Healthy Living 10/12/22 edition is published monthly by Anton Media Group.

HERE FOR EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY LIFE

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Our Faith puts all your needs and comfort first. So, our innovative medical care is always delivered with unmatched compassion. It’s because we understand that we’re not treating just patients, we’re treating someone’s family, best friend, and neighbors to us all.

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Breast Cancer Awareness

In 2019, the latest year for which incidence data are available, in the United States, 264,121 new cases of female breast cancer were reported among women, and 42,280 women died of this cancer. For every 100,000 women, 130 new female breast cancer cases were reported and 19 women died of this cancer.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. One of every four deaths in the United States is due to cancer.

SYMPTOMS

There are different symptoms of breast cancer, and some people have no symptoms at all. Symptoms can include:

• Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.

• Pain in any area of the breast.

• Nipple discharge other than breast milk (including blood).

• A new lump in the breast or underarm.

If you have any signs that worry you, see your doctor right away.

RISK FACTORS

Some main factors that affect your chance of getting breast cancer include:

• Being a woman.

• Being older. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old and older.

• Having changes in your BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.

LOWER YOUR RISK

You can do things to help lower your breast cancer risk.

• Keep a healthy weight and exercise regularly.

• Choose not to drink alcohol, or drink

alcohol in moderation.

• If you are taking hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills, ask your doctor about the risks.

• Breastfeed your children, if possible.

• If you have a family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, talk to your doctor about other ways to lower your risk.

• Staying healthy throughout your life will lower your risk of developing cancer, and improve your chances of surviving cancer if it occurs.

FAST FACTS

• Each year in the United States, about 264,000 women get breast cancer and 42,000 women die from the disease.

• Men also get breast cancer, but it is not very common. About 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the United States is found in a man.

• Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older, but breast cancer also affects younger women. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is

the most common cancer among American women. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Ask your doctor when you should get a mammogram.

Visit www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast to learn more.

—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Breast Cancer Hotline Volunteers Sought

Breast cancer survivors can help others coping with breast cancer by becoming volunteers with the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program. The four-day training program will take place on consecutive Tuesdays in November (Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 22) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom. Attendance at all four sessions is necessary.

This in-depth training includes presentations by nurse navigators and social workers on basic breast cancer education, active listening skills, and tips on engaging the community.

Those who complete the training will have opportunities to provide support and guidance on the hotline; attend community outreach events to support underserved communities; deliver educational presentations and speaking engagements; assist with local and national press and media; and help with fundraising efforts.

To reach the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline, call 800-877-8077.

Meet Greenberg’s Newest Surgeon

Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology welcomes Dr. Jason M. Weissler.

Weissler completed his plastic surgery residency at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, the number one hospital in the world, according to U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek During his plastic surgery training, Dr. Weissler gained extensive firsthand expe rience in both aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery alongside the nation’s leading plastic surgery experts.

Following the completion of his plastic surgery residency, Weissler was invited to complete an Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship endorsed by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery with Dr. Louis Bucky. During his residency, he gained multidisciplinary experience using the most innovative and advanced surgical techniques in face, eye and neck lift pro cedures, facial rejuvenation, rhinoplasty,

breast surgery, and body contouring.

Weissler is a New York native. He attended the highly competitive combined B.S./M.D. Early Selection Program at The George Washington University where he earned his undergraduate and medical degrees. In addition to his distinguished education, he completed a one-year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at The University of Pennsylvania Division of Plastic Surgery and published numerous articles in plastic surgery’s leading sci entific journals. His academic excellence led him to one of the nation’s elite Plastic Surgery residency programs at the Mayo Clinic, culminating with him serving as Chief Resident. Weissler was also selected as one of the first Plastic Surgery Chief Residents to be honored with the title of Instructor.

Weissler is continually recognized for his academic achievements and research as well as his sophisticated surgical training.

He has authored over 45 peer-reviewed research publications in the highest respected journals and has presented his work across the world. His academic accolades and elite training have led him to be an invited reviewer for the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, cosmetic plastic surgery’s top journal.

The philosophy that the “needs of the patient come first” has been an integral part of Weissler’s development as a Plastic Surgeon. Having trained at the Mayo Clinic, his mission is always to deliver the highest quality care through the latest and most advanced techniques. He is pas sionate about providing exceptional care to meet each patient’s diverse needs and recapture the beauty of self-confidence by providing quality and natural results.

Visit www.GreenbergCosmeticSurgery. com to learn more.

—Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology

Jason M. Weissler, M.D.

Liver Disease Has Many Causes

Many of the causes of liver disease are not preventable as they are caused by hereditary or autoimmune factors. However, there are factors which can be modified to prevent progression of known liver disease.

Alcohol is known to cause liver disease. Excessive alcohol intake over a long period of time can lead to the development of fatty liver, cirrhosis, liver failure and even liver cancer. In people with underlying liver disease of any cause, alcohol is even more dangerous. Small amounts of alcohol taken on a daily or weekly basis can lead to more rapid disease progression. People with hepatitis C, hepatitis B, fatty liver or any other type of chronic liver disease who drink alcohol are at a greater risk of disease progression than those who minimize or abstain from alcohol use. What constitutes alcohol intake? I am often surprised by patients who tell me that they do not drink alcohol but only drink beer and wine. It is a common misconception that hard liquor such as whiskey and vodka are the only alcohols which are dangerous to a person with liver disease. Beer and wine are alcoholic beverages! Therefore, to prevent liver disease prevention, alcohol intake must be minimized in those with liver disease, especially women who are at greater risk of disease progression with even small amounts of alcohol ingestion.

Cigarette smoking has also been

associated with the development of scarring of the liver. People with liver disease who smoke are more likely to progress to cirrhosis. Liver disease now joins heart, lung and cerebrovascular diseases as being adversely affected by cigarette smoking. To take this to the next level, we still do not know the effect of secondhand smoke on liver disease progression. Perhaps just being around people who smoke may be detrimental to one’s liver health. To prevent liver disease progression, it is important to stop smoking.

The use of marijuana has also been associated with greater amounts of liver scarring and disease progression. For similar reasons therefore as with cigarette smoking, people with liver disease should avoid the use of marijuana.

Diet is perhaps the most important factor that can be modified to prevent liver disease progression. Weight gain

and obesity are independent risk factors for the development of liver disease. Any liver disease will be worsened by excessive weight gain and poor dietary choices. More than 50 million Americans have fatty liver disease and many others with all forms of liver disease have fat deposition in the liver. This fat will lead to more fibrosis. Because of this, I am often asked about the best diet for the liver. My response to that question is that a good healthy, heart diet, low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables, is best for the liver. Avoidance of high carbohydrate desserts and avoidance of alcohol will lead to a healthier liver. Exercise is also critical to mobilize fat and burn off calories.

There are also medical interventions

which can prevent liver disease. Vaccination is the key to this. Vaccines are currently available to prevent hepatitis A and B. All children are currently vaccinated against hepatitis B. The current recommendations are that all people with any type of liver disease be tested for immunity to hepatitis A and B. If they are not immune, vaccination should be offered.

While liver disease may not be preventable, simple modifications in diet and exercise coupled with avoidance of cigarettes and alcohol can slow disease progression and lead to a healthier liver, not to mention an overall healthier lifestyle.

—David Bernstein, MD, MACG, FAASLD, AGAF, FACP

October Is Down Syndrome Awareness Month

In every cell in the human body there is a nucleus, where genetic material is stored in genes. Genes carry the codes responsible for all of our inherited traits and are grouped along rod-like structures called chromosomes. Typically, the nucleus of each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.

This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm—although each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.

HOW COMMON IS DOWN SYNDROME?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in every 772 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, making Down

One in 772 babies are affected.

syndrome the most common chromosomal condition. About 5,100 babies with Down syndrome are born in the United States each year.

DOWN SYNDROME HISTORY

For centuries, people with Down syndrome have been alluded to in art,

literature, and science. It wasn’t until the late nineteenth century, however, that John Langdon Down, an English physi cian, published an accurate description of a person with Down syndrome. It was this scholarly work, published in 1866, that earned Down the recognition as the “father” of the syndrome. Although other people had previously recognized the characteristics of the syndrome, it was Down who described the condition as a distinct and separate entity.

In recent history, advances in medicine and science have enabled researchers to investigate the characteristics of people with Down syndrome. In 1959, the French physician Jérôme Lejeune identified Down syndrome as a chromosomal condition.

Instead of the usual 46 chromosomes present in each cell, Lejeune observed 47 in the cells of individuals with Down syndrome.

It was later determined that an extra partial or whole copy of chromosome 21 results in the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. In the year 2000, an international team of scientists successfully identified and catalogued each of the approximately 329 genes on chromosome 21. This accomplishment opened the door to great advances in Down syndrome research.

WHAT CAUSES

DOWN SYNDROME?

Regardless of the type of Down syndrome a person may have, all people with Down syndrome have an extra, critical portion of chromosome 21 present in all or some of their cells.

The cause of the extra full or partial chromosome is still unknown. Maternal age is the only factor that has been linked to an increased chance of having a baby with Down syndrome resulting from nondisjunction or mosaicism. However, due to higher birth rates in younger women, 51 percent of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age.

There is no definitive scientific research that indicates that Down syndrome is caused by environmental factors or the parents’ activities before or during pregnancy.

The additional partial or full copy of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome can originate from either the father or the mother. Approximately five percent of the cases have been traced to the father.

Visit www.ndss.org to learn more.

—National Down Syndrome Society

Glen Cove Hospital Ranks Among Best Rehab Centers

Glen Cove Hospital has received “American’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2022” ranking award from Newsweek, the premier global news magazine. This prestigious honor places Glen Cove Hospital among the leading acute inpatient physical rehabilitation programs in the country—and one of the top nine in New York State. It is the only program on Long Island to be recognized. The list included 255 rehab centers in 25 states.

Newsweek’s report is the second national analysis in two months to recognize Glen Cove’s outstanding rehab program. U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hospital 2022-2023 list also ranked Glen Cove 47th in the nation for its rehabilitation center, which provides comprehensive care to 1,600 patients annually.

Newsweek’s report provides important guidance to patients, families and medical providers in need of acute inpatient rehabil itation. More than a million Americans will undergo surgery to replace a knee or hip joint. Many others will sustain a musculoskeletal or neurologic injury. Physical therapy and other treatments can significantly affect recovery, but finding the most appropriate rehabilita tion facility can be a challenge.

Newsweek teamed up with the global

Glen Cove Hospital has received “Ameri can’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2022” ranking.

data research firm Statista Inc., which considered quality of care, service, follow-up care and accommodations and amenities. The rankings were based on a peer survey from thousands of medical experts. In addition, key performance indicator data in 15 different measures published by the U.S. Centers for Medicaid Services were analyzed as well as accreditation distinctions.

Physical Therapy Tips

Physical Therapy (PT) has many benefits for children and adults of all ages and circumstances. Motivating your child to actively engage in PT in a home setting can be a challenge.

STRATEGY

• Children love to play games and have fun and PT by itself can seem like a lot of work. Develop games that involve movements that mimic the requirements of your child’s PT program. If your child is playing a game, they are much more motivated to participate in “PT like” activities.

• Involve siblings and friends. After all, you play games with others. Create a list of six fun games. Hang it on the wall and num ber them. Have the child roll the dice. The number rolled determines the game. Roll dice again to determine frequency.

• Reward your child’s good effort by allow ing them to play their favorite game—the reward doesn’t have to be PT related.

FUN GAMES (SECRET PT)

1. Pop the Bubbles

Get out a bottle of bubbles. Have your child stand on one foot and pop the bub bles with the other foot before they hit the ground. Pop 10 bubbles and then switch feet. Repeat three times. This helps to im prove balance and hand-eye-coordination.

2. Bear Walking

Pretend you are a bear and walk on all fours (hands and feet, not knees). Walk across the room; make it a race. Repeat five times. Stretches hamstrings. Make up other animals just for fun (for variety), and then return to bear: jump like a frog, hop like a bunny, etc.

3. Sticker Hunting

Purchase a variety of stickers that can be placed on the borders of your child’s foot. Position the stickers so that the ankle has to be moved (up/down or in/out) in order to see the sticker. The parent calls out the sticker to be found and the child moves their foot to reveal the sticker. Repeat up/ down motions five times. Repeat in/out motions five times. This increases flexibility in ankle.

4. Stomp the Pillow

Have the child step into the center of a squishy pillow and stand there. Then toss them a ball (or balloon) and and have them toss it back without stepping off the pillow. Repeat 10 times. This improves balance reactions and their ankle and foot strength.

5. Open Sesame!

With child in a standing position, instruct them to lift one foot off of the floor when you say “Open Sesame! (ses-ah-mee)”. As they lift their foot, a secret passage is revealed and you run your hand (toy truck, train, animal) along the floor underneath

Physical therapy can be helpful to all ages.

their foot. Be sure they don’t close the passage while your hand is in there. Repeat five times and switch feet. Encourages ankle dorsiflexion (foot up toward face).

6. Hip-Hop-Scotch

Crisscross two pieces of three-foot masking tape on the floor. Have your child face you while standing in one of the four quadrants formed by the tape. Call out directions: Forward/Sideways/Backward/Diagonal. The child jumps with two feet in the direction instructed. Give 10 instructions. Repeat two times. Works with thighs/calves and improves balance.

7. Elevator Boy/Elevator Girl

Your child is in control of the elevator and

is responsible for getting the people who ride it to the floor they want to go to. Place a series of stickers vertically in clear space on a wall. Your child stands with their back against the wall and next to the stickers. You call out what floor (sticker) that you want the elevator to go to. The child begins to squat to lower the elevator while keeping their back against the wall. Move the elevator up and down five times. Repeat twice. Strengthens legs and midrange quads.

BONUS PT TIP

1. Dancing Giants

Play music that your child enjoys and start dancing together as if you were giants (Lifting knees high with big steps). After 60 seconds, then dance as if you were dainty little fairies. Continue to change by using your favorite characters...cat, dog, snake, monster, cartoon character. Dance for five minutes. A more advanced version of this is the Just Dance game for the Wii. Builds endurance.

2. Commerical Breaks

While watching TV with your child, use the commercial breaks to do stretching exercises together. Not only will you get better compliance, you will also feel better by the end of the commercials.

—Abilities First

Sandra Lindsay Named To Public Health Leadership Role

Northwell Health announced that Sandra Lindsay, RN, MBA, DHSc, the first American to be vaccinated in the fight against COVID-19 and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, has been appointed vice president of public health advocacy.

Lindsay spent 29 years in nursing, most recently serving as director of nursing critical care at Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park. She led from the front lines of the pandemic, both during the First Wave from March-June 2020 and then volunteering to become the first American vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 14, 2020.

Her vaccination resonated around the globe, thrusting Lindsay into the spotlight as an advocate for vaccination to protect against COVID. As a woman of color and proud Jamaican immigrant, Lindsay’s message also struck an authentic tone with communities of color and Caribbean peoples alike. Her ID badge and scrubs reside at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. For her community health efforts, President Joe Biden awarded Lindsay with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony in July.

Sandra Lindsay

Lindsay emigrated to the United States from Jamaica in 1986, graduated from Borough of Manhattan Community College in 1993 as valedictorian of her nursing program and joined Lenox Hill Hospital one year later as an oncology nurse. While continuing her education, she served as a critical care nurse manager at Lenox Hill before transitioning to LIJ.

When the pandemic struck New York State in March 2020, Queens quickly

became the epicenter and no hospital treated more cases than LIJ. She oversaw expansion of the hospital’s intensive care unit capacity by 212 percent to care for critically ill COVID-19 patients. Lindsay saw the opportunity to get vaccinated nine months later as a game-changer, so she volunteered to be the first at Northwell. By a quirk of timing, Lindsay was acknowledged as the first person in the U.S. to receive the Pfizer vaccine—an internationally-celebrated turning point in the deadly pandemic—transforming her into a global figure overnight and conferring her with the authority to address global health. Her latest appointment is a continuation of her evolution from frontline clinician to spokesperson and health advocate.

“I plan to work collaboratively with my colleagues to positively influence social and health issues that are priorities for our communities in New York, throughout the U.S. and globally,” said Lindsay. “I chose a career in health care because I believe in raising the health of everyone. I plan to advance the mission at Northwell Health of compassionate and equitable care.”

Lindsay served as grand marshal of New York City’s Healthcare Heroes Parade in 2021 and grand marshal of NYC’s African

American Day Parade in September. She participated in the 2020 New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, President Biden’s 2021 Inaugural and gave the commencement address at Lehman College in the Bronx in May. She has been awarded the 2021 Outstanding Americans by Choice recognition from the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, the 2021 Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award, the American Nurses Association’s 2021 President Award and named USA Today Woman of the Year in March. In August, the Jamaican native who helped organize a shipment of COVID relief supplies to the island nation, received the Order of Distinction/Commander Class as an outstanding ambassador of Jamaica.

After graduating with an associate degree from Borough of Manhattan CC, Lindsay earned her Bachelor’s in nursing from St. Joseph’s College, a Master of Science degree from Lehman College, an MBA from Hofstra University, and in 2021, a Doctor of Health Sciences degree with a concentration in global health and organizational behavior and leadership from A.T. Still University (MO). Lindsay is a resident of Port Washington.

—Northwell Health

AWARENESS.

Five Reasons To Have Your Eyes

Checked: Blurry Vision Isn’t One Of Them

As we age, our eyes are increasingly susceptible to a number of ocular conditions. One such condition—AgeRelated Macular Degeneration (AMD)—im pacts nearly 22 million people in the U.S. alone. This disease causes the blurring of an individual’s central vision and is typically caused by the aging of the macula—the part of the eye responsible for the sharpness of vision. It is the leading cause of vision loss for older adults.

The unfortunate reality of AMD is that 30 percent of eyes diagnosed with the disease could have been treated if diagnosed early. But 78 percent of patients do not seek treatment until their vision is irreversibly damaged.

Dr. Mohamed Abou Shousha, an ophthal mologist at the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and founder and CEO of the vision technology company, Heru, shares five risk factors that could indicate the presence of this condition.

1. YOUR AGE

As the name suggests, aging is one of the leading causes of AMD. In fact, AMD impacts one in eight adults over the age of 60. As you age, it is important you ask your doctor to test your eyes for indicators of AMD.

2. FAMILY HISTORY

If a family member has been diagnosed with AMD, it is likely you could be as well.

Studies have shown that if you have a close relative with AMD, such as a sibling or parent, you are 15 to 20 percent more likely to develop the condition.

3. OVERWEIGHT? SMOKE?

If you are overweight and smoke, you have key risk factors that make you especially vulnerable to the disease.

4. YOUR EYES DO NOT ADJUST TO THE DARK

Dark adaptation is a measure of the time it takes for your eyes to adjust when moving from bright lights to areas with dim lighting. If adjusting to the dark takes longer for you than normal, it could be an indicator of AMD.

5. YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY SEEING AT NIGHT

If you notice difficulty driving at night, have trouble seeing pedestrians walking along underlit streets, or fail to notice that final step on the staircase, this could indicate the presence of AMD.

Many risk factors could indicate ocular conditions.

“Most individuals suffering from AMD do not know they have it until the disease has progressed significantly,” said Dr. Abou Shousha. “Early detection is a key to preventing permanent vision loss and that can easily be done with regular eye examinations, coupled with healthy living.”

The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends an annual eye exam for adults 65 years and older and every two years for adults 18 to 64 years of age. Those intervals could change based on risk factors and on the recommendation of a physician.

—Heru

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

As reported on the Indicators of School Crime and Safety report, about 20 percent of students ages 12 to 18 reported being bullied. Among students ages 12 to 18 who reported being bullied during the school year, 15 percent were bullied online or by text. National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month is a monthlong observance to educate and raise awareness about bullying and cyberbullying prevention. Addressing and preventing bullying is something that everyone can do, every day.

ADDRESS BULLYING AT SCHOOL

Educators and teachers can create a safe, supportive learning environment and a classroom culture of positivity, inclusiveness and respect. They can reward students for positive social behavior. Schools can communicate bullying policies at their school to parents, students, teachers and staff and follow through on them. Monitoring bullying ‘hot spots’ around the school campus can also help prevent bullying.

TALK ABOUT BULLYING AT HOME

Parents and caregivers can talk with their

children about their school and digital life, and the many roles children can play in bullying. By asking open-ended questions, they can talk about their children’s experience and communicate expectations about appropriate behavior—in person and in their digital world. Parents are the primary role models for their children, and when they model the behavior they expect from their children, they teach through actions.

SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

Mentors can also model kindness, inclusivity, and respect. They can ask open-ended questions of their mentees and listen without judgement. Providing positive reinforcement to children and teenagers can help protect them from bullying and other risky behaviors. They can also provide support to all kids involved, and help make sure the bullying doesn’t continue and its effects are minimized.

GET HELP

Youth who experience bullying can reach out to a trusted adult to talk about it and get support. If they’re being cyberbullied, they can capture screenshots. They can block the people who are bullying. If they witness

bullying, they can change the conversation and deflect it. If they feel they can do it, they can stand up for the person being bullied, either on their own or with friends as a group. If they don’t feel safe doing that, they can reach out to the person being bullied to let them know that they don’t agree with it. If youth witness cyberbullying, they

shouldn’t participate or share the posts or texts. They can learn more about how bystanders are essential to bullying prevention. They can also talk to a trusted adult for advice.

Visit www.stopbullying.gov to learn more, —U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

HEALTHY YOU CHECKLIST

ACTIVE.

ADEQUATE SLEEP.

MAMMOGRAPHY

SELF CARE.