Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips, Your Health
Dr. Cindy Feely
In my daily practice at Primary Care Associates, I get asked many questions about the flu and the flu vaccine. Despite improved access to accurate, responsible information in the media and on the web, a number of myths about the flu and the vaccine still exist. So here it is, point-by-point, information for you to make informed choices for your healthcare.
Myth #1: The flu vaccine gives you the flu
Facts: The vaccine, including this year’s version, consists of a dead virus which cannot infect you. What it can do is make your body produce the antibodies necessary to fight that virus if you come in contact with a live version of it. The live virus is included in the Flu Mist – a nasal spray, not an injection – but it is engineered so that it will not make you sick.
Myth #2: If you weren’t vaccinated by November, there’s no point in getting it now
Facts: While we are seeing a large number of cases right now, the flu often doesn’t hit its peak until February or even March. And while it does take two weeks to be fully effective, the vaccine will help lessen the severity if you do get the flu.
Myth #3: There’s no treatment for the flu
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Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Men's Health, Sexual Health, Urology
Guest blog post by Doron S. Stember, MD, Urologist at Beth Israel Medical Center.
A major medical study published several years ago showed that 50% of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 experience erectile dysfunction (ED) on at least some occasions. The first line of treatment is oral therapy (pills), including Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. For most men with ED, these pills provide a satisfactory solution. Some men, however, do not respond to pills, and for others, including those with certain heart conditions, the pills are unsafe. What are their options? (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Cardiology, Diabetes, Diet and Nutrition, News, Popular
Guest post by Simone Walters, MS, RD
Whether in the form of a hot beverage to keep the winter chill at bay or as delicious candies received as gifts for Valentine’s Day, it would seem that chocolate holds a special place in everyone’s heart this time of year—perhaps year-round if you fashion yourself a chocoholic! There have also been several reports in recent years regarding the health benefits of chocolate, music to the ears of chocolate lovers everywhere. In spite of these health benefits, it is still quite a stretch to say that chocolate is good for you. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips, Your Health
Influenza has officially reached epidemic proportions in several regions of the United States. Approximately 7.3% of deaths (exceeding the 7.2% threshold) are now attributed to pneumonia and the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mount Sinai is taking a number of actions in order to continue to provide optimal care to all of our patients and to protect our patients and staff from exposure to influenza.
What can you do to protect yourself and others from influenza?
- It’s not too late to get vaccinated. Click here to make an appointment online with one of our primary care doctors or call 212-241-6585
- Dr. Prarthana Beuria recommends being vigilant about washing hands every time you’re out in public and around lots of people, whether in the subway or at the office, and to avoid touching your face with your hands.
- If you have the flu, Dr. Beuria recommends that you “stay home from work until the fever has been gone for 24 hours. If people around you have compromised immune systems, stay away.”
Click here to view the full infographic
Aquí está la influenza gráfica en Español
Who is at risk of getting the flu?
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Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Holistic Health, Integrative Medicine
Guest post by Abigail Strubel, MA, LCSW
Aromatherapy is a great way to relax, relieve stress and recharge your batteries. Certain aromas have been shown to have strong effects on our state of mind. Inhaling particular fragrances can clear troubling thoughts from your mind, allowing you to take a micro-vacation from your worries, and to relax and return to work refreshed.
Most aromatherapy is practiced using essential oils—highly concentrated plant essences. These oils are very potent and can be irritating, so make sure they do not come into contact with your skin. Different oils are associated with different effects:
• Floral essences like rose, geranium, jasmine and gardenia are helpful for easing stress and depression.
• Lavender is excellent for relaxation and promotes healthful sleep.
• Peppermint and eucalyptus are invigorating; they can also help clear your sinuses.
• Warm, familiar scents like cinnamon and vanilla are comforting and soothing, perhaps because they evoke childhood memories of Mom or Grandma baking something delicious.
• Brisk citrus scents like lime, grapefruit and orange can help you feel more energized.
There are several ways to enjoy essential oils. One method is to sprinkle a few drops into a humidifier. You can also use an essential oil diffuser, a special tool that uses either heat or heat and water to disperse the fragrance throughout a room. Aromatherapy oils and diffusers are available online at stores like Puritan’s Pride, Aura Cacia and House of Nutrition* (helpful Google search terms: “essential oils,” “aromatherapy oils,” “essential oil diffuser”), and can also be found in your local Sephora, Bath & Body Works or Bed Bath & Beyond.
One of my favorite ways to enjoy aromatherapy is to create a sachet—a small, soft, fragrant packet:
1. Take some mesh or gauzy fabric (I often use a chiffon scarf or shawl from a discount store like Marshall’s, but you can also purchase mesh at a craft store) and cut it into 4-inch squares.
2. Take two cotton balls. Put a few drops of essential oil on one, and press them together.
3. Put the cotton in the center of the fabric. Wrap the fabric around the cotton balls.
4. Twist the ends of the fabric and tie with a ribbon or string.
5. Voilà! Take a whiff and relax for an instant aromatherapy break. You can also place sachets in your closet or drawers to scent your clothing.
* Beth Israel Medical Center is not responsible for, does not endorse, and cannot assure the accuracy of information on these outside web sites.
