Avoiding Injuries From Falls

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one third of adults 65 and older fall each year, resulting in injuries or even death. To help prevent these occurrences at home, the CDC provides the following tips:

• Ask someone to arrange your furniture to allow a clear path through each room.
• Always keep objects off the floor.
• Remove or secure throw rugs (with double-sided tape or a non-slip backing).
• Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall so you can’t trip over them.
• If lighting is insufficient, have an electrician install an overhead light and wall switch at the top and bottom of the stairs.
• Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower.
• Use nightlights in hallways and other rooms.
• Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about your medications to identify any that could make you sleepy or dizzy.
  

Building on a longstanding, county-wide collaboration focusing on preventing injuries resulting from falls, CHS has been partnering with the Suffolk County Health Department to offer a Fall Prevention Program across Long Island. Called Stepping On, the free seven-week program provides assessments and techniques to avoid falls at home or elsewhere.

“Working with the Suffolk County Department of Health, CHS has been afforded the opportunity for several of our key falls prevention staff members to become Stepping On trained leaders,” explained CHS Vice President of Care Management and Performance Improvement Anna ten Napel. “These newly trained leaders allow for an increased penetration of the Stepping On course in the community, achieving the goal of helping to better educate Long Islanders on ways to prevent falls and stay healthy at home.”

Please call 1-855-CHS-4500 for more information.

10 Tips to Stay Safe During a Hurricane

The National Hurricane Center announced the start of the East Coast hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1 - November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a below normal season, with a likelihood of 6 to 11 named storms, including
0 to 2 major hurricanes.

During hurricane season, it is important to not only protect your home and family but also to protect your health. Be sure to have the following health and safety supplies prepared:

1. First aid kit
2. Medicine (seven-day supply)
3. Written list of your medications and have handy any paperwork about serious or ongoing medical conditions
4. A list of names and phone numbers of your physicians
5. The name and phone number of your pharmacy
6. Medical supplies (e.g., hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, nebulizer, syringes, or a cane)
7. The location of your medications inside your home. (If you need to evacuate your home quickly, make sure you tell someone where to locate the above items in the event they can be retrieved for you.) 
8. Baby supplies (e.g., bottles, formula, baby food and diapers)
9. Emergency blanket
10. Soap, toothbrush and other personal care items

Visit The Centers for Disease Control and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for more tips you and your family can use in the event of a hurricane.

Please visit www.chsli.org or call 1-855-CHS-4500.

Summer is Upon Us. Tips to Stay Cool!

Staying cool when temperatures get hot isn't just about comfort. Dangerously high temperatures can result in heat-related illnesses and the risk increases significantly as temperatures rise and outdoor activities become more popular.

Heat-related illnesses can be classified as heat syncope (fainting), heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and classic and exertion heat stroke. Treatment is directed at restoring normal body defense mechanisms.

"Make sure to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen at all times. Also, it is very important to pay attention to your body,” said Michael Moskowitz, DO, of Mercy Medical Center and Bellmore Family Practice. “Think carefully before starting new high-impact or stressful activities in the extreme heat.”

Wear loose fitting clothes in light colors and exercise during the morning hours when ambient temperatures are lowest.

Below are tips to help you stay safe if a heat-related condition occurs:

Heat Cramps
Symptoms: Painful spasms usually in leg and abdominal muscles. Heavy sweating.
First Aid: firm pressure on cramping muscles or gently massage to relieve spasm. Sip water. If nausea occurs, discontinue.

Heat Exhaustion
Symptoms: Heavy sweating, weakness, skin cold, pale and clammy.  Weak pulse. Normal temperature possible.
First Aid: Lie down in a cool place. Loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths. Fan or move to an
air-conditioned place. Sip water. If nausea occurs, discontinue. If fainting or vomiting occur, call 911 or get to a hospital immediately.

Heat Stroke
Symptoms: High body temperature (106+). Hot, dry skin. Rapid, strong pulse. Possible unconsciousness. Person will most likely not sweat.
First Aid: heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. Call 911 or get to a hospital immediately. Move to a cooler environment. Try a cool bath or sponging to reduce body temperature. Use extreme caution. Remove clothing. Use fans and/or air conditioners. DO NOT DRINK FLUIDS.

View more tips here from the CDC: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heattips.asp




To find a CHS physician near you, visit www.chsli.org

Melanoma and Sun Safety

Summer weather is coming, but it’s important to take precautions against skin cancer all year round. Did you know skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the U.S. according to the American Cancer Society? Melanoma accounts for only 2% of all skin cancer, cases yet is responsible for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths. This dangerous cancer occurs in pigment-containing cells in the skin, eyes and other organs.

To protect you and your family and yourself from potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can lead to melanoma and other skin cancers:

• Be cautious outdoors between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, when the sun’s rays are strongest.
• Check the UV index and remember that sand and water reflect sunlight.
• Be sure to apply water-resistant sunscreen with the appropriate sun protection factor (SPF) when at the beach, lake or pool.
• Wear sunglasses, hats and long sleeves, pants or skirts when necessary. Extra care must be taken to shield infants and young children from harmful rays.

“When identified early, melanoma and other skin cancers are treatable. However, preventive measures are always the best approach,” commented Kenneth Gold, MD, co-chair of CHS’s oncology service line and chief of hematology/oncology at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, which just earned its fourth consecutive Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. “Avoid tanning salons and severe sunburn, both of which have been associated with a rising incidence of melanoma. Also, red headed individuals need to be particularly vigilant, as their melanoma risk is increased compared to the general population.”

You can test your sun safety IQ by taking the quiz at here.

To find a physician near you, visit www.chsli.org

Seasonal Allergies: A Late Spring Means Bad Allergies

Due to spring’s late start, many Long Islanders may have forgotten to take seasonal preventative steps to avoid irritating allergy symptoms.

“Sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, itchy-watery eyes, are the initial signs of an allergic reaction. Due to longer than usual winter in the Northeast, allergy season was delayed a few weeks,” explained Louis Guida, MD, FCCP, allergist on staff at St. Charles Hospital. “The pollens are now in full bloom. One must remember an allergen is an irritant that causes an inflammatory process leading to some of the previously mentioned symptoms.”

How can you mitigate the discomfort?

• Begin taking antihistamines immediately to help manage and prevent allergy symptoms, such as inflammations and sinus infections.
• Use a saline solution or neti pot to cleanse nasal passages and rinse away allergens that stick to membranes in the nose, to prevent inflammation in the sinus passages and respiratory tissues. 
• More over-the-counter sprays and other remedies will be available this spring, including some that were previously available only by prescription, but do not OVER USE them, as that can cause irritation and bleeding. They can also have significant side effects, including but not limited to, hypertension and prostate enlargement. Please check with your health care provider prior to initiating these over-the-counter medications.
• If you are experiencing any signs of sinusitis, asthma or upper respiratory tract infections, or if sneezing symptoms persist, consult your doctor. If you are prescribed allergy medications, please use only as directed.
• Plan for good health: it’s recommended that sufferers know their allergens. Ask your doctor to test to find out what you’re allergic to, so you can begin taking medication before symptoms begin. This usually helps allergy sufferers feel better throughout the changing seasons.

If you need a family practitioner, please visit www.chsli.org or call 1-855-CHS-4500.

CHS: Healthy Sundays

If you need access to convenient, free health care, then read further. CHS provides free health screenings, immunizations and education to the medically underserved all year round. Since 2005, the system’s Healthy Sundays program has been delivering these vital services to residents in their own communities, partnering with churches and other community-based organizations across Nassau and Suffolk. CHS employees volunteer thousands of hours each year to staff these events and make a difference in others’ lives.

Our teams provide blood pressure, cholesterol and other screenings, as well as offering immunizations and seminars, reaching thousands of people who otherwise would be without health care. Those with elevated, or high, screening results are referred to one of the Bishop McHugh Health Centers located in Bay Shore and Hicksville or to a CHS hospital, where they are treated, regardless of their ability to pay.

Click on “Community Health” at www.chsli.org to read more about Healthy Sundays or view the events calendar for details on a free health screening in your community or call 1-855-CHS-4500. 

Weighing Your Options for Weight Loss

More than 11 million Americans suffer from severe obesity, which is commonly associated with Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other co-morbidities. Morbid obesity is generally defined as excess body weight of 100 pounds or more or a body mass index of at least 40 kg/meters2. Currently, weight-loss surgery provides the only effective, lasting relief for those who are morbidly obese and have been unsuccessful losing weight through diet, exercise or medication.

Most CHS hospitals offer expert bariatric surgical services, along with free seminars and support groups related to this life-changing treatment. Good Samaritan, Mercy and St. Charles Hospital are all accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). St. Charles is accredited as a Comprehensive Center with Adolescent Qualifications.

“We specialize in a multidisciplinary approach to weight loss through both surgical and non-surgical methods,” commented St. Charles bariatric surgeon John Angstadt, MD. “We have designed a special comprehensive program for our adolescents to provide the extra support they need for success.”

For bariatric surgery candidates, potential procedures include sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric band and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, depending on the patient’s needs. Single-incision or laparoscopic techniques are available for select patients.

For more information about bariatric services available at CHS hospitals in Nassau and Suffolk, please call 1-855-CHS-4500 or visit chsli.org.