Health Beat

Gluten Intolerance

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Xavia Malcolm

Gluten intolerance or non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a disorder characterized by the body reacting negatively to gluten, a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley.

The symptoms of gluten intolerance are often similar to those of celiac disease; however, unlike celiac disease, the body’s response to gluten does not result in permanent damage to the small intestine. Here are some of the most common symptoms of gluten intolerance:

Diarrhea
Constipation
Bloating or gas
Fatigue
Brain fog
Depression and anxiety
Stomach pain
Nausea and vomiting
Itchy skin
Joint pain
Anemia

The causes of gluten intolerance are unknown and there is no known cure. However, some people may find relief from symptoms by following a gluten-free diet.

Your healthcare provider can diagnose non-celiac gluten sensitivity by conducting tests to rule out celiac disease or wheat allergy, evaluating your medical history, or guiding you through an elimination diet. Treatment for gluten intolerance typically consists of following a gluten-free diet.

Going gluten-free can be challenging, but it doesn’t mean cutting out some of your favorite foods; many gluten-free alternatives are available. A registered dietitian can help you choose the right foods for your new lifestyle.

To schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist or dietitian at Flushing Hospital Medical 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.

The Do’s and Don’ts for Monday’s Solar Eclipse

Posted on April 5, 2024 by Jacob Lobosco

On Monday, April 8^th, a total solar eclipse will be visible across North America. During a total solar eclipse, the moon completely obscures the sun as it orbits the Earth, causing it to appear like a dark circle surrounded by a ring of light. The moon will pass the sun from about 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM; in New York, the total eclipse should be visible between 3:00 and 3:30. This type of eclipse is not rare, taking place approximately every 1.5 years. However, they often occur in more remote parts of the world; this eclipse will be the first one to be visible in the United States since 2017.

While this event will make for a rare and interesting sight, it’s important to take safety precautions to protect your eyesight if you plan to view it. Any amount of time spent looking at the sun can permanently damage your retina and potentially cause blindness. Make sure to follow these tips to protect your eye health while watching the eclipse:

Do: View the eclipse with glasses that contain solar filters or hand-held solar viewers. Ordinary sunglasses do not sufficiently protect you against the harmful effects of looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse.

Do: Make sure any eclipse glasses or viewers you purchase come from a reputable vendor that verifiably includes solar filters into their products.

Do: Read any instructions that come with your eclipse viewer or glasses. If you plan to look at the eclipse with your child, make sure to help them understand how to use these tools to view the sun safely.

Don’t: Look at the sun through cameras, telescopes, or binoculars that do not contain a solar filter, even if you are wearing glasses or using a viewer that contains a solar filter at the same time. These devices can concentrate the sun’s rays in a way that damages the solar filter.

Don’t: Use your eclipse glasses or viewer if they have visible damage or scratches on them, as these can reduce their protective effects.

If you’ve experience eye damage due to the effects of the sun, you can visit an ophthalmologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Enjoy A Healthy Springtime Recipe

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

Spring has arrived and what better way to celebrate than with a tasty, easy to prepare meal made with creamy mushrooms, peas and chicken. Here is a delicious recipe from the Food Network for chicken, mushrooms and peas. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/chicken-with-creamy-mushrooms-and-snap-peas-recipe-1972982.

Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Posted on April 3, 2024 by Jacob Lobosco

During Parkinson’s Awareness Month, healthcare organizations work to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease, including symptoms, warning signs, and all current resources available to improve the quality of life experienced by people living with this condition.

Parkinson’s is a progressive disease of the nervous system that causes tremors and muscular rigidity; this, in turn, leads to slow and imprecise body movements. The disease is caused by the degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which controls many of the body’s movements. Parkinson’s mostly affects people who are middle-aged or elderly.

Not all symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear immediately; some people can live with the disease for years or decades before non-motor symptoms begin to appear. Some specific signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s include:

Tremor: A tremor, or shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers.
Slowed movement: Over time, Parkinson’s disease may reduce your ability to move, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming.
Rigid muscles: Muscle stiffness can occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles can limit your range of motion and cause pain.
Impaired posture and balance: Your posture may become stooped, or you may have balance problems.
Loss of automatic movements: Parkinson’s disease can lead to a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling, or swinging your arms when you walk.
Speech changes: You may speak softly or quickly, slur, or hesitate before talking. Your speech may be more monotone, rather than having normal inflections.
Writing changes: It may become hard to write and/or your writing may appear small.

Some symptoms, such as tremors, can be managed through certain medications. These medications can act as a substitute for dopamine, sending signals to your brain that function similarly to this neurotransmitter. Although these medications can become less effective over time, some patients experience significant improvement in their symptoms as a result of treatment.

Parkinson’s disease can be frightening and challenging to live with, but there are treatment options available to help you engage in your normal daily activities more easily. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a neurologist, please call Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center at (718) 670-5486.

Smoking And Cardiovascular Disease

Posted on April 2, 2024 by Xavia Malcolm

Smoking tobacco products can lead to adverse effects on our cardiovascular health; it is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death in the United States.

The chemicals inhaled when smoking cigarettes can affect the way our cardiovascular systems function in several ways. This includes:

Damaging blood vessels
Causing the thickening and narrowing of blood vessels
Causing a rise in blood pressure
Causing an increase in heart rate
Increasing the risk of blood clots
Creating a buildup of plaque in the arteries
Reducing the supply of oxygen used by the body
Reducing the HDL or good cholesterol in the body

Furthermore, smoking tobacco can lead to the development of life-threatening cardiovascular complications such as:

Stroke
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Atherosclerosis
Heart Attack

Smoking is the most preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and complications caused by CVD. You can protect and improve your heart health by quitting smoking. Studies show that smokers can reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease immediately after quitting. Additionally, the risk for heart attack greatly decreases one year after quitting smoking, and within five years of quitting, a smoker can reduce the risk for stroke.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s smoking cessation team wants to help you develop a plan leading to your “quit day”. Flushing Hospital has partnered with the American Lung Association to bring you Freedom from Smoking, a comprehensive and successful group-based smoking cessation program.

For more information about smoking cessation programs or to register for our program, call: 718 206 8494

Tips to Prevent Exercise Injuries

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Jacob Lobosco

Exercise is generally good for your health; in fact, adults are recommended to get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity each week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, it’s also important to keep in mind that there is always a risk of physical injury while exercising. Some of the most common exercise-related injuries include:

Injuries to your shoulders, knees, elbows, legs, or ankles
Bone fractures
Dislocation
Sprains
Strains
Tendinitis
Bursitis

Several factors affect your risk of experiencing an injury while exercising. One of these is the exercise itself; certain exercises are more challenging than others and, as a result, may be more likely to cause an injury if you are not able to perform them properly. Another factor is frequency; a moderate amount of exercise is healthy, but working out excessively can put too much stress on your body. You may also be more likely to experience an injury if you have a medical condition or disability that makes an exercise more difficult to perform.

You can off-set these risk factors by taking certain steps to keep yourself safe. When you exercise, you should:

Learning the correct form for each exercise you plan to do
Warm up before performing an exercise (for example, by performing the exercise at a very light weight)
Cool down after performing an exercise (you can repeat your warm-up exercise or do a different, slow-paced activity for this)
Using safety equipment (talk to your doctor about what would be most appropriate for the exercises you plan to do)
Talking to your doctor about the types of exercises you plan to perform to make sure that they are safe for you
Varying your exercises throughout the week, focusing on different muscles each day you work out

It’s also important to recognize when you’re experiencing pain (as opposed to soreness) while working out. Sore muscles are normal, both during and after exercise, and you will need to push yourself to a reasonable extent. However, if you feel pain, stop exercising right away. Additionally, if you feel that you physically cannot finish an exercise, don’t try to force yourself to do so; this can lead to overuse injuries.

If you’ve injured yourself while exercising, you can receive a diagnosis and treatment from a physiatrist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Rehabilitation. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5515.

Natural Ways to do Spring Cleaning

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

Springtime means spring cleaning. If you’re looking for an alternative to store bought cleaners, check out these low-cost, non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning solutions for a fresh smelling home:

Baking Soda – cleans, softens water, and scours. You can also use baking soda to deodorize food storage containers and sprinkle on your carpet to absorb smells before vacuuming.
White Vinegar – cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up. Use equal parts white vinegar and water to wash both the interior and exterior of your fridge.
Lemons – effective against most household bacteria. Use lemon peels in your garbage disposal to help deodorize it.

You can also try these combinations:

All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, and bathroom mirrors.
Mold and Mildew cleaner: Use white vinegar or lemon juice full strength. Apply with a sponge or scrubby.
Window Cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Only use the black and white newspapers, not the colored ones. Don’t clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying.
Furniture Polish: For varnished wood, add a few drops of lemon oil into a 1/2 cup warm water. Mix well and spray onto a soft, slightly damp, cotton cloth. Wipe furniture with the cloth, and finish by wiping once more using a dry soft cotton cloth.

One more tip: Whenever you clean your home, save the floor or carpet for last. Clean window blinds and shelves first and then work downwards. This allows time for the dust to settle before vacuuming.

Stress Eating

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Xavia Malcolm

Experiencing chronic or long-term stress causes our bodies to release the hormone cortisol, which can stimulate our appetites. Additionally, chronic stress appears to have an effect on the types of foods we choose to eat, as studies show we are more likely to consume meals that are high in sugar or fat when we are stressed.

Overeating due to stress and making poor food choices can lead to unhealthy weight gain. Therefore, it is important to learn how to cope with stress in a healthy way and avoid emotional eating. Here are a few ways to achieve these goals:

Identify triggers or events that lead to stress eating
Manage your stress through relaxation techniques such as meditation
Pause before giving in to cravings (Experts recommend putting off eating for one to five minutes)
Find healthier food options
Practice mindful eating
Practice portion control
Exercise
Connect with others who can support you during a difficult time

If you are experiencing stress for an extended period, you should seek the assistance of a licensed mental health professional to help you practice effective stress reduction techniques. Additionally, if you are facing challenges with adhering to a healthy diet, a registered dietitian can help you to get on track with making better food choices.

To schedule an appointment with healthcare providers at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486.

National Poison Prevention Week

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Jacob Lobosco

Each year, more than 2 million poison-related injuries and deaths occur in the United States. In the majority of these cases, the victims are children, and more than 90 percent of these cases occur at home due to exposure to (or ingestion of) common household items that can be toxic. This often occurs due to a lack of proper storage, disposal, or concealment of these items, making it easy for children or other vulnerable members of the household to access them.

To keep your family safe from poisoning, the American Association of Poison Control Centers recommends that you follow these best practices:

Display the Poison Help phone number (1-800-222-1222) in a location that is readily accessible or easily noticeable. Remember: this phone line is meant to help in the event of an accidental exposure, but if you or someone else experiences a medical emergency, such as loss of consciousness, severe illness, seizures, or other symptoms, dial 911 right away.
Safely store the following substances in cabinets with child-proof locks or in child-resistant containers:
- Medications
- Vitamins
- Tobacco products, especially liquid nicotine
- Laundry and cleaning supplies
- Alcohol
- Pesticides or insect repellants
- Hand sanitizers
- Small batteries
Read medication labels thoroughly before taking or administering them; if you don’t understand something, call your doctor.
Avoid calling medication “candy” to get children to take it.
Avoid taking medications in front of young children.
Do not use food storage containers to store harmful products such as detergents or pesticides; make sure these products remain in the containers they came in and store them out of the reach of your children.

Make sure to implement a regular routine that reinforces these practices. If you, your child, or someone else in your household experiences a poison-related medical emergency, dial 911 immediately.

Meet Our New Beginnings Team Member Yuna Lee, RN

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

This month we are proud to highlight Yuna Lee, RN, a nurse in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Yuna began her nursing career at Flushing Hospital Medical Center in 2014 and in our NICU in 2015. Her passion for working with babies, especially pre-term babies, began when she was doing her clinical rotations in nursing school. One of the babies she worked with was born at 23 weeks, was on a ventilator and weighed only 600 grams. It was at that point that her passion for taking care of fragile babies really blossomed.

The babies in the NICU are very delicate and fragile. It really takes a special type of person to care for them properly. Yuna’s main role is of course to take care of the babies, but she also has to comfort the parents of these babies because they very often need support.

Yuna feels very fortunate to be working with such a wonderful team in her unit. They have all become like a family to her. She also enjoys working at Flushing Hospital because it is her community and she is helping to make people’s lives better.