Syphilis Cases Are Rising – Here’s What You Need to Know

A doctor talking to a patient while writing notes.Syphilis cases throughout the United States have surged dramatically over the past five years, increasing by nearly 79% according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The uptick in cases of congenital syphilis is even more staggering, with an increase of 183.4% from 2018 to 2022. As this epidemic worsens, it’s important to have the facts about syphilis and learn more about what you can do to keep yourself and others safe.

Syphilis is a type of sexually-transmitted infection (STI), meaning that it is spread through sexual contact with other people. It is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact with a syphilis sore on another person’s body, but can also spread through casual contact with objects that a person with syphilis may have used, such as toilet seats, door knobs, clothing, or eating utensils. You can also become infected through using shared spaces such as bathtubs or swimming pools.

In its primary stage, syphilis causes firm, round, and painless sores around the site where the infection entered your body. Even if these sores go away without treatment, the disease may enter its secondary stage, which can cause rashes and other symptoms, such as:

  • Fever
  • Swollen lymph glands
  • Sore throat
  • Patchy hair loss
  • Headaches
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Muscle aches
  • Fatigue

The latent stage of syphilis, which follows the secondary phase, does not present new symptoms. However, it can progress into the tertiary stage, during which the disease can cause damage to organs such as the heart, brain, blood vessels, and eyes. Without treatment, syphilis that enters the tertiary stage can result in death.

Congenital syphilis can occur when a mother with syphilis transmits the infection to her baby. This type of syphilis can cause severe health complications for an affected baby, including:

  • Bone deformities
  • Severe anemia
  • Enlarged liver and spleen
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  • Nervous system problems, such as blindness or deafness
  • Meningitis
  • Skin rashes
  • Death

You should get tested for syphilis if you are:

  • Sexually active, especially if you do not use condoms
  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • Have HIV
  • Are taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention
  • Have previously had (or currently have) sexual contact with partners who have tested positive for syphilis

You can receive diagnostic testing and treatment for syphilis at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

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.

National Bullying Prevention Month

As much as 20% of children aged 12 to 18 experiencing bullying throughout the United States. It is a prevalent issue that can happen at school, home, online, or in any other place where children regularly spend time.

Bullying is a problem that holds consequences for both victims and perpetrators. Kids who get bullied are at higher risk for mental and emotional issues such as depression and anxiety, health issues, and decreased academic performance. Bullies themselves are at higher risk for substance abuse, criminal behavior, and dropping out of school. Even kids who witness bullying may face a higher risk of substance abuse, mental health problems, and absenteeism.

Deadly consequences can occur as a result of bullying. It can contribute to a victim’s risk of committing suicide or, in rare cases, to extremely violent retaliatory measures such as a mass shooting.

Preventing bullying effectively involves helping children understand bullying, teaching them how to respond to it, and providing positive examples for them to follow. You can achieve these objectives by:

  • Providing a clear explanation of what bullying is and how it affects others.
  • Helping children to identify bullying and encouraging them to report it to an adult.
  • Teaching children to treat people with respect, kindness, and empathy.

If you believe that your child is experiencing mental health or developmental problems that are causing them to bully other children or are a result of their experiences as a victim of bullying, you can schedule an appointment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric Department by calling (718) 670-5213 now.

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.

3 Dangerous Social Media Health Trends to Avoid

Popular social media sites such as Instagram and TikTok often give rise to a variety of health and wellness trends. However, many of these trends offer questionable medical benefits and, in some cases, can lead to harmful consequences. Three recent examples of these trends include dry scooping, sunscreen contouring, and cooking chicken in NyQuil.

Dry scooping involves eating pre-workout powders with high volumes of ingredients such as caffeine, creatine, and beta-alanine without mixing them into a liquid. This practice has gained traction over the past year among online fitness communities and influencers, as it’s believed to increase the body’s absorption of the compounds in a powder and allow a person to exercise at increased intensity.

You may, however, find yourself unable to swallow the powder due to its texture and accidentally inhale it, causing inflammation in your throat and nasal passages as well as potentially infecting your lungs. Additionally, this method of ingesting the powder introduces a large amount of caffeine into your body more quickly than drinking it in liquid form, increasing your risk of heart problems. Dry scooping also increases your risk of suffering from digestive issues.

Sunscreen contouring is another dangerous trend that’s emerged through social media this year. It involves applying sunscreen to the high points of your face and staying in the sun to allow tan lines to form and produce a contoured effect.

The primary danger of this trend is that it significantly increases your risk of receiving sunburrns and developing skin cancer. Cumulative ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun over time can cause basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers to form. Sunburns, particularly severe ones that cause blistering, can also become melanoma later in life.

NyQuil chicken recently re-emerged as a TikTok trend after first appearing several years ago on the popular website Reddit. It involves cooking chicken in the cold medicine NyQuil.

As the chicken is cooked and the NyQuil boils in the pan, certain compounds evaporate, leaving behind a concentrated amount of other ingredients that may cause toxic side-effects such as seizures, liver disease, and even death.

Avoid these trends and do what you can to prevent family members and friends, particularly young people who may be more vulnerable to them, from attempting them.

If you experience immediate adverse effects from these practices, dial 9-1-1 and get help immediately. If you’re concerned about cumulative effects from these trends, please schedule an appointment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.

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.

The Dangers of Distracted Cycling

More people are cycling these days; for pleasure or for work. With the increase in the number of people using bicycles to get from place to place, there has also been an increase in the number of accidents involving cyclists.

Some of these accidents are due to distracted motor vehicle drivers but others are due to cyclists not paying full attention to the road.

The two most common distractions that lead to accidents are cyclists using ear buds to listen to music or talk on the phone while pedaling. This limits their ability to hear car horns and other audio cues in their surroundings. Another distraction is using hand- held mobile devices. Using cellphones or other mobile devices while riding creates a visual distraction and prevents cyclists from watching the road for signs of danger and holding their handlebars properly.

To ensure their safety, people on bicycles must use their vision and hearing to give their full attention to their environment.

Cyclists should obey the rules of the road, be mindful of keeping their eyes and ears free from distractions, always wear a helmet, and keep in mind that motorists may not be paying attention.

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.

Baby-Led Weaning is a New Way of Feeding Your Baby – Learn More About it

Every parent remembers when they first introduced their baby to solid foods. This momentous occasion of spoon-feeding them pureed food is considered a major milestone for babies and their parents.

Today however, more and more parents are opting to skip the applesauce and mashed sweet potatoes and instead are adopting a new feeding technique called “baby-led weaning” ( or BLW)  for their babies. This alternative approach to feeding, first introduced in the UK a decade ago, involves introducing solid chunks of foods much earlier on by placing them on the baby’s high chair and letting them grasp the food and feed themselves directly. As the name implies, feeding time is led by the baby as they determine the pace and the amount of food they consume; basically, baby-led weaning puts the baby in charge.

While children all develop at different paces, advocates of baby-led weaning agree that this method of eating shouldn’t be introduced until the baby is ready. Cues to begin BLW include making sure that your baby can sit up straight unassisted, have good neck strength and be able move food to the back of their mouth with up and down jaw movements. Most babies develop these skills by the sixth month, but some babies may not fully develop them until they are nine months old.

Proponents of BLW believe that it holds many benefits, including enhancing baby’s hand-eye coordination and other fine motor skills, including using their thumb and index finger to grasp their food. They also feel that it will produce healthier eaters than spoon-fed babies because BLW eaters get to choose how much they eat as opposed to traditional feeding methods, which sometimes results in force feeding.  Other advantages that BLW supporters claim to be true is that it creates a more enjoyable feeding experience for babies and less stress on their parents.

Detractors of baby-led weaning feeders point out that these babies are generally underweight as compared to spoon-fed babies because they simply do not ingest that much when they are first introduced to this way of eating due to difficulties grabbing food.  BLW babies also tend to be iron-deficient because they aren’t consuming the iron-fortified cereals that spoon–fed babies typically eat. Lastly, a big concern for many parents is the increased choking hazards associated with BLW, and while the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t have opinion of BLW, they do state that babies are ready for solid food once they are ready to sit up on their own and bring their hand to their mouth.

If you are considering baby led weaning for your child, here are a few tips:

  • Continue breast feeding and / or formula feeding as this will continue to be your baby’s biggest source of nutrition until they are 12 months old.
  • Begin BLW feedings with softer foods, such as ripe fruits, cooked egg yolks, and shredded meats, poultry and fish.
  • Avoid foods that can pose as choking hazards, such as nuts, grapes, popcorn, or foods cut into coin shapes, like hot dogs.
  • Do not leave your child unattended during BLW feeding times. Continue to supervise and socialize with them while they eat and to have them eat when the rest of the family does.
  • Don’t panic if your baby gags as it is a safe a natural reflex. Instead of overreacting, prepare for a choking event by familiarizing yourself with the infant-specific Heimlich maneuver.
  • Introduce new foods one at a time to pinpoint potential food allergies. A recommended length of time is three to four days between foods.
  • The goal of BLW is to let your baby explore eating at their own pace. This may include the smashing, smearing, or dropping of food, so prepare for a mess.

Before you decide to adopt BLW to your child, it is a good idea to discuss with your child’s pediatrician as it may not be a good idea for all babies, especially those babies with known developmental delays or neurological issues.

To make an appointment with a pediatrician at Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center, please call 718-670-5486.

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.

History of the Heimlich Maneuver

man performing the Heimlich maneuver on a woman

man performing the Heimlich maneuver on a woman

Recently Dr. Henry Heimlich passed away and in his memory we would like to share a brief history of how his discovery changed the world.

In 1972 the Heimlich maneuver was conceived of by Dr. Henry Heimlich, a thoracic surgeon, who noted that many people were dying each year from choking.  He conceptualized using air that was compressed in the lungs to help expel whatever was blocking the windpipe.  Dr. Heimlich first worked on anesthetized dogs in a laboratory in order to perfect his technique. He found that by compressing the abdomen with an upward thrust, he could successfully clear a blockage in the windpipe. Since the invention of this technique, the Heimlich maneuver has saved several million lives.
Link to demonstration of Heimlich Maneuver: http://www.wikihow.com/Perform-the-Heimlich-Maneuver

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.

Is Your Home Safe for Someone Struggling with Addiction?

Living with someone who is struggling with an addiction can be very difficult. One important aspect of helping them recover is making your home drug and alcohol free. For most, this means emptying the liquor and medicine cabinets. However, that might not be enough as there are many other substances used to get “high” in your home. An addict might turn to any number of household items in times of desperation including:

 

One person a man is fighting Ebola virus himself

• Hand Sanitizers – These items, commonly found in most homes contain up to 60% alcohol. Recently, there have been many reported cases of individuals being rushed to hospital emergency rooms after consuming hand sanitizers hoping to become intoxicated. A simple tip: replace all hand sanitizers with an old fashioned bar of soap.

• Bathroom Items – Those living with an addict should keep track of certain bathroom items as well. Bath salts contain amphetamine–like chemicals that, if sniffed, can be very dangerous. In addition, potpourri, also often found in bathrooms can be smoked and can result in the user experiencing a sense of paranoia, hallucinations and even heart palpitations.

Spice rack

• Spices – Used for cooking or baking, spices such as nutmeg or cinnamon are being consumed by those looking for a high because they contain natural compounds that are known to cause hallucinations and feelings of euphoria when taken in large quantities.

• Whip Its – This term describes the practice of using aerosol spray cans of whipped cream to get high. These cans contain nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. Users can experience highs that can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. This practice can be very dangerous to the user.

If someone you know is struggling with addiction, Flushing Hospital has services that can help. We offer both inpatient and outpatient addiction services. For more information about our outpatient Reflection clinic, or our inpatient Chemical dependency Unit, please call 718-670-4416.

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.