Study Finds Marijuana Can Be Harmful to Youngsters

Oct 7, 2013 | Inside, Research, Your Health

A growing body of evidence suggests that the use of marijuana, or cannabis, can negatively impact the developing brains of approximately one in four adolescents, according to researchers at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the University of Montreal.

The study, published in the August 16, 2013, issue of Neuropharmacology, highlights that the younger the user of cannabis, the more susceptible he or she is to delinquency, lower educational attainment, difficulty in conforming to an adult role, and mental health issues.

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New Survey Tool Boosts Patient Satisfaction

Oct 7, 2013 | Inside, Your Health

A new smartphone app that enables patients to provide immediate feedback on their experiences at the Derald H. Ruttenberg Treatment Center of The Tisch Cancer Institute is helping The Mount Sinai Hospital continue its efforts to provide exceptional care.

The app works this way: Upon arrival at the Ruttenberg Treatment Center, patients are asked to provide their cell phone numbers as they fill out their paperwork. Then the technology prompts them with a text message asking them to take a brief survey on their smartphones after they leave.

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“Music is Medicine” Visits the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital

Oct 3, 2013 | Research, Your Health

Music is Medicine is a nonprofit run by a team of college students that pairs artists with pediatric patients through uplifting music programs. Through Music is Medicine’s Donate a Song project, artists write and record original songs for seriously-ill children to inspire the patients, share their stories of strength, and contribute to the greater fight against their diseases.

This past summer, Cindy, a 16 year-old girl battling cancer at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, met artists Sam Tsui and Elle Winter. The artists then went on to produce an original song called “Unsinkable” for Cindy. In the chorus Sam and Elle sing, “My heart’s unsinkable. Never doubt that things will get better. Can you feel the love? I’m never giving up.” Through the song, Sam and Elle motivate Cindy and people everywhere to never give up. At the same time, all proceeds for the song will benefit pediatric oncology research at Mount Sinai.

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Cold vs. Flu

Sep 30, 2013 | Cold and Flu, Your Health

It can happen any time of year: One day you start having that annoying cough accompanied by sneezing, sore throat and runny nose. Do you have a cold or the flu? Why is it important to know? The flu and common cold are both viral respiratory illnesses that can have similar symptoms. It is sometimes difficult to tell them apart, but generally the flu is worse than the common cold. Flu symptoms usually last 1 to 2 weeks, while a cold tends to make you feel bad for just a few days. While most likely to affect us during the winter and fall months, the viruses that cause colds and the flu are around us all the time. Keeping an eye out for symptoms, avoiding potential complications, focusing on prevention, and informing yourself about available treatments will help you do what you can to keep both colds and the flu at bay all year long.

Symptoms

With a cold, it is common to have sneezing, a sore throat and a stuffy nose. These symptoms, though, all usually disappear within a week. You may feel weak with a cold, but rarely will you have the extreme exhaustion, chills, lingering body aches and/or headache that come along with the flu. Mild fevers that are only sometimes present with a cold will typically last longer with the flu and range in the higher temperatures (100°–102° F). With a cold, you may experience a moderate cough, but if it turns to chest pain that can become severe, you likely have the flu.

Complications

While complications stemming from a cold can cause sinus infections or middle ear infections, complications from the flu can potentially result in more serious health problems, such as sinusitis, pneumonia, intense ear infections and bronchitis. If severe enough, the flu can even be life-threatening and/or require hospitalization.

Prevention

To prevent catching a cold or the flu, the most effective thing you can do is wash your hands often. Also try to avoid close contact with anyone who already has a cold. In addition, you can get your annual flu shot in an attempt to protect yourself from the flu virus.

Treatment

Both illnesses are often treated with over-the-counter decongestants, pain relievers and fever-reducing medicines. In some cases, prescription antiviral drugs may also be given as flu treatment. You should consult your doctor for more information about these and other kinds of flu treatments.

At Mount Sinai Urgent Care, we are always available to answer any questions so that you can make the most informed decision for yourself and your family.You can walk in without an appointment during our convenient daytime, evening, and weekend hours. We accept most insurance providers.

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OB/GYN Team Works to Establish New Global Health Site in Botswana

Sep 23, 2013 | Your Health

Mount Sinai Global Women’s Health Team in Botswana, wearing medical uniforms donated by FIGS scrubs.

This past August, the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Scienceat the Icahn School of Medicine sent a team of maternal-fetal medicine specialists and gynecologic surgeons to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital in Maun, Botswana to establish a new global health site.

Being nominated as part of this team was truly an honor. I’ve been an active member of our department’s Global Women’s Health Program for the past four years, primarily working as an obstetrician in a remote area of Guatemala. However, this was my first experience in actually working to establish a new site.

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“Medical Mall” Concept in Brooklyn

Sep 17, 2013 | Your Health

The opening this year of Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights brings coordinated, efficient and quality outpatient medical care to the borough for the very first time.  Medical care at this office, located at 300 Cadman Plaza West (One Pierrepoint Plaza) on the 17th and 18th floors, is community-based and convenient.  I am the medical director of what our patients have been referring to as “medical services under one roof” or a “medical mall”.   I’m also the medical director of WESTMED Practice Partners, a company that builds and manages large centers like this for comprehensive outpatient care.

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