Can I Indulge in a Decadent Treat If I Have Kidney Disease?

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Diet and Nutrition, Your Health

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.

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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.

 

What is phosphorus?

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.

Limit These Decadent Treats

Many decadent treats are high in phosphorus. Be sure to limit the following if you or your loved one has kidney disease.

  • Chocolate
  • Ice cream
  • Custard
  • Pudding
  • Caramel
  • Hard cheese and processed cheese

Indulge in These Treats

Low-phosphorus foods are plentiful and delicious. The following are some kidney-friendly options.

  • Popcorn
  • Pretzels (without salt)
  • Jelly beans
  • Sorbets and sherbets
  • Jam, jelly, and honey
  • Cream cheese (regular or low fat)

What You Need to Know about ‘Lip Lifts’ and Other Lip Enhancements

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Your Health

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.

Make an appointment with Dr. Rosenberg
Learn more about Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Mount Sinai
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What are the Benefits of Interventional Radiology?

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Your 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.

More on Interventional Radiology at Mount Sinai

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.

What is interventional radiology?

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:

  • Uterine fibroids
  • Enlarged prostate
  • Enlargement of the veins within the scrotum
  • Pelvic congestion syndrome
  • Blood clots and varicose veins in the legs
  • Liver and kidney cancers

 

New York Daily News: How to Manage ADHD in Adults and Kids

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Your Health

Medication can help young and old manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but it works best when people are also developing life skills, according to Jeffrey Newcorn, MD, a Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, and Director of the Division of ADHD, Learning Disabilities and Related Disorders at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Read the article in The New York Daily News

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Can Using Birth Control Pills Increase Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Your Health

Hank Schmidt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Surgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital

Many historical studies have addressed the question of whether women who use birth control pills, or contraceptive devices such as IUDs that release hormones, face an increased risk of breast cancer. Unfortunately, these studies have failed to reach a consensus.

In fact, doctors and researchers believe many of these studies are limited because they examined older forms of hormonal contraceptives containing different estrogen doses and different progestin medications.

The result: This important question lacks a definitive answer—a critical shortcoming because nearly 10 million American women use oral contraceptives.

A recent analysis from the Danish Sex Hormone Registry Study in The New England Journal of Medicine offers new data in an attempt to answer this question, and many women may want to discuss these findings with their doctor.

The study found a significant increase in risk of breast cancer among women using oral contraceptives. The study included nearly 1.8 million women age 15-49 who were followed, on average, for 10 years. It found 11,517 breast cancers, and a relative risk of 1.2 among users of oral contraceptives—meaning that a woman who uses oral contraceptives was 1.2 times more likely to develop breast cancer compared to women who did not use these contraceptives.  Relative risk increased to 1.38 with 10 years of oral contraceptive use.

It is important to put this increased risk into perspective. It translates into 13 additional breast cancers per 100,000 women for the total study group, and two breast cancers per 100,000 women under 35 years of age.  Bottom line: This study indicates oral contraceptive use may be a modest risk factor for breast cancer, similar to rates from increased alcohol intake or postmenopausal weight gain.

The study also found that change in breast cancer risk did not seem to be related to the specific type of oral contraceptive used. Women using implanted intrauterine devices (IUDs) releasing progestin also showed similar increased risk. For short-term users, typically those who used these medictions for less than five years, the increased breast cancer risk seemed to rapidly disappear with discontinuation; however, longer-term users, those who used the medications for more than five years,  sustained increased risk for at least five years after they stopped using them.

In assessing your own risk, it is also important to remember that hormonal contraceptives have documented benefits, such as a reduction in risk of ovarian cancer and possibly colorectal cancer. Women who are at increased risk of breast cancer from other factors, such as a strong family history of breast cancer, should discuss the risks and benefits of oral contraceptive use with their doctors.

Hank Schmidt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Surgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Director of the Cancer Risk Program at the Dubin Breast Center of the Tisch Cancer Institute, is a board certified surgeon specializing in surgical oncology and treating patients with breast cancer.

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