asthma.

Together with a detailed medical history and a physical examination, an allergy blood test will help a healthcare provider develop a customized treatment plan for allergic symptoms.

Most patients with asthma are seen in the primary care setting and most primary care providers have access to specific IgE testing. And testing to help rule in or rule out allergic sensitizations (and determining what your triggers are, if allergic) is key to coming up with a plan.

Test results are used by your healthcare provider, along with medical history and physical examination, to help manage your asthma.

That management plan includes being prepared for and even predicting attacks, responding to therapies, and developing personalized asthma action plans.

Your healthcare provider will create your asthma action plan with you. You should not create a plan on your own.

Schedule an appointment with your provider to see if specific IgE testing is appropriate for you and to develop an asthma action plan.

To schedule an appointment with a Family Medicine doctor at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call (718) 206-6942.

Reiki

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Reiki is considered to be a complementary medicine healing technique that was developed in the early 1900’s by Mikao Usui. It is a translation of two Japanese words, “rei” which means universal and “ki” which means the vital life energy. It is a healing modality that helps a person to feel relaxed and less stressed.

Each reiki session takes approximately 50 minutes. The patient lays fully clothed on a massage table and the person who is performing reiki places their hands either directly on or just above the patient’s body. This allows for the transfer of energy from the practitioner’s hands to the patient. This transfer of energy increases the flow and balance of energy through the body in order to help it heal.

The benefits of reiki include:

Brings on a meditative state
Promotes post-surgery healing
Increases the immune system
Diminishes pain
Promotes natural self-healing

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Integrative Health Center offers reiki to our patients. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-6914.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Kim Shelley

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

This month we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Kim Shelley, Manager of the Admitting Department.

Kim has been working at Jamaica Hospital for 31 years. She is a native of Queens, having grown up in Richmond Hill and now residing in Belle Harbor with her husband in a home overlooking the beautiful beach. Living at the beach gives her a pleasant way to decompress.

In her free time, she enjoys photography, and has become the official photographer at family get-togethers. She also takes beautiful sunrise photos overlooking the beach. Kim likes to listen to music and podcasts, and watch movies. She also enjoys traveling regularly to Colombia, South America to visit family. Other locations she has visited are Europe, Greece, Scandinavia and many destinations in the US. Some places that she hopes to get to visit one day are Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.

Dining out is one of Kim’s favorite things to do, especially at all the diverse local restaurants near her home. She likes to try new types of food if they aren’t very spicey. She comes from a long line of Mets baseball fans, and she considers herself a fan of the team as well. Family and friends are very important to her and she likes spending time with them.

Kim considers herself lucky to work at Jamaica Hospital because of all the wonderful colleagues she has met there, many of whom have become lifelong friends. She enjoys the work that she does and takes pride in helping the thousands of patients who pass through her department each year. We look forward to having Kim continue to work for many years in the future.

Prepare for Cold and Flu Season With These Tips

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

As the fall season begins, so does cold and flu season. There are a few essential steps you should take to prevent the spread of disease among your family and friends during this time. These include:

Getting Your Flu Vaccine: The flu vaccine is updated each year to keep up with new flu mutations and viral strains; it is the most simple, effective step you can take to protect against the flu. You can receive the flu vaccine from your doctor, local clinics, or at many major pharmacies.

Practicing Regular Hand Hygiene: Physical contact with other people, either directly (as with a handshake or hug) or indirectly (as when you hold a handrail on a bus or train), can be extremely difficult to avoid, but both of these methods of contact can spread germs that spread colds or the flu, particularly when those germs come into contact with your hands. You can keep your hands clean by washing them frequently with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can also help, but is less effective.

Maintaining Healthy Lifestyle Habits: Good nutrition, as well as the avoidance of substances such as tobacco or alcohol, can keep your immune system strong and better able to defend against disease. Regular exercise also boosts your immune system, in addition to providing numerous other benefits; however, if you’re sharing exercise equipment with other people, such as at a gym, make sure to sanitize both your hands and the equipment you’re using before and after usage.

You can receive the flu vaccine, as well as medical treatment for the flu, a cold, or other illnesses and conditions, from Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-7001.