Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips, Your Health
It’s that time of year when the temperature drops, the weather changes and we all begin to get colds or the flu. With these upper respiratory infections come fatigue, muscle aches, sneezing, coughing, and often laryngitis. The laryngitis may be the most debilitating aspect of the illness because it can be painful and rob us of our ability to communicate, socialize, and work.
“The symptoms of laryngitis can be caused by numerous factors,” says Michael Pitman, MD, Director, Voice and Swallowing Institute at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. “The most common cause is a viral upper respiratory infection. Vocal abuse in the form of smoking or yelling also commonly leads to laryngitis.”
(more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips, Holistic Health, Integrative Medicine, Surgery, The Center for Health & Healing
It is very common to feel anxious before undergoing a medical procedure or surgery. The reasons for this speak to fears we all have, such as feeling out of control, fear of pain and discomfort, fear of “bad news,” and anxiety over how long it will take to recover from an operation. But there are positive ways we can calm these feelings and tap into our own ability to support ourselves and heal.
Feeling empowered in this way and trusting our inner resources can bring us comfort and a sense of security from deep within ourselves. Learning and practicing mind-body approaches can give us that anchor. These may include such practices as breathing with awareness, meditation and imagery, biofeedback, essential oil therapy and restorative postures.
(more…)
Nov 25, 2014 | Health Tips, Your Health
It’s that time of year again—brisk temperatures, festive décor, holiday parties. While it’s often something we look forward to for months, the time from Thanksgiving to New Years also means being faced with seasonal treats, big meals and fancy cocktails that can make it difficult to maintain a healthy diet. According to recent research, the average American may gain 1-2 pounds this time of year, which can be tough to lose once we put away our party hats and winter sets in. The good news is that keeping up your healthy habits through the holidays and avoiding weight gain doesn’t mean depriving yourself of things you love. Here are our tips for having a happy and healthy holiday season:
Nov 18, 2014 | Health Tips, Your Health
A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported millions of Americans may be suffering from keratitis, an infection of the cornea, caused by improper handling of contact lenses. According to the CDC, wearing lenses too long and not cleaning them properly are the most common underlying factors of eye infections in the estimated 38 million Americans who wear contact lenses.
“Bacterial keratitis is usually treated with antibiotic drops and may require multiple return visits to your ophthalmologist,” says Marina Grapp, OD, Director, Specialty Contact Lens Service, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, “But the infection is easily avoidable with proper use.”
During Contact Lens Health Week, Dr. Grapp offers some tips for avoiding contact lens-related eye infections:
(more…)
Nov 17, 2014 | Health Tips, Your Health
Currently, the standard of care worldwide for the treatment of patients who have cancer invading the bladder muscle (muscle invasive bladder cancer) is chemotherapy followed by surgery. In men, the surgery is called radical cystoprostatectomy (removal of the bladder, prostate, and the seminal vesicles). In women, the surgery is called anterior pelvic exentration (removal of bladder, uterus, ovaries, and part of the vagina which can sometimes be avoided). In addition, a critical part of the surgery in both men and women is removing the lymph nodes within the pelvis.
(more…)
Nov 12, 2014 | Health Tips, Your Health
Merriam Webster defines a hernia as “a protrusion of an organ or part of an organ (as the intestine) through connective tissue or through a wall of the cavity (as of the abdomen) in which it is normally enclosed.” A ventral hernia arises in the abdominal wall because a weakness or defect in the abdominal muscles causes the intestines and other abdominal contents to push through. The weakness can be congenital, or it may be caused by aging or injury (i.e., surgical incision).
(more…)
It’s that time of year when the temperature drops, the weather changes and we all begin to get colds or the flu. With these upper respiratory infections come fatigue, muscle aches, sneezing, coughing, and often laryngitis. The laryngitis may be the most debilitating aspect of the illness because it can be painful and rob us of our ability to communicate, socialize, and work.
