Mount Sinai cardiologists are warning about the risk of heart problems this winter.

With a recent surge in influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses, it’s critical to pay close attention to your heart—especially if you have heart disease or the risk factors for heart disease. That’s the message from experts at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital.

Icilma Fergus, MD

“If you get sick and have chest pain or are out of breath, and it’s getting worse—especially if you have an underlying heart condition or risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease—don’t assume it’s not serious or just a viral syndrome. Consider seeing a health care provider right away, and call 911 if the symptoms of chest pain, dizziness or shortness of breath develop,” says Icilma Fergus, MD, Director of Cardiovascular Disparities for the Mount Sinai Health System.

She adds, “Also, it is important to get the appropriate vaccinations to lessen severity of viral infections and inflammation. Viral syndromes are so commonplace that many people aren’t taking these viruses as seriously anymore.”

The recent surge can trigger cardiovascular complications from fever, dehydration, and increased inflammation, and Mount Sinai doctors are seeing a rise in these cases in all age groups, including patients in their 20s.

Patients with underlying cardiovascular disease and the associated risk factors are at increased risk. Inflammation can trigger heart attacks in people with coronary artery disease. It can also exacerbate heart failure symptoms and irregular or rapid heartbeats, leading to hospitalizations.

Doctors have also seen post-viral myocarditis—inflammation around the heart that can progress to complications such as heart failure and cardiogenic shock—in otherwise healthy patients.

Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA

“Winter can raise cardiovascular risks in a number of ways, including due to flu season,” says Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA, Director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and the Dr. Valentin Fuster Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “People with cardiovascular disease or multiple risk factors for heart disease are particularly susceptible to developing cardiac problems if they get really sick from a respiratory infection. Identifying and controlling cardiovascular risk factors, as well as basic measures to try to prevent infections, are ways to avoid a potential double whammy of a bad infection triggering a heart attack.”

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States. Nearly half of adults—more than 121 million people—have some type of cardiovascular disease.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 700,000 people die of heart disease annually, and 80 percent of these cases are preventable.

Anyone can get heart disease, but people are more susceptible if they have cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight, and tobacco use. Age is also a factor, specifically for menopausal women (between 45 and 55) and men older than 55, and men with a family history also are at higher risk. Getting less than six hours of sleep a night may also contribute to poor outcomes.

Certain groups, including African American and Hispanic/Latino patients as well as new immigrants, may also be at higher risk of complications from untreated viral illnesses. However, risk for cardiovascular disease in any population can be decreased by taking simple steps toward a healthier lifestyle.

If you are an older guy and have been going to a doctor for regular checkups, you probably know something about the prostate.

The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system. It is about the size of a walnut and located just below your bladder. It surrounds the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). Its primary role is to help produce semen.

Ash Tewari, MBBS, MCh, FRCS (Hon.)

The problem is that as a man ages, the prostate tends to increase in size. This can cause the urethra to narrow and decrease urine flow. Doctors call this noncancerous condition benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Most know it simply as an enlarged prostate.

This condition is not connected to prostate cancer, which is a significant concern for a growing number of men. (In fact, benign means “not cancer,” while hyperplasia means abnormal cell growth.)

However, BPH does affect a large number of men: about 50 percent of men between the ages of 51 and 60 have an enlarged prostate to some degree, and up to 90 percent of men 85 or older have an enlarged prostate that is causing symptoms.

BPH can cause a wide variety of urinary symptoms, such as frequency of urination, especially at night, or difficulty urinating. Cases of BPH can range from those with mild symptoms that may call for just regular monitoring to more severe symptoms that may call for medication or a surgical procedure.

Ash Tewari, MBBS, MCh, FRCS (Hon.), Professor and Chair, Milton and Carroll Petrie Department of Urology and a leading expert on prostate health, says recent media reports about prostate heath and BPH can be helpful by encouraging men to talk with their doctors.

“If it can happen to a king, it can happen to you,” he says, referring to media reports that Britain’s King Charles III, 75, was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and was to have a procedure at a hospital. “It is very difficult for a man to go through their whole life without having prostate issues.”

Dr. Tewari notes that Mount Sinai’s Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Center is “dedicated to pioneering advanced treatments and offering comprehensive care, setting a new standard in men’s health.”  The Center is part of Mount Sinai’s Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Center for Prostate Health.

In fact, Mount Sinai’s approach to BPH goes beyond just medical or surgical treatments. “Recognizing the profound impact BPH can have on a person’s life, our Center offers a comprehensive care plan that includes patient education, nutritional guidance, and psychological support,” he says. “This holistic approach underscores our commitment to treating the patient, not just the disease.”

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about BPH:

What are the symptoms of BPH, or an enlarged prostate?

“People often come to me when they can’t sleep, and they wake up three to four times at night to go to the bathroom,” says Dr. Tewari, referring to a condition known as nocturia. Men with BPH may also experience these symptoms:

• Feeling an urgent need to urinate shortly after urinating
• Experiencing difficulty starting to urinate or maintaining the flow
• Decreased force of urinary stream
• Having a stop-start pattern in urinating (intermittency)
• Feeling as though there is urine left in the bladder after urinating
• Blood in the urine (called hematuria)

How do you diagnose BPH?

A diagnosis begins with a discussion with a physician who can evaluate your symptoms and your medical history. You may be asked to complete a questionnaire to assess your symptoms. There are a number of different tests that can be used to diagnose and track BPH. These include testes to measure your urine flow and look for abnormalities; taking a urine sample to rule out an infection or other condition; and conducting scans to see the size and shape of your prostate and urinary tract, such as an ultrasound or cystoscopy.

What about prostate cancer?

BPH is not linked to cancer and does not increase your risk of getting prostate cancer. However, the symptoms for BPH and prostate cancer can be similar, according to the National Cancer Institute. As part of the diagnosis, doctors may conduct a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test to help exclude suspicions of prostate cancer.  You can read more about prostate cancer here.

What causes BPH, and who is at risk?

It is not clear what causes BPH. Older men are at risk, as well as those whose father had the condition and those who are overweight or obese. The condition may relate to hormones.

If I have an enlarged prostate, do I need treatment?

Not everyone with an enlarged prostate needs treatment. Treatment begins with a thorough evaluation of each patient’s condition. For men with less severe symptoms, “watchful waiting” might be the initial action. This involves close monitoring without any immediate medical or surgical intervention. Watchful waiting includes recommendations for lifestyle changes that can help ease or circumvent symptoms. These changes include advice about the volume and timing of fluid consumption; avoiding caffeine and avoiding drinking alcohol at night; and regulation of bowels.

What if that’s not enough?

As symptoms progress, more proactive treatments are considered. If the enlarged prostate is blocking the bladder outlet and giving symptoms severe enough to affect daily activity—such as slowing the urine stream, making it harder to empty the bladder, and causing it to empty incompletely—then it needs to be treated. Most cases can be managed with medications. If the enlarged prostate is not treated, the bladder is constantly fighting the obstructed prostate. This can lead to worsening symptoms such as urinary tract infections and kidney problems.

What types of medications are used?

The aim of medications is to improve your symptoms, lower the risk of progression, and improve your quality of life. There are many options with guidelines and algorithms available to help guide your selection. There are three primary types of medications:

• Alpha blockers help the bladder neck and prostatic urethra to dilate and open, which improves urine flow. This approach is most effective for people with mild to moderate symptoms.

• 5 Alpha reductase inhibitors slow or stop the growth of the prostate. These medications are often used with alpha blockers. This approach is best for prostates that are significantly enlarged.

• Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors allow relaxation of smooth muscle in the bladder neck, urethra, and prostate.

When might I need surgery?

If medication is not giving sufficient relief of the symptoms, or if complications develop due to the enlarged prostate, then you may need surgery. Mount Sinai’s Department of Urology offers a wide range of minimally invasive surgical treatment procedures. The optimal treatment needs to be individualized depending upon the size of the prostate, any associated conditions, your age, and severity of the symptoms.

Here are the procedures:

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): This minimally invasive procedure involves inserting a resectoscope (a special tube) into the tip of the penis to the urethra. The resectoscope delivers an electrical current that cuts excess prostate tissue from inside and seals up blood vessels, relieving pressure on the urethra. This procedure remains the gold standard for BPH, and most men are suitable candidates for this procedure.

Transurethral bipolar resection/enucleation of the prostate: This is like a traditional TURP and involves the insertion of a resectoscope into the penis but uses a plasma “button,” which uses bipolar energy to melt prostate tissue. The advantage of bipolar over conventional TURP is that it can work in saline irrigation so there is less chance of fluid absorption. Thus, bipolar can be used to resection even large prostate glands.

Holmium laser enucleation of prostate (HoLEP): Lasers for endoscopic prostate surgery have revolutionized the procedures and are an equally effective alternative to TURP. In HoLEP, the prostate tissue is enucleated (peeled off from the capsule), sliced into smaller pieces, and removed. HoLEP has the edge over conventional TURP in terms of less bleeding, more efficient gland removal, and the ability to remove large prostate glands.

Thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP): This minimally invasive technique is similar to HoLEP except that the laser energy source is a Thulium laser. Holmium and Thulium lasers have minimal tissue penetration and are effectively absorbed by water, thus minimizing the chances of surrounding tissue damage.

Greenlight™ Laser or photo selective vaporization of the prostate (PVP): This minimally invasive procedure uses a state-of-the-art laser to melt prostate tissue. The Greenlight laser wavelength has some advantages for patients with a bleeding disorder.

Robotic water jet treatment (RWT) or Aquablation: This minimally invasive procedure is one of the newest techniques available and involves no incisions. An instrument is inserted into the tip of the penis to the urethra. The instrument delivers a high-pressure water jet that removes excess prostate tissue and is guided by a robotic camera and ultrasound machine.

Water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT) or Rezum™: This is a minimally invasive, outpatient, and in-office procedure in which a small device is passed through the urethra to the prostate. Sterile water vapor is released into the prostate, where the steam causes prostate cells to die. The dead cells are absorbed as part of your body’s natural healing process, shrinking the prostate, and taking pressure off the urethra.

Prostatic urethral lift (PUL) or Urolift™: This is a minimally invasive, outpatient, and in-office procedure in which specialized staples are placed into the obstructed prostate through the urethra. The staples relieve the pressure from the bladder, and the effects are generally immediate. There are no sexual side effects.

Prostate artery embolization (PAE): This procedure helps improve urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate without the risk of sexual side effects. It starts with a small puncture in the groin. A catheter is inserted through the artery and directed toward the prostate. The catheter is positioned in the artery supplying blood to the prostate. Small particles that plug up the artery are injected, blocking blood flow. This is called embolization.

Temporary implanted prostatic device (TIPD) or iTIND: The iTind (Temporarily Implanted Nitinol Device) treatment is a new, minimally invasive treatment that takes five to seven days with immediate results. The treatment gently restructures the prostate by widening the opening through which urine can flow.

Robotic simple prostatectomy: This procedure removes the obstructing part of the prostate. Robotic instruments are passed through small incisions in the lower abdomen and remove the inner core of the prostate, leaving the outer shell. This is generally performed for large prostates that won’t respond well to other treatments.

In theory, losing weight should be simple—burn more calories than you eat. But in real life, old habits and busy schedules often get in the way, and losing weight—and keeping it off—is hard. Whether you choose to lose weight on your own or with help from weight loss drugs like Wegovy^®, Ozempic^®, or Mounjaro^®, it’s important to have a plan that will help you stick to healthy habits during and after weight loss.

In this Q&A, Taylor Stein, Associate Researcher and Registered Dietitian at The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, shares how to develop an effective weight-loss program that will help you achieve your goals in the long term for a healthier you.

Note: It is important to consult your physician before starting a weight-loss program, especially if you have health issues.

Taylor Stein, RD

What does a safe, long-term, effective diet plan consist of?

You need to customize your weight-loss plan to your personal needs, and that includes taking into account any food preferences, health issues, or physical limitations you may have when it comes to diet, medications, and exercise.  Instead of trying to make huge changes, focus on making small adjustments to your current routine you can gradually increase over time, which will allow you to maintain a healthy weight, and habits, for life.

How can I create goals and stick with them?

First, you need to establish why that goal is meaningful in the first place. That might mean focusing on health goals—for example, reducing your cholesterol or lowering your blood pressure, instead of achieving a smaller waistline. Once you establish your “why,” plan what specific steps you will take to reach your goal, and stick with them.

For those who lose weight successfully, what do they typically do right?

They discover behavioral changes they can maintain. Examples include quitting alcohol, meal planning, or developing an exercise routine you love. They also tend to establish a new relationship with food—identifying food triggers and reestablishing what it means to eat healthfully and enjoy food. This is also the case if you are taking weight-loss drugs to lose weight. If you do not establish maintainable eating and exercise habits, there is a greater chance you will regain weight when you go off the drugs.

How many calories do I need to cut?

Start small, for example, by reducing your calories from your baseline (the number of calories you burn at rest plus calories burned through planned exercise and daily activity) by 250 calories. Depending on how much weight you need to lose, you may want to reduce even more calories gradually over time, but do not cut more than 800 calories a day. What you eat also matters. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts are effective for losing weight.

Why is it important to prevent muscle loss as I lose weight, and how?

When you cut calories, your body draws energy from both fat and muscle, especially if you are taking weight loss drugs. This potentially leads to health problems like bone loss. To prevent this, eat a lean protein with every meal and snack, and incorporate resistance strength training two-to-three days a week.

What else can help me lose weight?

Other factors that affect weight loss include managing stress, getting enough sleep, and having a good support system. Stress and lack of sleep can affect each other, and that in turn can affect your eating habits and energy levels.

***The Mount Sinai Physiolab is offering a limited time discount to all clients on follow-up assessments when purchased with an initial assessment to monitor progress throughout the new year. It also offers a 25 percent discount on initial and future assessments specifically for Mount Sinai staff and students. The Mount Sinai Physiolab does not currently accept insurance but does accept health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) debit.***