Ask the Doc: What Is Cervical Cancer and What Is the Connection to HPV?

Updated on Jan 11, 2024 | Featured, Your Health

Cervical cancer is a malignancy that originates in the lower part of the uterus, the part that dilates when you are having a baby. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary cause of cervical cancer. Common symptoms of cervical cancer include abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain or discomfort, and pain during sexual activity.  HPV infection usually has no symptoms but is picked up on cervical cancer screening.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cervical cancer occurs most often in people over age 30. When cervical cancer is detected early, it is highly treatable.

Connect With Our Gynecologic Cancer Experts: Our caring staff sets Mount Sinai’s services apart, as our interdisciplinary teams of specialists dedicate themselves to the treatment of gynecologic cancer. New and current patients can get information and make appointments by calling 1-844-MD-CANCER. Or click here.

In this Q&A, Stephanie V. Blank, MD, Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Mount Sinai Health System, answers frequently asked questions about cervical cancer, including risk factors, its connection to HPV, prevention, and treatment options.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

The main symptom of cervical cancer is abnormal bleeding—spotting that has nothing to do with your period or bleeding after sex.

Are there any risk factors?

Some of the risk factors for cervical cancer include smoking, having multiple sexual partners, and being immunocompromised, which means having  a weakened immunity system, such as those who may have advanced or untreated HIV infection.

What is the connection between HPV and cervical cancer?

HPV, which is sexually transmitted, causes most cervical cancer. When somebody gets HPV, many times the body’s immune system makes it go away. But sometimes it persists. When it persists, it can get into cells and cause cells to undergo changes, which eventually can turn into cancer.

Can cervical cancer be prevented?

Cervical cancer can be prevented. We have a wonderful tool to prevent cervical cancer, the HPV vaccine. Getting the HPV vaccine before you ever have sex can prevent cervical cancer. We also have great screening for cervical cancer, which also is a form of prevention. The CDC recommends the HPV vaccination for children 11 to 12 years old.

What screenings are needed for cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer screening now consists of both a Pap smear and HPV testing. In the future, it may consist of HPV testing alone. But when we use these two tests, we screen at different intervals, often depending on age and results of your screening. The important thing about screening is not only to get the screening tests, but also to follow up appropriately.

How often do you need to be screened?

How often you need to be screened depends on your age and the results of your screening test. Most people do not need to be screened every year. You should discuss this with your doctor.

What are the treatment options?

The treatment options for cervical cancer have changed a lot over the past several years. If somebody has cervical cancer and it is early, in many cases they can be treated with a procedure called a cone biopsy that does not remove the whole cervix but just removes the cancer. If somebody has early cervical cancer, it often can be treated with surgery alone. If cancer is more advanced, there may be a need for radiation, or even more advanced chemotherapy or newer drugs.

Why is it important to be treated by a gynecologic oncologist?

With cervical cancer, there are often many different components to care. It is important to be treated by a gynecologic oncologist because you need somebody who understands cervical cancer, who can coordinate this care. It is crucial that a gynecologic oncologist takes on this role for you. Everyone with cancer is different and requires a different treatment plan. At Mount Sinai, we have experienced specialists and a multidisciplinary team who work together to provide the very best care for our patients.

Meet our team of Gynecologic Cancer experts

How Do I Create a Weight Loss Program That Works for Me?

Jan 9, 2024 | Your Health

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.***

Schedule an appointment with the Mount Sinai Physiolab for personalized health and wellness recommendations.

What Can I Do About This Cough?

Updated on Jul 31, 2025 | Mount Sinai Doctors, Primary Care, Your Health

Coughs can take days or even weeks to go away. While a stubborn cough is annoying and sometimes even painful, it is your body’s natural way of clearing out harmful irritants and secretions—but that doesn’t mean you have to be uncomfortable or lose sleep.

In this Q&A, Jacqueline O’Boyle, DO, a primary care physician at Mount Sinai Doctors-Manhasset, explains what over-the-counter cough medicines and at-home remedies can help soothe your cough, and when it’s time to see a doctor.

Jacqueline O’Boyle, DO

What over-the-counter cough syrups do you recommend?

It depends on whether you have a dry cough or a wet cough. For most patients, I typically suggest guaifenesin (Mucinex®), which can help relieve both wet and dry coughs.

Wet coughs: These are caused by excess fluid or mucus in the airways, and are often caused by a post-nasal drip that tickles your throat. Treatments that dry up the nose and nasal passages are helpful. These include nasal steroid sprays, such as fluticasone (Flonase®) or mometasone (Nasonex®), which reduce inflammation. Antihistamines, which are anti-allergy drugs, are also good for drying up the nasal passages. Some popular over-the-counter antihistamines include loratadine (Alavert® and Claritin®) and fexofenadine (Allegra® Allergy, Aller-ease®, and Aller-Fex™).

Dry coughs: These don’t produce mucus. Remedies that stimulate saliva production and moisten the dry areas are very helpful. These include nasal saline sprays (Ayr® or Simply Saline™), lozenges, tea with honey and lemon, and humidifiers.

 

When should I see a doctor for my cough?

If you are experiencing any shortness of breath, tightness in your chest, persistent fever, cough up blood, or if your cough has gone on for more than three weeks or is causing chest pain, you should see a doctor. Most coughs are caused by viruses, which antibiotics don’t treat, but your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if your cough is more likely bacterial. If your cough is interfering with sleep or your ability to function, there are certain medications that are effective, regardless of the cause of your cough. If you are immunocompromised, make sure to consult with your doctor.

Any chronic cough (that is, has been present for 8 weeks or more), requires evaluation by your doctor. 

 

What cough medications might the doctor prescribe?

Your doctor may prescribe you medications like benzonatate (Tessalon Perles®), which can both suppress your cough and allow you to sleep better. Benzonatate works well when used in combination with guaifenesin (Mucinex®). If you’re experiencing wheezing or tightness in your chest, or have a history of asthma, your doctor might prescribe inhaled steroids, or inhaled beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonists such as albuterol, or an oral steroid. If your cough is very disruptive, your doctor may prescribe a cough syrup with promethazine or codeine. While there is no evidence that cough syrup with promethazine or codeine will be more effective than placebo for people with cough from acute infection, some people find it allows them to sleep better and reduces symptoms.

 

What at-home remedies soothe a cough?

Good remedies for a dry cough are: lozenges, a spoonful of honey, or honey stirred into tea. Honey has been proven to reduce cough symptoms more so than most medications, and contains antibacterial properties (but never give honey to an infant younger than one year old.) There are a number of other at-home remedies to try. If you have a wet cough, elevating the head of your bed and using a humidifier can help. Elevating your head will prevent irritation from postnasal drip, and the humidifier will moisturize the air as well as your throat and sinuses, so you can sleep better at night. Rest, in turn, will help boost your immune system. Additionally, nasal irrigation rinses (such as NeilMed® Sinus Rinse or Neti Pot) can reduce swelling and flush out mucus (make sure to use only clean/sterile water).

 

Any other suggestions?

Sitting in a steamy bathroom with a hot shower running can help clear your nasal passages and throat. You can also try chest physical therapy, an airway clearance technique in which someone you know manually performs chest percussion on your chest wall to loosen mucous and phlegm. Strengthening your immune system with good nutrition, keeping yourself hydrated, and getting lots of rest are also important.

A cough can occur for reasons that are not related to infection.  If you have a cough, but no other signs of a cold or infection, see your doctor. It can be a symptom of acid reflux, asthma, COPD, or even a side effect from a medication.

If you smoke or vape, stop. Any respiratory irritant can worse cough and prolong recovery. 

 

Quick Tips:

  • Mucinex, a common over-the-counter medicine, is generally good at relieving any type of cough.
  • Treatments that dry up the airways (nasal steroid sprays and anti-allergy drugs) are ideal for treating wet coughs, whereas remedies that moisten the airways (nasal saline sprays, lozenges, humidifiers), help relieve dry coughs.
  • If you are having trouble sleeping, elevate the head of your bed (prevents post-nasal drip) and put a humidifier in your bedroom.
  • Never give medications to a child without consulting their pediatrician, or honey to a child under one year old.
  • See a doctor if you are experiencing shortness of breath, tightness or pain in your chest, persistent fever, or if your cough has gone on for more than three weeks. If you have health issues, do not take over-the-counter medications without consulting your doctor.

 

How can I soothe a child who is too young for cough medicine?

Never give children under the age of 12 cough medications unless instructed by the child’s doctor, as they are at a much greater risk of side effects. Never give a child under one year old honey, which can cause botulism. Instead, put a humidifier in their bedroom and elevate the top of their bed to keep their airways moist and to reduce the effects of post-nasal drip. If their cough is very bad, have them sit in a steamy bathroom with a hot shower running. If they are over one year old, you can give them half to one teaspoon of honey or over-the-counter remedies containing honey that are specifically made for children. Have them drink plenty of water to help flush out mucous and secretions. If your child is over three months old, consider using Vicks® BabyRub™. Unlike the adult version (Vicks VapoRub™), Vicks BabyRub does not contain camphor (dangerous if ingested), but uses holistic ingredients like aloe, eucalyptus, and lavender oil, which are safe for kids. You can rub it on their feet and chest. Be sure to consult your child’s doctor before putting them on Vicks BabyRub or other mediations, especially if they are under 12.

 

Are there cough medications that people with high blood pressure, or other health issues, should avoid?

Consult a doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications if you have health problems. For most people, dextromethorphan (Robitussin®), a common cough suppressant, is fine, but can cause dizziness, restlessness or drowsiness in some. Other cough medications, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed® or SudoGest™), can raise blood pressure and heart rate. Always read the labels of over-the-counter cough suppressants, as many should be taken with caution if you take other medications, such as the category of antidepressants known as SSRI/SNRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). A lot of them have multiple ingredients, so you want to make sure you’re not doubling up on any ingredients that could potentially harm you.

Find a primary care doctor to treat your cough.
Read more about Your Health.

Patients Can Now Order Movies, Video Chat With Family, Access Translation Services, and More at Mount Sinai West

Updated on Dec 19, 2023 | Featured, Mount Sinai West, Your Health

Mount Sinai West has launched an innovative, in-room patient digital experience called MyRoom Connect, which is now available on the postpartum units.

MyRoom Connect, the first of its kind at the Mount Sinai Health System, is an interactive system designed to enhance the patient experience, improve communication, and optimize care.

The system is seamlessly integrated with the patient’s in-room television and is operated by using the in-room pillow speaker/remote control. The program will be introduced on the recently renovated and expanded inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Mount Sinai Morningside in early 2024.

With MyRoom Connect, patients can use the pillow speaker remote to: 

  • Order meals:Patients can choose their preferred options while ensuring dietary needs are met.
  • View education resources: Patients can view videos recommended by the care team on a diverse range of topics. New parents are asked to watch videos on preventing shaken baby syndrome, car seat safety, safe sleep for newborns, and feeding recommendations.
  • Access on-demand entertainment:Patients can select from a library of 40 on-demand movies including blockbusters like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Top Gun: Maverick, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
  • Connect with family and friends:Patients can stay connected with loved ones through in-room video visits, which can offer comfort and emotional support when patients need it most.
  • Review language translation options:Patients can choose from multiple language translation options.
  • Use live interpretative services:Patients can access live interpretative services to bridge any language barriers and ensure clear communication with the care team.
  • Learn about the local area:Patients can learn more about the hospital and the surrounding area including parking options and nearby lodging.
  • Listen to audiobooks:Patients can access a variety of content, including relaxation options, like white noise and 360 degrees of relaxation, and audiobooks.

“We believe that MyRoom Connect will not only elevate the patient experience but also streamline the care delivery process,” said Robbie Freeman, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Vice President, Digital Experience, and Chief Nursing Informatics Officer, Mount Sinai Health System. “It empowers patients to actively engage in their health care journey while enabling our staff to deliver high-quality, coordinated, and compassionate services.”

“At Mount Sinai West, we are here to support your needs, choices, and preferences with skilled, compassionate care, and to ensure that you receive comprehensive services personalized to your goals,” said Holly Loudon, MD, MPH, Chair, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine at Mount Sinai West.

Learn more about Pregnancy and Childbirth at Mount Sinai West
Learn about the full range of gynecology and reproductive services at Mount Sinai West

What Are “Forever Chemicals,” and Can I Avoid Them?

Updated on Dec 15, 2023 | Cancer, Your Health

You may have been hearing a lot lately about “forever chemicals,” or PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), so called for their ability to stay in the body and environment for years and resist breakdown.

In this Q&A, Shelley H. Liu, PhD, Associate Professor of Population Health Science and Policy at Mount Sinai, explains what these chemicals are, why they are linked to cancer, and how to reduce your exposure. An expert on PFAS, Dr. Liu researches the wide-ranging health impacts of these chemicals, including identifying disparities in exposure burden across populations.

Shelley H. Liu, PhD

What are forever chemicals?

PFAS are a big class of man-made chemicals that have been around for decades. They are very useful to industry due to their stain- and water-resistant properties. They are used in all kinds of products from consumer products (like nonstick pans, carpeting, and textiles), to food packaging and firefighting foam. Because these chemicals are so widely used, they can be detected in the blood of more than 98 percent of Americans, including people who have not been exposed through their jobs. Because we may be continually exposed at low amounts to PFAS through everyday living, our accumulated exposure over time (such as over decades) to PFAS and other synthetic chemicals is a growing concern for our health and wellbeing.

What is the link between forever chemicals and cancer?

There is a lot of great ongoing research around PFAS and cancer. While emerging findings show concern, there is still a lot we don’t know. For example, there has been some early work showing potential links between PFAS and different types of cancer in what scientists call a “dose-response relationship,” meaning that higher concentrations of PFAS chemicals in the blood are associated with a higher risk of liver cancer or kidney cancer. This means that even if you can’t absolutely remove your exposure to PFAS, doing your best to reduce exposure over time could still be quite helpful. There is also very new research that suggests PFAS might be linked to hormonally-driven cancers, such as breast cancer, depending on whether you’re female or male and also your race and ethnicity. These are early studies right now, and we don’t quite know yet what those links are.

Seven ways to reduce your exposure to forever chemicals:

  • Drink filtered water
  • Reduce consumption of freshwater fish, and consider diversifying the fish you eat
  • Discard nonstick cookware that is worn, and replace nonstick cookware with stainless steel
  • Reduce use of paper and paperboard takeout containers
  • Reduce use of fabrics, textiles and other products labelled as water- or stain-resistant
  • Replace old carpets with new ones to keep babies safe
  • Test private well water for PFAS, and install a purification system if necessary

What products are forever chemicals commonly found in?

We don’t know every product that PFAS are in, but we do know some of the major ones. These include products with nonstick and water-resistant properties, such as nonstick pans and nonstick coatings in food packaging, as they are used as grease-proofing agents in fast food wrappers and take-out paperboard containers, as well as stain-resistant fabrics on your couches and carpets. Diet can also be another exposure source. For example, fish, such as freshwater fish, can sometimes be contaminated with PFAS, and there are many communities in the United States, including in New York, that have contaminated public drinking water. This spring, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed the first-ever enforceable federal-level regulation of PFAS in public drinking water, although this has not finalized yet. Private wells can also be contaminated with PFAS, and are not part of federal-level regulations. Unfortunately, PFAS are a pervasive problem because they are very stable molecules and resist degradation. Some PFAS can be eliminated fairly quickly from the human body, but others can remain for years (for example, three to five years), and they can accumulate in your organs, such as the liver. In the environment, PFAS can also be transported great distances by weather patterns and groundwater, and eventually make their way into public drinking water and food sources.

Who is most at risk?

Scientists are still researching which groups are at higher risk of exposure to PFAS and/or more vulnerable in terms of health impacts. We know that some people are highly exposed to PFAS through their occupation—for example, firefighters have high exposure to PFAS chemicals because PFAS are a major component of firefighting foam. When we think about non-occupational types of exposures, our research has shown that Asian Americans have a higher exposure burden to PFAS than other race/ethnicities, and we are researching why. It may be a combination of diet, consumer product use and immigration history, as PFAS are used and regulated and disposed of differently in other countries. The other way to think about who is at higher risk is to look at groups who already have poorer health or chronic conditions, and understand whether higher PFAS exposure may worsen their disease progression compared to people with a similar disease stage but with lower PFAS exposure. Perhaps their threshold of tolerance to cumulative PFAS exposure could be diminished. These are all ongoing and important research questions.

What are a few specific ways to reduce my exposure to PFAS?

A few ways to reduce your exposure include lowering your PFAS exposure through diet, using stainless steel cookware instead of nonstick when possible, replacing old nonstick cookware that contain coatings that may have worn off over time, and reducing use of paper and paperboard takeout containers. For babies and young children, carpeting may also be an exposure source. Some newer carpets are not treated with PFAS, so consider replacing old carpets with new ones. If your drinking water comes from private wells, it could be helpful to get your water tested for PFAS, and if you discover high PFAS contamination, consider using water filters, installing a reverse osmosis filtration system, which purifies water, or drinking bottled purified water (which is made with reverse osmosis filtration). In general, using water filters is helpful for PFAS and other contaminants, even if you have a public water supply. While it’s hard to eliminate PFAS exposure completely, it can be quite helpful in the long term if you can reduce your exposure. It would be helpful for our governments to regulate PFAS, and while there is some progress on this front, much more work needs to be done.

Is there a way to rid my body of PFAS?

Unfortunately, there are not many ways for your body to expel PFAS. They are extremely stable molecules, which is why they can remain in your body for years. As such, PFAS levels are often higher in older adults because they accumulate over one’s lifetime. However, menstruation, breastfeeding, and childbirth have been shown to be ways that PFAS are expelled from the body, though research shows that mothers can pass them to their babies. That said, there is no way to totally avoid exposure. You can even find PFAS in the Arctic because they get transported everywhere and persist in the environment. Further, PFAS are not the only concern. Over the last few decades, society has exponentially increased the production of all kinds of synthetic chemicals, some of which can eventually make their way into the human body, and we don’t yet know what that means for human health going forward.

Read more about Your Health.

Giving Thanks and Helping Kids Express Gratitude

Nov 21, 2023 | Featured, Your Health

With the holiday season upon us, it’s that time of year when we take a moment to reflect and give thanks for the wonderful blessings in our lives. We gather with family and friends to feast and celebrate, and we express our gratitude through acts of kindness and appreciation.

Children are excited for the big season ahead and the wonder of it all. But how do we encourage them to embrace and express gratitude—and not only now but all year round? It might be a bit of an abstract concept for some little ones.

There are many reasons why teaching kids gratitude is important, according to Aliza Pressman, PhD, co-Founding Director and Director of Clinical Programming for the Mount Sinai Parenting Center. She explains how practicing gratitude has been linked to many positive outcomes and ways to express gratitude.

“Gratitude is a value that your family can hold dear and practice together in various ways,” she says. “It can be a family tradition that is celebrated all year round. But it’s not just about teaching kids to say, ‘thank you.’ We all know that being grateful is about so much more than that. We need to ask kids ‘How did that make you feel?’ This way, they can start linking the emotion and the feeling of gratitude with the words.”

In addition, gratitude can have health benefits for kids—such as improved relationships, better physical health, reduced depression and anxiety, enhanced empathy, reduced aggression, better sleep, increased resilience, and improved performance at school or with chores at home.

Dr. Pressman suggests starting a “gratitude practice” in your own life, and modeling one for your children.

“Cultivating gratitude in our children balances the many challenges we all face, and helps to promote connected, grounded and involved citizens in our communities,” she says. “However, we sometimes fall into a trap of forcing a feeling of gratitude in our children and this is not something we can force.”

In fact, gratitude takes patience. “The benefits of a gratitude practice expand over time, unlike many of the quick fix or feel good solutions we usually turn to,” she says. “Effects of gratitude occur in the prefrontal cortex and make us more sensitive to emotional connectivity and relationships with others.”

 Here are five ways we can help children learn to express gratitude:

  • Model saying “thank you” and help your child to thank others in whatever way they feel comfortable. Write thank you notes, make cards, or send videos to show others you are grateful for them. Sharing a message to say thank you means so much.
  • Use the phrase “I really appreciate” when noticing acts for which you are grateful.
  • Play the rose/thorn/bud game at the dinner table. For the rose, name one sweet part of the day. For the thorn, name one challenge. For the bud, name one thing you are excited for or are looking forward to.
  • Volunteer in your community. Find an opportunity to help others and discuss how that act adds value to your own life and a sense of purpose.
  • Create a gratitude journal that you fill out on holidays or special occasions. This can be a gratitude tree for Thanksgiving or a birthday gratitude journal. Have each family member participate and read the entries from the year before.

Consistency is the key to helping make lasting change in your family, so keep it simple and easy for you to work into everyday life. Avoid labels like “spoiled” in your own home, and focus instead on feeling appreciative for what you have and what surrounds you.

“Let your children feel grateful for whatever comes naturally to them, and don’t judge. Remember that your goal is to inspire your children into building this muscle, not force them into it,” says Dr. Pressman. All of your hard work, thoughtfulness, and efforts now will have an great impact on your children for years to come. This is a wonderful way of sharing gratitude and giving thanks full circle.”

 

Learn more about the Mount Sinai Parenting Center
Learn more about Pediatrics at Mount Sinai

Pin It on Pinterest