Common Vaccines That Can Prevent Chronic Diseases or Some Cancers

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Vaccines don’t just protect you from specific infectious diseases or help reduce the severity of symptoms if you get sick. They also play a significant role in preventing you from developing common chronic diseases, including certain cancers.

What’s more, there is an increasing amount of research that has shown that vaccines can reduce the risk of developing dementia and heart conditions.

Here are some common vaccines that can prevent chronic diseases and some cancers:

HPV Vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection spread by skin-to-skin contact, often through sex, and is responsible for most cervical cancers. It can also cause a large number of lower genital cancers and certain head and neck cancers.

Studies have shown that rates of HPV infection, early signs of precancer, and cervical cancer have fallen since the HPV vaccine was introduced. A 2024 study of an estimated 3.5 million participants found fewer cases of HPV-related cancers in people who were vaccinated. Another study found that cervical cancer deaths among women younger than 25 years old dropped more than 60 percent in recent years, with researchers suggesting that the significant decline was most likely the result of vaccinations.

The HPV vaccine should be administered to all young people between the ages of nine and 26. It can be given to people up to the age of 45; however, the vaccine is less effective the older you are. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended for most people younger than 15 years old, and three shots for people between 15 and 26 years old and those who are immunocompromised.

Shingles Vaccine

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t leave your body after you have recovered from chicken pox and stays dormant in your nervous system, and for some people, it can reactivate and cause a painful rash. In the U.S., an estimated one million people get shingles each year, and for certain people, it can sometimes also cause lifelong chronic pain conditions or other serious complications, such as vision loss.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the shingles vaccine is 97 percent effective in preventing shingles in adults between 50 and 69 years old.

Additionally, many large-scale studies have reported a connection between the shingles vaccine and reduced risk of dementia. There is also research that suggests the vaccine could reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart failure, and coronary artery disease. The CDC recommends two doses of a shingles vaccine for adults 50 and older, or people 19 years or older with weakened immune symptoms. The chicken pox vaccine for children can help prevent shingles when they’re older.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

The hepatitis B virus is a leading risk factor for liver disease and cancer later in life. It can be contracted through sexual contact, needles, and childbirth, and can be passed from person to person through blood, semen, or other bodily fluids.

Acute hepatitis B can be a short-term illness that happens within the first six months of exposure to the virus. It can cause people to have no symptoms or only mild sickness. However, the illness, which is a liver infection that can become a lifelong chronic condition if left untreated, could lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is recommended that all infants receive the vaccine at birth, with the series of shots to be completed in the first 15 months of their life.

Flu, Coronavirus, and RSV Vaccine

Vaccines that help prevent infections from respiratory viruses are important because they protect us against serious disease, as well as flare-ups or worsening of existing chronic health conditions.

A study done in 2020 found higher rates of severe flu infections among adults with certain chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. Additionally, a study of 46 million adults observed that the incidence of heart attacks and strokes decreased after people received coronavirus vaccinations.

The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older should get an annual flu shot.

It is also important for those who have chronic conditions to get the coronavirus and RSV vaccines.

RSV can be devastating for children and elderly people. Getting the RSV vaccine is recommended for babies, pregnant women to protect their babies, adults ages 50 to 74 with chronic health conditions, and all adults 75 and older.

Bacterial Vaccines

Bacterial infections such as meningitis and pneumonia can also lead to chronic disabilities or even death.

The longer a person has a meningitis infection, the greater the risk of the infection causing serious complications such as hearing loss, vision troubles, memory issues, learning disabilities, brain damage, seizures, and kidney failure.

Pneumonia can have long-term effects, such as depression, heart disease, and blood vessel diseases that worsen. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, pneumonia could cause kidney, liver, and heart damage due to the organs not getting enough oxygen to function properly, or because of the immune system responding negatively to the infection.

Both bacterial meningitis and pneumonia can lead to sepsis. If treated early, a person suffering from sepsis can recover completely; however, others might experience long-term effects, including insomnia, nightmares or hallucinations, panic attacks, joint and muscle pain, decreased cognitive function, and organ failure.

The CDC recommends all preteens and teens, as well as children and adults who are at an increased risk, receive the meningococcal vaccine, as it protects against the disease that causes meningitis. Children five years and younger and adults 50 or older should receive the pneumococcal vaccine, which helps prevent pneumonia and other infections, including meningitis and sepsis.

It is important to remember that getting vaccinated is the best way to protect against worsening or serious symptoms of illness and developing chronic diseases and cancers.

To learn more about our infectious disease services or to make an appointment with our infectious disease physicians, please contact Jamaica Hospital Medical Center at 718-206-6000.

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.

Men’s Health Month- Health Screenings for Men

Posted on June 10, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

June is Men’s Health Month. This observance aims to raise awareness about preventable health problems that affect men and boys.

Statistics show men are less likely than women to seek medical attention when something affects their health. Men are also less likely to have preventative screenings and checkups with their healthcare providers. This is a problem as early detection of a medical condition is the best way to effectively treat and manage it.

Additionally, avoiding or delaying checkups or screenings could result in a treatable condition becoming severe and/or fatal.

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) publishes a list of recommended, age-specific screening guidelines for men to help them manage their health:

Screenings guidelines recommended for men ages 18-39 include:

Physical examinations

Blood pressure screenings

Cholesterol screenings

Colon cancer screenings

Dental examinations

Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes screenings

Eye examinations

Immunizations

Skin examinations

Infectious disease screenings

Screenings guidelines recommended for men ages 40-64 include:

Physical examinations

Blood pressure screenings

Cholesterol screenings

Colorectal cancer screenings

Prostate cancer screenings

Osteoporosis screening

Lung cancer screening

Infectious disease screening

Immunizations

Eye examinations

Dental examinations

Skin examinations

It is important to visit your healthcare providers regularly, even if you are feeling healthy. These visits can help:

Screen for any medical issues

Encourage a healthy lifestyle

Assess your risk for any future medical problems

Update vaccinations and other preventative care services

Help you get to know your healthcare provider in case of an illness

If you are experiencing any medical problems or would like to receive health screenings, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center, by calling (718) 206-7001.

Black Maternal Health Week: ElevateHer, Centering Pregnancy, and Heartwise

Posted on April 17, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Black Maternal Health Week takes place annually from April 11th to April 17th.

Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, this week-long campaign aims to build awareness, activism, and community-building to amplify the voices, perspectives, and lived experiences of Black mothers and birthing people.

Black Maternal Health Week highlights the importance of addressing the inequities of maternal and infant health.

According to data from the New York City Health Department, Black non-Hispanic women are about five times more likely to die from a pregnancy-associated cause than white non-Hispanic women.

This is due to the unfortunate number of disparities and challenges women in minority populations, such as Black women, may face pertaining to accessing prenatal care, including transportation issues, low socioeconomic status, lack of insurance, low education levels, and disparities in rural and urban healthcare access.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has three services to address these disparities: ElevateHer, Centering Pregnancy, and Heartwise.

ElevateHer is a comprehensive pregnancy program designed to support women throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journey. By taking a “whole person” approach, the program ensures that the health and well-being of the mother and baby are addressed. The program focuses on the health literacy of expectant and postpartum mothers by providing comprehensive, integrative healthcare education.

Heartwise care is an example of comprehensive integrative care, as it is designed to raise awareness of the heightened risks of cardiovascular disease related to pregnancy complications.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women in the U.S. It is also the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., which accounts for about 26.5% of such deaths. Approximately 1 in 3 pregnancy-related deaths are due to cardiovascular problems, with higher risks observed in Black women compared to their Hispanic or White counterparts.

Conditions, such as preterm delivery, hypertension, diabetes, etc., can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by two to four times later in life. To combat this, the ElevateHer program partners with Jamaica Hospital’s award-winning cardiology department for patients to have the appropriate follow-ups in group settings.

In addition to ElevateHer and Heartwise, the Centering Pregnancy program, an innovative prenatal model, is designed to promote the overall health and well-being of mother and baby.

Unlike traditional one-on-one prenatal visits, this approach incorporates small group sessions to receive medical care, education, and emotional support, to foster meaningful relationships between participants and clinicians.

After an initial private visit with a provider, participants in the centering pregnancy program, all of whom are in similar stages of their pregnancy, meet in a small group setting for their prenatal appointments, where participants share with and learn from each other during their pregnancy. Each of the ten-centering prenatal care group sessions is approximately 90 minutes long. This group dynamic gives each of the participants the advantage of having more time with their provider.

At the beginning of the session, our facilitator will guide each patient to get weighed, have their blood pressure checked, and record their values for the provider to review. The provider will listen to the baby’s heartbeat and review the pertinent patient-specific information. After this information is collected, the 8-12 participants will form a circle and begin the fun and interactive educational session.

If you would like to learn more about these services, you can schedule an appointment with an OB/GYN at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center. To learn more, please call (718) 291-3276.

How Does Winter Weather Increase Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease?

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

As we get deeper into this winter season, extreme, record-low cold temperatures have brought snow and frigid winds with them. These conditions can severely affect your heart, especially if you already suffer from or are at risk of cardiovascular disease.

The cold temperatures affect the heart by causing blood vessels to constrict, which is the body’s natural reaction to send blood deeper into the body. This doesn’t cause problems for those with healthy arteries. However, if someone has arteries that were narrowed by fatty plaque, cold-related blood vessel constriction can leave them more vulnerable to chest pain or a heart attack. This is especially true when engaging in a strenuous outdoor activity such as walking quickly in a strong wind or shoveling snow, which can commonly trigger a heart attack.

Strenuous outdoor activity in cold weather isn’t the only thing that can put the heart at risk. Cold temperatures also increase the risk of suffering from hypothermia. Hypothermia means the body’s temperature has fallen below 95 degrees Fahrenheit or 35 degrees Celsius, and the body can’t produce enough energy to keep its temperature warm enough. Cold-related blood vessel constriction keeps vital organs warm and helps reduce heat loss. If a person has narrowed blood vessels, the heart must work harder to pump blood through the body, which then raises blood pressure and puts stress on the heart. Hypothermia has several symptoms, including:

Lack of coordination

Slowed reaction time

Mental confusion

Shivering

Sleepiness

Hypothermia can be life-threatening, so it is extremely important to take proper precautions to stay warm by dressing in layers, keeping your head and ears covered, and keeping your hands and feet warm.

If you are going to engage in any strenuous outdoor activities, here are some tips to keep you safe:

Take frequent breaks

Learn the warning signs of a heart attack and listen to your body

Learn CPR

Be aware of the dangers of hypothermia

Don’t drink alcohol before or immediately after a strenuous activity

Consult with your healthcare provider

If you have, or are at risk of developing, or are experiencing symptoms of a heart condition, you should consult a cardiologist to explore the most effective precautions you can take to protect your heart health during the winter season. You can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-7100. If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 right away.

Benefits of Yoga for Heart Health

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

There are many aerobic exercises that can increase the heart rate and help prevent or manage heart disease. However, calming exercises such as yoga are good for the heart as well.

Yoga is a mind-body activity that involves moving through a series of body poses and breathing exercises that can improve strength, flexibility, balance, and relaxation. There are dozens of different formats, or practices of yoga, such as hatha, anusara, and ashtanga, that emphasize different focuses, such as toning, strength training, or meditation.

One of yoga’s clearest benefits to the heart is its ability to relax the body and mind. Emotional stress can cause several physical effects, including the release of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can narrow the arteries and increase blood pressure. The relaxation response that yoga provides not only slows the heart rate and lowers blood pressure; it may also reduce inflammation and promote favorable changes in blood vessel function that protect the heart.

Additionally, practicing yoga can help lower blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

As mind-body practices, yoga encourages people to slow down and be more mindful about heart-healthy behaviors, such as eating well and getting enough sleep. These habits, along with positive emotions that some forms of yoga aim to inspire, such as compassion and gratitude, may also help foster cardiovascular health.

Recent studies support the benefits of yoga for heart health. One study has shown that blood measurements and waist circumference, which are signs of heart disease, improved in middle-aged adults with metabolic syndrome who practiced yoga for three months.

Another study has shown that attending slow-paced yoga classes twice a week reduced the frequency of atrial fibrillation episodes in patients with that condition. Additionally, in another report, patients with heart failure who went through an eight-week yoga program showed improvement in exercise capacity and quality of life. They also had lower blood levels of markers for inflammation, which contributes to heart disease.

Research has also indicated that yoga may be a useful tool in helping smokers quit, as smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease.

If you would like to learn about other ways to be heart healthy, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-7100.

Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Cardiovascular disease can be deadly for anyone. However, women face unique risks, largely due to differences in anatomy and hormones. They are more likely to have other heart attack symptoms and have a higher chance of developing symptoms from heart failure.

Over 60 million women (44%) in the United States are living with some form of heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States and can affect them at any age.

There are three types of heart disease. They include:

Coronary artery disease is the most common heart disease, caused by plaque in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body. After menopause, women are at a higher risk of coronary artery disease because of hormonal changes.

Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats too slowly, too fast, or irregularly. A common example is atrial fibrillation.

Heart failure happens when the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to support other organs in the body. This condition is serious, but it doesn’t mean the heart has stopped beating.

Although some women have no symptoms, other women may experience:

Angina is usually felt as a dull or heavy chest discomfort or ache

Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat

Pain in the upper abdomen or back

These symptoms may happen when you are resting or active. Women may also have other symptoms, including:

Nausea

Vomiting

Tiredness that won’t go away of feels excessive

In some women, the first signs and symptoms if heart disease can be:

A heart attack

Palpitations

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced or blocked. The amount of damage to the heart muscle depends on the artery and the treatment.

The warning signs of a heart attack include:

Chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or doesn’t go away and returns

Pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, and stomach

Shortness of breath

Other signs can include:

Breaking out in a cold sweat

Nausea

A rapid or irregular heartbeat

Unusual tiredness

Lightheadedness

Medical treatment for a heart attack is based on the type of heart attack and where the blockage in the coronary artery is.

A complete blockage of the artery of the heart is a STEMI or ST-elevation myocardial infarction. A partial blockage is an NSTEMI heart attack or a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The different ways to restore blood flow to the affected heart muscle during a heart attack include:

Clot-dissolving medications

Balloon angioplasty and stenting

Surgery

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911 right away. If you are experiencing heart attack symptoms, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-1700.

National Afib Awareness Month

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

September is National Afib Awareness Month. Afib stands for atrial fibrillation, a type of arrhythmia or abnormal heartbeat. During Afib, the heart’s upper chambers, or the atria, beat chaotically and irregularly. They beat out of sync with the lower heart chambers, the ventricles.

Afib can lead to blood clots in the heart. It also increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.

It usually isn’t life-threatening, but it is a serious medical condition that needs proper treatment to prevent serious health issues.

There are many symptoms of Afib, they can include:

Feelings of a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat
Chest pain
Dizziness
Fatigue
Lightheadedness
Reduced ability to exercise
Shortness of breath
Weakness

People can experience three types of Afib, including:

Paroxysmal Afib
Persistent Afib
Long-standing persistent Afib

The most common cause of Afib is problems with the heart’s structure. Other health problems and heart diseases that can cause Afib include:

A congenital heart defect
Sick sinus syndrome
Obstructive sleep apnea
Heart attack
High blood pressure
Lung diseases, including pneumonia
Coronary artery disease
Thyroid diseases
Infections from viruses

Many factors can increase your risk of Afib, including:

Age
Caffeine, nicotine, or illegal drug use
Drinking too much alcohol
Changes in the level of body minerals
Family history
Long-term health conditions
Obesity
Some medicines and supplements

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent Afib. Some basic heart-healthy tips include:

Controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
Not smoking or using tobacco
Eating a diet that is low in salt and saturated fat
Exercising at least 30 minutes a day at least five days a week
Getting at least seven to nine hours of sleep a day
Maintaining a healthy weight
Reducing and managing stress

Afib is diagnosed when a healthcare provider examines you and asks questions about your medical history and symptoms. Tests may be done to look for conditions causing irregular heartbeats such as heart disease or thyroid disease, including:

Blood tests
ECG or EKG
Holter monitor
Event recorder
Implantable loop recorder
Exercise stress tests
Chest X-ray

The goals of Afib treatment are to reset and control the heartbeat and prevent blood clots. Treatment for Afib depends on how long you’ve had it, your symptoms, and the cause of the irregular heartbeat. Afib treatment can include:

Medications
Cardioversion therapy
Surgery or catheter procedures

If you are experiencing any symptoms of Afib, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-7100. If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 right away.

Facts About Aspirin Therapy

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Michael Hinck

Daily aspirin therapy is sometimes recommended for people who are at risk for heart attacks or diagnosed with certain heart diseases. While this form of therapy is effective, it may not be the right form of treatment for everyone.

Taking occasional doses of aspirin is typically safe; however, daily use can lead to serious side effects. This is why it is highly advised that you speak with your doctor to determine if this approach is best for you. Serious side effects of aspirin can include:

Gastrointestinal bleeding
A stroke resulting from a burst blood vessel
Allergic reactions

Recommendations for daily aspirin use may vary from person-to-person. Your doctor may recommend this regimen if you have:

Coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis
Had a heart attack
Had a transient ischemic attack or stroke
Had bypass surgery or a stent placement procedure

Your doctor may not recommend daily aspirin therapy if you:

Have a bleeding or clotting disorder
Have bleeding stomach ulcers
Have an aspirin intolerance
Drink alcohol regularly
Are undergoing certain medical or dental procedures

If you are considering daily aspirin therapy, you must consult your physician before you begin. You should inform your doctor about any health conditions or risks you may have that will increase the chances of complications. Provide a list of medications that you are taking, as some may contribute to drug interactions and adverse effects. Based on the current condition of your health, your doctor will advise you as to whether or not daily aspirin therapy is right for you.

February is American Heart Month

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

Over 50 years ago President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed the month of February to be American Heart Month in order to bring attention to one of the leading causes of death in the United States. This tradition has been carried on by every President since.

Each year over 800,000 lives are taken as a result of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Every 84 seconds someone in the United States dies from the disease and each year approximately 750,000 people experience a heart attack and of those, about 115,000 will not survive.

The American Heart Association recommends the following behavioral modifications to prevent heart disease:

Avoid smoking
Engage in some form of daily physical activity
Follow a healthy diet
Maintain a healthy body weight
Control cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels

The death rate from heart disease has been improving slowly over the last decade due to advances in medications, better diagnostic capabilities, and better access to health care, but the statistics are still pretty alarming. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-6742.

Jamaica Hospital Supports American Heart Month

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

This month, many candy hearts will be exchanged in honor of Valentine’s Day, but Jamaica Hospital Medical Center wants the community to give some thoughts to hearts that are not made of chocolate. That’s because February is also American Heart Month, a special designation intended to remind everyone the importance of heart health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States and the numbers are increasing. The good news is, by working with your doctor to monitor your condition and by making changes to your lifestyle, heart disease is preventable for most.

Here are some tips to improve your heart health

Schedule an appointment with your doctor, who can conduct a physical evaluation and test your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. If necessary, your doctor can prescribe certain medications to control both.
Maintain a healthy diet and control your weight. Obesity is one of the leading contributors to heart disease.
Increase your physical activity. By joining a gym or taking up walking, make exercise part of your daily routine
Monitor your alcohol intake and if you smoke, quit immediately. Cigarette smoke and alcohol are two factors that put individuals at an increased risk of heart disease.

Please make an appointment to see your doctor to have your heart checked immediately. If you do not have a doctor, you can make an appointment at Jamaica Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718-206-7001. If a heart condition is suspected, a referral can be to our Cardiology Department, where we can perform a variety of tests to determine the best treatment plan for you.

Join Jamaica Hospital as we recognize American Heart Month. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle and your regularly scheduled appointments, you can enjoy this Valentine’s Day with a clean bill of heart health.