Healthy Living 6/08/22 edition is published monthly by Anton Media Group. by Anton Community Newspapers

AN ANTON MEDIA GROUP SPECIAL

JUNE 8 - 14, 2022

JUNE IS MEN’S HEALTH MONTH INSIDE

SASS Foundation Liver Health

2B JUNE 8 - 14, 2022 • HEALTHY LIVING

Big Tobacco’s Big Tobacco’s customers are dying. customers are dying.

But instead of pulling their products off shelves, tobacco companies are recruiting a new of smokers. Butgeneration instead of pulling their products off shelves, tobacco companies are recruiting They talk about it in their meetings, they spend enormous a new generation of and smokers. resources tracking the behaviors preferences of youth and they flavors to put their action. Theyuse talkmenthol about it in their meetings, theyplans spendinto enormous resources the behaviors and preferences of for youth Menthol is not tracking just a flavor, it’s a manipulative way and they use menthol flavors to put their plans into action. Big Tobacco to make their products smoother and better is not just a flavor, a manipulative wayto forquit. tasting,Menthol so they’re easier for kids it’s to start and harder Big Tobacco to make their products smoother and better And the biggest problem is, it works. Statistics show that the tasting, so they’re easier for kids to start and harder to quit. youngest smokers are most likely to use menthol cigarettes. And the biggest problem is, it works. Statistics show that the youngest smokers are most likely to use menthol cigarettes.

Help fight this injustice Help fight this injustice at NotJustMenthol.org at NotJustMenthol.org

• The average age of a new smoker is 13 years old

• The average age of a new • 54% of youth (ages 12-17) smoker is 13 years old

who smoke use menthol • 54% of youth (ages 12-17) cigarettes who smoke use menthol •cigarettes Over 7 out of 10 African

American youth who smoke

• Over 7 out of 10 African use menthol cigarettes American youth who smoke use menthol cigarettes

facebook.com/TobaccoFreeNYS

@TobaccoFreeNYS

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HEALTHY LIVING • JUNE 8 - 14, 2022 3B

COVER STORY

Tip Sheet: Good Health In Later Life For Older Men

mericans are living longer than ever, but American men still aren’t living as long as American women. The average life expectancy for men in the U.S. is now roughly 75 years. For women, it’s more than 80. Exactly why men are shorter-lived than women isn’t entirely clear. Even in infancy boys run a higher risk of dying than girls, and researchers aren’t sure why. However, research suggests that a leading reason for the “longevity gap” between men and women is that men don’t take care of themselves as well as women do. For example, surveys have found that women are much more likely to have a regular healthcare provider, and to see their provider within the course of the year, than men are. Men are also more likely to engage in “risky” behaviors—like smoking and drinking heavily—than women. Experts agree that by taking better care of themselves, men can increase their odds of living healthier, longer lives.

Tips for Older Men

See your healthcare provider regularly. Even if you feel perfectly healthy, you should see your provider at least once a year for a checkup. Call or see your healthcare provider when you’re feeling sick. Surveys find that men are less likely than women to see a healthcare provider when they’re not feeling well. In one survey, 40 percent of men said that, if they were sick, they would delay seeking medical care for a few days. Seventeen percent said they would wait “at least a week.” Prompt medical care can make a big difference—sometimes, the difference between life and death. Don’t wait. Take medications, vitamins, and supplements only as directed. When you visit your provider, bring either all of the pills you take, or a complete list of these that notes the doses you take, and how often you take them. Include medicines, vitamins, herbs and supplements (even those you buy in the store without a prescription). Why? Because the longer you live, and the more medicines you take, the more likely you are to experience some side effects, even from medicines bought over-thecounter at the pharmacy. Your provider should check all of your pills to make sure they’re safe for you to take, and that they don’t interact in harmful ways. Always check with your provider, or your pharmacist, before taking any new medicines of any kind. Take all medicines as directed, and tell your provider right away if a medication or other pill seems to be causing any problems or side effects. Get your shots! Check with your healthcare provider to make sure you’re getting: • A flu shot—every year in September or October before the flu season starts. • The shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine—once when 60 or older. • A combination tetanus/diphtheria booster shot—every 10 years. • Pneumonia vaccination—once after age 65 (your healthcare provider may suggest that

Exercise your brain. Join a book or discussion club. Sign up for a class at the local library, senior center, or community Use sunscreen. Aging skin college (some offer free classes for is more susceptible to sun older adults). Do word puzzles, damage, which increases risks of number puzzles, jigsaw puzzles— skin cancer. Use sunscreen year whatever interests you. Make sure round and, for added protection, you challenge your brain by trying wear a wide-brimmed hat. new things, and playing against Lower your risk of falls and the clock rather than just repeatfractures. Be sure to get plenty ing the same exercises over and of bone-healthy calcium and over again. AARP provides free vitamin D daily. Aim for 1,500 games of all kinds, to play alone mg of calcium daily. Talk to or with others. your healthcare provider about Exercise your body. how much vitamin D you need. Regular exercise is imResearch suggests that many portant for good health, no older adults aren’t getting enough matter how old you are. Along of this nutrient, which plays many with a healthy diet, exercise key roles in keeping you healthy. helps you reach and maintain a Do weight-bearing, bone-buildhealthy weight. It tones up your ing exercises such as walking heart, circulation, and muscles; and jogging. Weightlifting and strengthens bones; boosts other strength training exercises brain function; lifts your mood; are also good for your bones. If and can help prevent and ease you’ve fallen in the past, ask your depression. If you exercise with healthcare provider about local others you also get the fun and exercise programs that include benefits of their company. strength training as well as Drink only in moderation. balance, flexibility, and stretching Check with your healthcare exercises. provider to make sure that drinkDon’t smoke; quit if you do. ing alcohol—in light to moderate Tell your healthcare provider amounts—is alright for you. For if you smoke; he or she can help older men, moderate drinking you stop. For additional help, means no more than 3 drinks on call 1-800-QUIT NOW or visit a given day or seven drinks total Healthfinder.gov’s section on in a week. (One drink = 12 ounces quitting smoking. It’s never too of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 late to quit. ounces of hard liquor.) If you have Eat right. In later life, you still a health problem or take certain need to eat healthy foods, medications, you may need to though you need fewer calories. drink less or not at all. you also get “booster” pneumonia shots every six or seven years).

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Spend time with others. Spending time and doing things with other people, of all ages, can help keep you mentally, physically and emotionally fit. It can also give your brain a boost and lift your mood. So volunteer, or join community or other groups and get involved in activities you enjoy.

Get checked out!

Screening, or checking, for early signs of certain health problems can help diagnose them early. The following screening approaches are generally recommended for older men; ask your healthcare provider if they’re right for you. Bone health evaluation: Periodically. Your healthcare provider should evaluate your risk of osteoporosis, or “thinning of the bones.” (It’s not just a woman’s disease.) Your healthcare provider should evaluate your risk and possibly recommend further testing. Remember: exercise strengthens the bones at any age. Blood pressure check: At least once a year. Cholesterol test for high blood cholesterol levels: Cholesterol screening should be done after consulting with your healthcare provider. Screening frequency depends on your age and general health. Diabetes check: At least once; if you have high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol levels, or

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abdomen that can be dangerous. If your healthcare provider finds diabetes runs in your family, get you have an abdominal aortic checked every three years. aneurysm, it can be treated. Screenings for prostate cancer Dental check-up: As often as and colorectal cancer: Geriatrics your dentist recommends, and experts now do not recommend at least once a year. Your dentist screening for either colorectal should clean your teeth and check or prostate cancer without first for cavities. If you wear dentures, considering life expectancy. they should be checked to make Studies have shown that the sure they still fit properly. Your short-term risks may not be worth dentist should also check for signs the benefits if life expectancy is of diseases of the mouth, includunder 10 years. You should talk ing cancer. to your healthcare provider if you Sexually transmitted disease have any concerns about these screening: If you are sexually screenings. active but not in a monogamous Hearing and vision screening: relationship, these screenings are every year. important at any age. Talk with Depression screening: every your healthcare provider about year. If you feel down, sad, or this and how to practice safe sex. hopeless for two or more weeks, Discussion about sexual or have little interest in or get little concerns: erectile dysfunction pleasure from things you once (ED) or difficulty getting or enjoyed, you may be depressed. maintaining an erection, is Don’t try to “tough it out.” relatively common among older Untreated depression is bad for men. You should let your healthyour mental and physical health. care provider know if you have Talk to your healthcare provider ED both because it can be treated and get the treatment you need. and because it can be an early Abdominal aortic aneurysm warning sign of heart and artery screening: once between the disease. ages of 65 and 75 if you’ve ever Other screening tests: As smoked. An abdominal aortic recommended by your healthcare aneurysm is an enlarged or provider. swollen blood vessel in your —Health in Aging Foundation

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HEALTHY LIVING • JUNE 8 - 14, 2022 5B

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6B JUNE 8 - 14, 2022 • HEALTHY LIVING

Diagnosis Is Key To Cure

epatitis C is a virus that affects the liver and can cause chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. It is usually without symptoms and is only diagnosed when a specific hepatitis C test is ordered. Once diagnosed, hepatitis C can be cured with simple, easy to take medications. Hepatitis C affects about one percent of the population of the United States. Despite the ease of diagnosis and treatment, many people affected by this virus remain untreated and at risk for the development of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Diagnosis is key to disease cure and elimination. The main risk factors for hepatitis C include intravenous drug use, intranasal cocaine use, blood and blood product transfusions prior to 1992, unregulated tattooing and health care related needle stick injuries. The past decade has seen a significant rise in new cases of hepatitis C in young people due to the opioid use epidemic. Sexual transmission of hepatitis C is uncommon but can occur in men who have sex with men. In years past, screening for hepatitis C was recommended for any person with hepatitis C risk factors. This approach was highly unsuccessful in uncovering a significant number of people with hepatitis C. Because of this, the screening recommendations were changed to add screening for all people born between

THE SPECIALIST David Bernstein, MD

1945 to 1965 as well continuing to screen people with risk factors. This approach identified some patients but for the most part, these recommendations were not followed and this approach was also unsuccessful in identifying large numbers of infected people. This led to the current recommendation that all people over the age 18 and anyone, regardless of age, with risk factors be evaluated for hepatitis C. Unfortunately, these recommendations are not widely followed and most people with hepatitis C remain undiagnosed. The hepatitis C epidemic can only be eliminated if these screening recommendations are followed. This requires health care provider awareness and education regarding the importance of hepatitis C and patient awareness and involvement to ask providers for the hepatitis C blood test.

The second component of solving the hepatitis C crisis is linking newly diagnosed patients to a provider that will provide the curative treatments. Hepatitis C treatment cures 98 to 99 percent of infected people, regardless of disease stage. These therapies can be given to both children and adults. Treatment consists of pills that are given either once a day for twelve weeks or three times a day for either eight or 12 weeks, depending on the genotype or subtype of the virus. These therapies are well tolerated with minimal to no side effects. They are affordable and covered by all insurances in New York State. They can be provided by a primary care provider, gastroenterologist, or

infectious disease specialist. Cure of hepatitis C is defined as having no detectable virus in the blood at a minimum of twelve weeks after completing the treatment regimen. With the rise in hepatitis C cases being seen amongst our youth and young adults, it is imperative that patients be aware of this condition and ask to be tested and that health care providers test all patients at least once for this condition and then link patients with hepatitis C to providers who will provide treatment. Only if these two conditions are met will we be able to eliminate hepatitis C from our population. —David Bernstein, MD, MACG, FAASLD, AGAF, FACP

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HEALTHY LIVING • JUNE 8 - 14, 2022 7B

Medical Research Foundation Gets New Name

long with Marty and Barbara Sass, Dr. Frank Arena has been a co-founder, president and director of research for the past 36 years at the Sass Foundation for Medical Research. It was only befitting with his dedication, “fire in the belly,” unending dedication and tireless efforts on behalf of this charitable foundation that the co-founders changed the name to The SASS-ARENA Foundation for Medical Research, Inc. to include their partner, friend and most respected medical oncologist, Arena. “We could not have done it without him,” said the Sasses. After a two-year hiatus, no thanks to COVID, The SASS-ARENA Foundation returned to the glorious venue of Guastavinos in Manhattan with their sold-out gala. They are back with a vengeance, a passion and a commitment that they will never forget all those that are fighting for their lives against the biggest bully of all—cancer. The gala had the distinct privilege of having a group of honorees that epitomize all that is good and courageous in their specific fields and in the world. Stacy Fischer-Rosenthal received this year’s Courage Award. Not only is she a brilliant businesswoman but a true

role model on how a person could turn a personal tragedy into a passion and a commitment that could impact the lives of so many people. She has been an award recipient at the American Cancer Society’s Taste of Hope Gala and the Breast Cancer & Survivorship Award in the 21st Century honor. She is an advocate for all those men and women who fear the evil spell of breast cancer and what it can do against them and their family. Dr. Robert Grossman, dean of the NYU Grossman Medical College was the medical honoree. His vision along with Ken Langone, has transformed the NYU Grossman Medical College into a fully scholarship school. This award was named after a member of the foundation’s board, Dr. Franco Muggia, a giant in the field of oncology and one of the founding fathers of the specialty. Last but not least, the humanitarian honor went to two men who have spent the past 20 years making a huge difference. John Feal, first responder and president of Feel Good Foundation suffered the blows and trauma of 9/11. He has endured 35 surgeries to correct what he suffered on that tragic day. He, along with Jon Stewart, fought tirelessly to protect anyone that

Martin Sass, Chairman & co-founder; Barbara R. Sass, co-founder; and Dr. Francis P. Arena, President and co-founder. Source sassfoundation.org came in contact with the horror of 9/11. Feal introduced the foundation to Michael Barasch. Barasch is an attorney who has spent these last decades fighting tirelessly for all those that lost loved ones, or became afflicted by illnesses associated with this disaster. Barasch helped to register many dozens of cancers and illnesses that exposure to the toxins released by the fall of

the Twin Towers had caused. The SASS-ARENA Foundation for Medical Research commitment runs true despite COVID, war, politics or anything that may try to take attention away from their motto “together we will make a difference.” —SASS-ARENA Foundation for Medical Research

Women’s Health Care of Garden City committed to personalized care

ohn L. Gomes, MD, founded Women’s Health Care of Garden City in 1995. It has remained an independent, private practice providing personalized obstetrical and gynecological services. He employs the technical advances of conventional medicine with an integrative approach to navigate women through difficult pregnancies into the menopausal years. He treats a wide variety of OB/GYN conditions and is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care. All tests are conveniently done on the premises and a dedicated, compassionate staff is on call 24/7.

He is committed to excellence in patient communication, education and support as many patients come with anxiety associated with past experiences and future concerns. Dr. Gomes received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University. He is both Board Certified and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Women’s Health Care of Garden City is located at 1000 Franklin Avenue, Suite 200, Garden City. Call 516-222-8883 or visit online at DrGomes.com

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By John L. Gomes, MD

JUNE 8 - 14, 2022 • HEALTHY LIVING

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