“When antibiotics need to be taken is a question I get multiple times a day. Most people come in with a cold or a viral illness, cough, sinus congestion, and just generally feeling icky for however many days. In some cases, antibiotics are indicated. But they only treat bacterial infections. So, if it’s a viral illness, it’s mostly just treating the symptoms, usually with over-the-counter medications, getting rest, and fluids. I would say if it’s been a week or more and you’re still feeling sick, it’s never wrong to get checked out by your primary care physician. In general, viral illnesses can last up to two weeks. So if it’s been two weeks or more and you’re still feeling ill, I would definitely go in and see your doctor. I’m a primary care physician at Mount Sinai Doctors in Brooklyn Heights. We’re taking new patients any time, so feel free to make an appointment whenever is convenient for you.”
Camila Passias, MD is a board-certified primary care doctor at Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights, seeing patients Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. She has a particular interest in women’s health and is fluent in Spanish. Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights is a two-floor practice with a walk-in urgent care center and more than 35 specialties. Located at 300 Cadman Plaza West, the practice is situated on the 17th and 18th floors.
“Should you go to the doctor even when you feel healthy? The answer is clearly yes. The most important reasons why you want to see a doctor, even when you’re feeling healthy, is: Depending on your age, there are a number of tests that are indicated, even when you’re feeling great. There can be an underlying health condition. Depending on how old you are or other risk factors, like are you a smoker, what’s your family history, there may be tests that can make a big difference for you, like preventing cancers, detecting high blood pressure, checking your cholesterol levels, checking your sugar. So establishing a relationship with a doctor is really, really important. One, for just routine vital signs, checking up on your health. But also, again depending on your age and other risk factors, there may indeed be tests that are a great benefit to you. So please go talk to your primary care physician or feel free to make an appointment with myself or any of my colleagues at Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights.”
David Coun, MD, is a board-certified primary care doctor and Chief of Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights. He has lectured regularly on various topics, including smoking cessation, prostatic conditions, EKG review, and physician communication skills. Dr. Coun is fluent in Spanish and has a particular interest in prevention, as well as, the intersection between mental health and chronic medical conditions. Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights is a two-floor practice with a walk-in urgent care center and more than 35 specialties. Located at 300 Cadman Plaza West, the practice is situated on the 17th and 18th floors.
“There are many types of glaucoma. Babies can be born with glaucoma. Teenagers can get glaucoma and young adults can get glaucoma. But glaucoma is usually associated with people over the age of 40. There are many causes of glaucoma. But for the most common type of glaucoma — we don’t really know what causes it. In those people, they usually do not know that they have glaucoma. That’s why a periodic eye examination is extremely important because people don’t know they have glaucoma until it’s very late in the disease. Glaucoma is usually associated with high pressure in the eye. This causes changes at the back of the eye, the optic nerve, which can lead to loss of vision and, ultimately, blindness. It’s a very, very significant disease, and it’s very widespread. I’m with Mount Sinai Doctors, if you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to make an appointment.”
Make an appointment with Monica Dweck, MD
Monica Dweck, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients of all ages Monday – Friday in Brooklyn Heights. Trained in New York City and Cleveland, she is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, a board member of the New York State Board of Medicine, and a professional member of the National Medical Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. After majoring in Psychology at Princeton University, she was awarded her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center and completed her residency in Ophthalmology at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and her fellowship in Ocular Plastic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Dr. Dweck has been annually recognized in the US News and World Report’s “Top Doctor” list since 2011, Castle Connolly’s “New York Metro Best Doctors” issue since 2000, and the New York Times Magazine “New York Super Doctors” list since 2009. Prior to joining Mount Sinai Doctors, Dr. Dweck served as Director of Oculoplastic Surgery, Vice Chair, and Residency Program Director in the Department of Ophthalmology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. She has a particular interest in eyelid, dry eye, and tearing problems and surgery in both children and adults.
Mount Sinai Doctors, 300 Cadman Plaza West, is a two-floor multispecialty practice with a walk-in urgent care center and more than 35 specialties, including Adolescent Medicine, Allergy, Cardiology, Dermatology, Diabetes Education, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Infectious Disease, Maternal & Fetal Medicine, Nephrology, OBGYN, Ophthalmology, Optometry & Optical Shop, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Pulmonology, Radiology, Rheumatology, Travel Medicine, Urology, and Vascular Surgery. The practice is located at 300 Cadman Plaza West, on the 17th and 18th floors, in Brooklyn Heights. You can make appointments online at http://www.mountsinai.org/bh or via ZocDoc at http://bit.ly/29LNAIG
“A heart rate is the number of times the heart beats, and usually it is felt in your wrist with two fingertips. Heart rate varies between 60 to 100 beats per minute, so anything less than 60 beats per minute is considered a low heart rate and anything more than 100 is considered a fast heart rate. Usually athletes or people who are physically fit have a very low heart rate, and it is not of concern. Sometimes the heart rate goes less than 40 or 35 beats per minute, and you can feel dizzy and weak. That is a concern, so you need to seek medical attention. Sometimes a fast heart rate can also make you feel weak and could also see be seen in people with fever, anemia, thyroid disease, or a significant heart condition. Normally, a healthy heart rate is about 60 to 70 beats per minute. A lot of times with people with heart disease, we give medications called beta blockers to slow the heart rate, so the heart pumps efficiently and is also in a good healthy condition.”
Ramesh Gowda, MD is a board-certified cardiologist at Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights. Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights is a two-floor multispecialty practice with a walk-in urgent care center and more than 35 specialties. Located at 300 Cadman Plaza West, the practice is situated on the 17th and 18th floors.
“So is running the best form of exercise? The answer to that is definitely no. The best form of exercise is the exercise that you like, that is one that you’ll do on a regular basis, that’s safe for you. The bottom line is that exercise is a great idea for anyone regardless of your age. Current recommendations are for 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise, which means anything including a brisk walk. Or 75 minutes a week of intense exercise, an exercise where you get your heart rate up, and you work up a good sweat. Emerging evidence even suggests that super intense exercise, where you’re really pushing yourself as hard as you can go for even just short intervals, may have the same benefit as well. The type of exercise doesn’t really matter so much. What matters is that it’s an exercise that you enjoy, that you can get into your life — in your lifestyle – which is often times challenging, and one that is safe for you. And that’s the big point, as well. Listen to your body. If your body is telling you that this exercise doesn’t feel right to me, stop, and by all means go to talk to your doctor either your primary care physician or feel free to make an appointment with myself or any of my colleagues at Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights.”
David Coun, MD, is a board-certified primary care doctor and Chief of Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights. He has lectured regularly on various topics, including smoking cessation, prostatic conditions, EKG review, and physician communication skills. Dr. Coun is fluent in Spanish and has a particular interest in prevention, as well as, the intersection between mental health and chronic medical conditions. Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights is a two-floor practice with a walk-in urgent care center and more than 35 specialties. Located at 300 Cadman Plaza West, the practice is situated on the 17th and 18th floors.
“Strep is a bacterial infection that’s unfortunately very common — particularly in kids over three years old and then through adulthood – that causes sore throat and usually also causes fever and swollen lymph nodes in the neck and other symptoms as well such as rash, even abdominal pain in kids. Very often, when people have sore throats, they have runny nose, congestion, and cough alongside the sore throat. That really points more towards a viral respiratory infection as the cause of their sore throat. But sometimes it’s not clear. When there is a question as to whether this could be a strep infection, there’s a quick way to get an answer, which is to have a strep test done. If you’re concerned that you may have strep, why don’t you come to one of our centers. We have urgent care centers in Manhattan and Brooklyn that are open every day, 365 days a year, without an appointment, just walk-in and we’ll be happy to see you.”
Make an appointment with Judah Fierstein, MD
Judah Fierstein, MD is a board-certified emergency medicine physician at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients in the Upper West Side, Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, and Inwood. Trained in New York City, he is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He was awarded his medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also completed his residency in Emergency Medicine. He is the Medical Director of Mount Sinai Doctors Urgent Care. Dr. Fierstein is fluent in Spanish.
Mount Sinai Doctors Urgent Care assists patients with illnesses or injuries that do not appear to be life-threatening, but also can’t wait until the next day, or for primary care doctor to see them. Services are offered on a walk-in basis and range from allergies, asthma, back problems, headaches, skin rashes, and stitches to sprains, UTIs, fever, flu, broken toes, and infections. No appointment is needed; you simply walk-in and see a doctor. There are currently four locations – Upper West Side, Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, and Inwood – open 365 days a year with extended hours.
