Winter is the season for sports injuries, especially to the crucial ligaments that support the knee. So now is the time to think about how to stay fit and healthy, whether on the ski slopes or just when shoveling your stoop or driveway. Alexis Colvin, MD, an Associate Professor of Orthopedics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, offers some suggestions on how to avoid injuries.
This is one of the worst flu seasons in the New York area in recent memory, which is why it’s especially important that if you think you have the flu, seek the best treatment right away. And it’s just as important to choose the right place. Here’s what Mount Sinai Health System recommends:
Contact your primary care provider (your or your family’s regular doctor) as soon as you feel symptoms.
These symptoms include:
If you don’t already have a primary care provider, you can find a Mount Sinai Health System doctor and make a same-day appointment here.
If you can’t see your primary care provider, go to an Urgent Care center near you.
There are plenty of Urgent Care centers throughout the New York metropolitan area. This includes the Mount Sinai Urgent Care Center in Union Square as well as four other Mount Sinai urgent care centers through the city. These practices are staffed by Mount Sinai doctors who can see you right away and offer late hours most days of the week.
Use the hospital emergency room only as a last resort.
Emergency rooms are for life-threatening conditions like possible heart attacks, strokes, heavy bleeding, and other severe conditions. Learn more about the difference between urgent care and the Emergency Department here and test your knowledge here.
Don’t visit others in the hospital if you feel unwell yourself.
It’s important for those who believe they may have the flu to avoid visiting relatives or friends who are in the hospital. The elderly and children also should not visit hospitals unless absolutely necessary for their own treatment.
Protect yourself to limit the chances of getting the flu.
It’s not too late to get your flu shot, as this is your best defense. You should also:
Valentine’s Day is a great time to celebrate love. While chocolate may be the first thing that comes to mind, there are healthier ways to celebrate this special occasion—especially if you or your loved ones are on dialysis for chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Healthy kidneys rid the body of excess phosphorus. When the kidneys do not work well, phosphorus may build up in your body. Too much phosphorus may cause your blood vessels to harden and cause problems for your heart and other vital organs. Chocolate is high in phosphorus, so people with kidney problems need to limit, or eliminate, their intake. Thankfully, with a dash of creativity and preparation, there are treats that can show your gratitude and are good for you!
Heart-shaped egg
To create this treat, mold a hard-boiled egg using a milk or juice carton. Cut a clean, empty carton in half and place the warm hard-boiled egg inside. Using a thin wooden spoon or chop stick, press down on the warm egg being careful to not crush. This treat receives xtra points for the protein!
Sweetheart apple slices
Cut some apple slices and then use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to remove the core. This crispy snack is high in soluble fiber, which supports heart health by sweeping out excess cholesterol in your system. Soluble fiber may help lower your risk of developing diabetes. It can also help control blood sugar for people who already have diabetes.
Cream cheese-filled strawberries
Cheeses are generally high in phosphorus. Fortunately, there is an exception to the rule: cream cheese. Low in phosphorus, cream cheese is a good choice for people who are watching their phosphorus intake. To make this treat, fill a plastic bag with cream cheese, cut a hole in the corner, and pipe into cut strawberries.
Samantha Wu, MS, RD, CSR, CDN, is a senior dietitian at Mount Sinai Kidney Center. She works with adult and pediatric patients on hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home hemodialysis. Ms. Wu enjoys creatively helping patients fit their favorite foods into a healthy, kidney-friendly diet.
Phosphorus, along with calcium, is used by the body to build healthy bones. High levels of the mineral can lead to dangerous calcium deposits in the blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and heart.
Many decadent treats are high in phosphorus. Be sure to limit the following if you or your loved one has kidney disease.
Low-phosphorus foods are plentiful and delicious. The following are some kidney-friendly options.
The desire for plumped-up, pouty, and alluring lips is ascendant, from social media celebrities to patients we see in our offices every day. For many, especially younger patients, beautiful lips have become a “must have.” The explosion of new treatments and techniques in the last few years has made obtaining full, plump lips as easy as an office visit.
Facial plastic surgeries and treatments are often considered tools for rejuvenation as we age. However, according to a survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 64 percent of members saw an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectable treatments in patients under age 30 last year. Younger patients are increasingly seeking cosmetic treatments not for rejuvenation, but to enhance their beauty.
For patients interested in lip enhancement, there are numerous options. Soft-tissue fillers are by far the most popular. In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the gel-like fillers for lip enhancement. Made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring compound found in our bodies, soft-tissue fillers can be used to fully enhance the lips or target specific areas where a patient might seek improvement. The body absorbs hyaluronic acid fillers over time, so lip enhancement with them is temporary. Patients should expect results to last between six months to one year.
Surgical lip enhancements or “lip lifts” are another option. This procedure requires the harvesting of the patient’s own fat via liposuction and re-injecting the material into the lips. Fat injections are intended to be permanent, and often are; however, sometimes not all the fat takes hold, which can result in asymmetry. “Lip lifts” represent the oldest form of lip enhancement and will typically involve some downtime.
A new trend in lip enhancement is the use of injectable neuromodulators, which are typically used to treat wrinkles, frown lines, and crow’s feet. While lip fillers and surgery add volume, these injections selectively relax muscles around the lips to create a more nuanced and contoured look. Used alone or in combination with fillers, injectable neuromodulators present an additional option for creating the ideal lip.
The lips are an essential part of the human face. Widely recognized throughout art and literature, lips are often central in matters of attraction and love. If you are interested in enhancing your pout and are unsure of what treatment is optimal, the best place to start is a consultation.
Joshua Rosenberg, MD, is an Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. A diplomate of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, Dr. Rosenberg is an expert in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and microvascular reconstruction.
Some 20 million Americans are living with some sort of thyroid disorder, and of that number, 60% are unaware of it. Ilya Likhterov, MD, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, explains what you need to know about about thyroid health.
Every day, it seems as if the news is filled with novel treatments for existing health problems. How can you digest and scrutinize all of this information? Mount Sinai Queens has made exciting new developments in interventional radiology. Advances in the field are helping patients avoid surgery and other invasive techniques.
Interventional Radiologists are trained in both radiology and interventional techniques. This unique combination of skills requires an additional six to seven years of training after medical school. The techniques learned in training allow the interventional radiologist to look inside the body and treat medical conditions using the least invasive techniques. For patients, that means less risk, less pain, and a shorter recovery time. With interventional radiology, diagnosis and treatment are accomplished with a micro-incision, one that requires no stitches and can be covered with an adhesive bandage.
In general, IR techniques start with a catheter threaded into the body, typically through a blood vessel in the wrist or groin. The catheter is used to deliver treatment. For example, in treating fibroid tumors of the uterus, small beads are delivered through the catheter to cut off the blood supply to the tumors. Similarly for men with enlarged prostates that cause urinary symptoms, small beads can be delivered to the arteries supplying the prostate, which will shrink the prostate and reduce symptoms.
Most IR patients are sent home the same day and normal activity is resumed within a week or two.
Please remember that this information is not a substitute for direct medical advice.
Vivian L. Bishay, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a board certified radiologist at Mount Sinai Queens. Her clinical interests include portal venous hypertension, interventional oncology, uterine fibroid embolization, and peripheral vascular disease.
Interventional radiology (IR) is a medical specialty that uses minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat early stage medical conditions without surgery. The range of conditions that can be treated with IR is constantly growing and includes: