Download Issue: # 14 January-February, 2012 From the Physicians and caring

Issue: # 14
January-February, 2012
From the Physicians and caring staff of ProHEALTH Care Associates, LLP
VITAL SIGNS is a monthly Newsletter that is tailored specifically to meet the
needs of our patients and their families. Our goal is to keep you up to date on
current medical issues and programs that are designed to help you and your
loved ones stay healthy for many years to come.
ProHEALTH
Partners in Health
FREE
Education
Series Schedule
Dear Readers,
ProHEALTH Care Associates, LLP is one of the largest private multispecialty medical practices in the Northeast, with approximately 300
providers in 65 locations and growing. We have been serving the health
needs of Long Island and the Greater New York Metropolitan area since
1997. Along with outstanding physician leadership, state-of-the art
technology, and advanced clinical laboratories, ProHEALTH patients
enjoy comprehensive and superior medical services at locations
throughout Long Island.
Upcoming classes
include:
VITAL SIGNS THIS MONTH
Heart Healthy Eating
We jumped from January right into February! In this edition we celebrate
Heart Health with important information for you and your family.
What You Need to
Know to Keep Your
Heart Healthy
Carbohydrate
Counting
Goody Bags &
Fun For All!
All are Welcomed!
Click Here for Class
Schedule
Class Size is
Limited
We've been enjoying a relatively warm winter season, but with 6 more
weeks of the season ahead of us, we share articles aimed to help you
stay safe and healthy through the cold weather.
As usual, we offer you all this, along with great nutritional info and
recipes, free seminars, and great tips for staying healthy.
Enjoy!
The Editors
IN THIS ISSUE OF VITAL SIGNS
For Your Health
Keep Yourself Heart Healthy
Focus On Women
Heart Disease Top Cause of Death in Women
Please Register
Today!
In the Know
Know the Signs of Stroke
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Table of Contents
Preventive Care
Dangers of Snow Shoveling
Beauty for the Ages
Winter Skin
Share Vital Signs
With a Friend
Click Here
MarchLOOK
GOOD, FEEL
BETTER
Happy Healthy Eating
Create Your Plate
Recipes
Empowered Patient
Dangers of Expired Medications
What's New at ProHEALTH?
New Physicians and Achievements
Introducing EHealth Network!
Visiting Nurse Service Caring for You
5 Tips for a Healthier Heart
Stay Fit
Meditation Good for Body and Mind
ProHEALTH Partners In Health
Schedule of Free Seminars
We'd Love to Hear From You!
Contact Us
The latest cancer
treatments aren't
always prescribed by
doctors! Look Good
Feel Better is a free
program that teaches
beauty techniques to
women who are
actively undergoing
cancer treatment, to
help them combat the
appearance-related
side effects of radiation
and chemotherapy.
This free program is
open to anyone with a
cancer diagnosis.
Wednesday, March 21
To register, call
FOR YOUR HEALTH
KEEP YOURSELF HEART
HEALTHY
February is a month of Valentine's cards,
chocolates, and sharing tokens of affections. It's
also the month that is set aside to allow the heart to
take center stage while we focus on how important heart health is to our
general health and well being.
The risk is serious. Heart disease and strokes kill more than 800,000
Americans each year and cost $445 billion each year, according to
the Department of Health and Human Services. Heart disease can affect
our ability to work or to enjoy every day activities and those with heart
disease have a higher risk of early death.
The good news is that heart disease can be prevented or the risk
reduced. By making healthy choices, like quitting smoking (or never
starting), and lowering the amount of salt and trans fats we consume we
Jean All Bilka
(516) 622-7483
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Table of Contents
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About ProHEALTH
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Signs from a friend and
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become heart healthy. We CAN live a heart healthy lifestyle by
beginning with small steps and building upon a foundation of knowledge
and understanding. Change may be easier than you think - even fun!
There is no current American Medical Association (AMA) approved
screening test for coronary disease. Diagnosing heart disease depends
on the patient's symptoms and their risk factors. Symptoms of a heart
attack typically last longer than 5 minutes and can include:
1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the
center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes
away and comes back.
2. Discomfort in the upper body, including the arms, back, neck or
jaw
3. Stomach pain
4. Shortness of breath
5. Nausea
6. Breaking out in a cold sweat
7. Dizziness
To read or print the full article, Click Here.
To Return to the Table of Contents Click Here
COMING UP
IN VITAL SIGNS
Preventing Colon
Cancer
Saving Your Vision
How to Get a Good
Night's Sleep
Resources:
The American Heart Association offers a wealth of information and
resources to help you prevent heart disease and stay heart healthy. Visit
them at American Heart Association
Million Hearts™ is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks
and strokes over five years. Million Hearts™ brings together
communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies,
and private-sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease
and stroke. Visit them at Million Hearts Campaign
And More!
FOCUS ON WOMEN
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Table of Contents
You Should Know...
Your medical needs
are unique to you. Vital
Signs is designed to
provide information
about current health
issues and help keep
you informed about
everything ProHEALTH
has to offer. Given the
complexity of health
care, please remember
that Vital Signs cannot
take the place of a
consultation or visit
with your own personal
physician!
Thanks for reading.
HEART DISEASE
TOP CAUSE OF
DEATH IN WOMEN
More women die of cardiovascular disease than
from the next four causes of death combined,
including all forms of cancer. But 80 percent of
cardiac events in women could be prevented if
women made the right choices for their hearts
involving diet, exercise and abstinence from
smoking. Make it your mission to learn all you
can about heart attacks and stroke - don't
become a statistic. CALL 9-1-1.
A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a
part of the heart is blocked, usually by a blood clot. If this clot cuts off the
blood flow completely, the part of the heart muscle supplied by that
artery begins to die.
ProHEALTH is happy
to support the efforts of
eHealth to bring
Medical, Health and
Wellness information to
our patients.
The
eHealthNetwork.net
website is a new
system of health and
wellness information
that educates patients
and encourages a
hands-on, proactive
approach to managing
every aspect of your
health.
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain
or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to
experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness
of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. If you have any of the
signs listed in the article above, don't wait more than five minutes before
calling for help. Call 9-1-1...Get to a hospital right away.
Learn about the American Heart Association's initiatives to save the lives
of women by visiting Go Red For Women
To Return to Table of Contents, Click Here
IN-THE KNOW
KNOW THE SIGNS OF STROKE
At eHealthnetworks.net
your personalized
health-related
resources come
together. Interact with
physicians, well-ness
experts - even other
patients - and
maximize your health
management goals
with easy-to-use
information. From
healthy habits and
According to the American Heart Association, stroke is the No. 3 cause
of death in America. It's also a major cause of severe, long-term
disability. Stroke and TIA (transient ischemic attack) happen when a
blood vessel feeding the brain gets clogged or bursts. The signs of a TIA
are like a stroke, but usually last only a few minutes. If you have any of
these signs, don't wait more than five minutes before calling for help.
Call 9-1-1 to get help fast if you have any of these symptoms, but
remember that not all of these warning signs occur in every stroke.
Signs of Stroke and TIAs
1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg,
disease prevention to
advice from doctors in
the know, eHealthnetworks.net offers a
personalized way to
maximize care and
stay connected
between visits.
Log onto: E E Health
and explore the many
more member benefits
available.
especially on one side of the body
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or
coordination
5. Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Also, check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
It's very important to take immediate action. Research from the
American Heart Association has shown that if given within three hours of
the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability
for the most common type of stroke.
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Contents, Click Here
UNPLUGGED
Participate in an
interactive, mindfulness
workshop where you
will learn basic skills to
reduce stress and
promote relaxation in
body and mind. The
workshop will teach
participants how to use
their breath to slow
down their
physiological
processes, and track
their inner thoughts,
wishes and dreams.
Emphasis will be
placed on sitting
meditations, such as
visualization
techniques, which are
particularly good for
invoking a calm
presence and reawakening the
creative, spirited self.
These techniques are
taken from Dr. Amy
Vigliotti's CD, Unwind:
Resources:
About Strokes and Prevention
PREVENTION
DANGERS OF SNOW SHOVELING
Deena Casiero, M.D.
We said goodbye to the warm weather of summer
and just when the crisp breeze of fall became a
reality, we begin to embrace the inevitable; winter
will soon be upon us. We've been lucky so far, but
the next big snow could be right around the corner.
Snow shoveling is a very underrated cause of
winter health risks.
A recent study published in an Emergency Medicine
journal demonstrated that between 1990 and 2006
over 195,000 Americans were treated in emergency
rooms for snow-shoveling related injuries. About
two thirds of those patients were males and about 7% of those injuries
were cardiac related problems. All 1,647 deaths in the study were
cardiac related.
To read about how to protect yourself from injury, or to
print the full article, Click Here
To Return to the Table of Contents Click Here
Dr. Denna Casiero received her undergraduate education
Guided Relaxation.
With her guidance,
participants will learn
how these effective
practices promote
better health, increased
enjoyment in day-today life, and better
productivity at work
and home.
Call 646-535-1298
or email Amy Vigliotti to
register for this free
workshop. The
workshop will be held
Tuesday, March 6
2012 from 6-7pm in the
1st Floor Conference
Room at 2800 Marcus
Ave, Lake Success, NY
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Table of Contents
at Springfield College in Springfield MA, where she completed her B.S.
in Athletic Training. She worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer for three
years before attending medical school at New York Medical College in
Valhalla, NY. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at
Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and went on to complete her
sports medicine fellowship at the University of Connecticut with the
UCONN Huskies. During her fellowship she also served as team
physician for the Hartford Wolfpack and two local high schools as well as
the WNBA Connecticut Sun. Currently she works as team physician for
USA Women's Rugby, associate team physician for The New York
Islanders, Hofstra University and Molloy College as well as the U.S.
Open Tennis. She is a current member of the American College of
Sports Medicine and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.
Her practice focuses on musculoskeletal and general medical problems
of athletes and non-athletes alike. Contact her office at (516) 622-6040.
BEAUTY FOR THE AGES
WINTER SKIN CARE, SIMPLE TIPS
Norma Montiel, M.D.
VITAL SIGNS
STAFF
Editors
Anthony Ardito, M.D.
Carole Romano
Editorial Assistants
Stepphanie Clark
Lauren Nacewicz
ProHEALTH
Partners in Health
Patient Education
Series
Program Directors
Anthony Ardito, M.D.
Carole Romano
Program
Coordinators
James Alvarez
We are experiencing an unusually warm start to the
winter. Even so, the days are colder, the winds stiffer,
and we have heat running in our homes, offices, and
cars. Combine wintery weather with exposure to sun
(yes - those UVB and UVA rays are dangerous on
cloudy and cold days too!) and the result is often dry and
damaged skin.
These are the simple things you can do to help keep your skin healthy
during the long winter months.
1. Take comfortable short showers.
2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
3. Use fragrance free, unscented and hypoallergenic products.
4. Get a humidifier.
5. Hands and feet also need to be protected.
6. Don't forget sunscreen.
7. Hair needs protection as well.
8. Dress in layers.
To read more, Click Here.
Katerina Scutakes
If all else fails see a Dermatologist. You may be suffering from
something more than just dry skin. To find a ProHEALTH Dermatologist,
visit us at ProHEALTH Care.
To Return to Table of Contents Click Here
Norma Montiel, D.O. is a board certified
dermatologist. After obtaining her board certification
in Family Practice, she spent a year doing research
on Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Carcinoma at
Cornell-Weill University. She then went on to
complete her dermatology residency at St. John's
Episcopal Hospital, serving as chief resident in her
last year. She has a special interest in medical
pediatric and adult dermatology. You can reach Dr. Montiel at her Lake
Success office by calling (516) 608-6830.
HAPPY, HEALTHY EATING
CREATE YOUR PLATE
Allison Marshall, MS RD CDN CDE
This past summer, the US Department of Agriculture introduced a new
nutrition guide to replace the longstanding food pyramid. The plate and
cup icon, which is divided into the five food groups, highlights the
importance of balanced meals that include lean protein, whole grains,
low-fat dairy, and an abundance of fruits and vegetables. For many of
us, this visual aid can simplify meal planning, without having to count
calories or grams of fat. To get started on creating your plate, follow
these guidelines provided below.
Step 1: Choose Your Protein
On this portion of the plate, add meat and meat substitutes. Healthy
choices include:





chicken or turkey without the skin
fish such as tuna, salmon, cod, or catfish
other seafood such as shrimp, clams, oysters, crab, or mussels
lean cuts of beef and pork such as sirloin or pork loin
tofu, eggs, low-fat cheese, nuts and nut butters, and beans
For most people, 3-4 oz. of protein at each meal is an appropriate
serving.
Step 2: Fill up Your Plate with Vegetables
Some antioxidant rich choices include:


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

spinach, carrots, lettuce, greens, cabbage, bok choy
green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes
vegetable juice, salsa, onion, cucumber, beets, okra,
mushrooms, peppers, turnip
Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes
Buy fresh or frozen and eat them raw, lightly steamed or sautéed in olive
oil, or quickly zapped in the microwave to retain vitamins and minerals.
Step 3: Add Fresh Fruit
Try to include a variety of fruits each week, including:




Berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and
blackberries
Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit, and pineapple
Apples, pears, and bananas
Peaches, grapes, and kiwi
A good guideline for serving sizes is 1 cup of cut fruit or 1 piece of fresh
fruit.
Step 4: Pick Heart-Healthy Grains
whole grain breads, such as whole wheat or rye


cooked cereal such as oatmeal, or cold cereal that is high in
fiber and low in sugar
Brown rice, whole wheat pasta or whole wheat tortilla
Step 5: Choose Low-Fat Dairy
One serving counts as:



1 cup of low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt, or soymilk
1 ½ ounces of natural cheese
2 ounces of processed cheese
For more information about the My Plate program, Click Here.
Top off your balanced meals with plenty of water and other low-calorie or
no-calorie beverages, along with at least 30 minutes of physical activity
on most days.
To print this article, Click Here.
To Return to Table of Contents, Click Here.
Allison Marshall, MS RD CDN CDE, has been practicing as a
Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator in the
New York Metropolitan Area for over 10 years. She
graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University, and
subsequently earned her graduate degree in clinical
nutrition and advanced to doctoral candidacy at New York
University. After receiving her Master's degree, Ms.
Marshall completed her dietetic internship at New York
Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center and
became a registered dietitian. She initially worked as a clinical dietitian
at New York Presbyterian Hospital specializing in HIV/AIDS, before
accepting a full-time faculty position in the department of Urban Public
Health at Hunter College, CUNY. To her patients she is known for her
individualized and realistic meal plans, with a reputation for optimizing
her patients' health through her warmth and sensitivity when addressing
her clients' needs. Ms. Marshall has morning, afternoon and evening
appointments in her Lake Success office and can be reached at (516)
622-6118.
HAPPY, HEALTHY RECIPES
This month, Allison Marshall, MS, RD, CDN, CDE, offers three delicious
heart-healthy recipes:
Grilled Chicken Spinach Salad
Three Bean Chili
Warm Apples with Ice Cream
Click Here to read or print the full recipes!
To Return to The Table of Contents, Click Here
EMPOWERED PATIENT
DANGERS OF EXPIRED
MEDICATIONS
Times are tough and money is tight all over. It's tempting to save unused
medications past their expiration date; however, time affects medications
much as it does food. An expired medication may become toxic over
time due to degradation of chemical components or even growth of
bacteria and mold. Using these expired medications can create more
problems than those they are meant to treat.
Here are some helpful tips on how to properly store and dispose
medications.
Keep your medications safe by storing them properly:

Keep out of direct sunlight

Keep at room temperature or, if appropriate, refrigerate. Check
the guidelines on the package or the pharmacist's medication
print information sheet.

Keep medications dry. Protect them from high humidity.
It is critical that expired and unused medication is disposed of safely. DO
NOT dispose of medications in the trash or flush them down a toilet. This
pollutes landfill, and may contaminate ground water and wildlife.
To safely dispose of expired and unused medications:

Bring them to your local pharmacy. Most pharmacies have drug
take-back programs.

Take advantage of community drug take-back programs that
allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for
proper disposal. Call your city or county government's
household trash and recycling service (see the blue pages in a
phone book) to determine if a take-back program is available in
your community.
For safe disposal, also be sure to avoid ingestion of the medication by
anyone other than the prescribed individual. One way to do this is to
remove the medication from its original container and mix with kitty litter
or other undesirable contents in an indiscrete container. By keeping
track of expiration dates on your medications you will be protecting
yourself as well as others around you. If you are unsure about the
expiration on your prescription, contact your local pharmacist for more
information.
To Return to Table of Contents, Click Here
WHAT'S NEW AT PROHEALTH?
WHAT'S NEW AT ProHEALTH
Bruce Gerberg, MD is a highly regarded pediatrician and has a very
successful pediatric practice in Huntington. He can be reached at:
41 Fairview Street ~ Huntington, N.Y. 11743
(631) 427-0530
Mark B. Klapholz, MD is a well established and highly regarded
Internist and Gastroenterologist in the Community. He has moved his
practice from Lake Success to our newest building in 3 Vermont Drive in
the Lake Success Quadrangle. He can be reached for consultation at:
3 Vermont Drive ~ Lake Success, N.Y. 11042
(516) 608-6865
We are pleased to welcome our newest group of physicians, the
distinguished Neurology practice of Dr. Jeffrey Appelbaum, Dr. Arthur
Farkash, & Dr. Glen Waldman located in Fresh Meadows, Queens.
The physicians and their staff have a stellar reputation in the community
and it is with great pleasure that we announce they are available for
consultations at their offices, located at
59-07 175th Place ~ Flushing, NY 11365.
(718) 939-0800.
Dr. Ronald. Richman, has joined ProHEALTH Corp as the Director of
Network Development after concluding his practice of Primary Care
medicine in Plainview, NY. He is very well known to the community of
physicians in the eastern Nassau County region, and has been very
active in many physician and patient advocacy groups. He will serve a
critical role interfacing with new, existing and future physicians of
ProHEALTH as we expand in 2012 and beyond. Dr. Richman will also
support ProHEALTH as it develops and implements advanced care
models to meet the challenges of the changing healthcare environment.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Dr. Lawrence Shulman has earned his Board certification in Sleep
Medicine. In addition to being a Diplomate of the Board of Internal
Medicine, Dr. Shulman is also Board Certified in Pulmonary Medicine
and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Shulman completed his fellowship in
Sleep, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at North Shore University
Hospital in Manhasset, NY where he served as Chief Fellow of the
Division. He graduated at the top of his class from New York College of
Osteopathic Medicine. In addition to his practice of Pulmonary Medicine,
Dr. Shulman is currently the Technical Director for ProHEALTH's Sleep
Center. You can contact ProHEALTH's Lake Success Pulmonary
Medicine and Sleep Lab at (516) 608-2890.
Dr. Vlassi Baktidy also achieved Board certification in Sleep Medicine.
In addition to being a Diplomate of the Board of Internal Medicine,
Dr. Baktidy is also Board certified in Pulmonary Medicine and Critical
Care Medicine. Dr. Baktidy completed his training in Pulmonary
Diseases at the University of Missouri-Columbia and his training in
Critical Care at the University of Rochester. Dr. Baktidy is on staff at St.
Francis Hospital, NSLIJ Plainview Hospital, Syosset Hospital and St.
Joseph Hospital, where he is the Associate Chief of the Pulmonary
Division. You can contact him at Long Island Pulmonary Medicine, a
Division of ProHEALTH Care, located in Plainview. (516) 933-1088.
To Return to Table of Contents, Click Here
FROM VISITING NURSE SERVICE NY
5 TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER HEART
Brought to You by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York
When measuring a person's heart health, blood pressure readings may
be one of the most helpful indicators. A normal reading is anything
120/80 mm/Hg or lower. While there are some genetic factors that can
increase your risk of developing hypertension, there are definitely
measures you can take to help keep your BP numbers within the normal
range.
1. Replace processed or fast foods with fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, fish and lean meats.
2. Try to exercise at least three times a week for 20 minutes.
3. Stop smoking and only drink alcohol in moderation.
4. Engage in hobbies that can help you manage your stress levels.
5. Take any blood pressure and/or cholesterol medications ordered
by your doctor, even if you feel fine.
VNSNY's highly skilled professionals provide a broad array of services to
help you manage heart disease.

Registered nurses develop a personalized plan of care for
taking your heart medication, monitoring your blood pressure
and cholesterol, and managing stress.

Certified home health aides prepare heart-healthy meals that
help you manage your weight and keep your cholesterol and
blood pressure stable.

Registered dietitians teach you how to successfully follow
dietary strategies that will help you control your weight and your
heart disease risk factors.
Click here to read more about heart disease, visit: Click Here.
The Visiting Nurse Service of New York is the largest not-for-profit home
health care organization in the country. For more information about
VNSNY and our services, please call us at 1-800-675-0391, or email us
by visiting: Click Here to send us an email.
To Return to Table of Contents, Click Here
Visiting Nurse Service en Español
STAY FIT
MEDITATION GOOD FOR BODY AND MIND!
When we speak of heart health, we know that it is
essential to stay well in both body and mind.
VivoHealth offers a wide array of cardio classes and
equipment, but did you know that they offer Yoga and
Meditation too? Both are great tools for mind and
body.
Meditation is deeply relaxing and it helps us to find the balance in our
life that allows us to better cope with the stress of every day life. Studies
have shown that it can actually lower blood pressure.
Even if beginners can experience the profound benefits of meditation.
We provide the chairs, cushions, calming music and guidance. You
come with comfy clothes and a decision to give yourself the gift of
balance.
March classes will be held on March 7th and 28th from 7:30 pm to 8:30
pm. Members of VivoHealth and employees of NS/LIJ and ProHEALTH
attend free. Not a member of VivoHealth yet? You can still attend for
modest class fee.
Click Here to print the Meditation flyer!
To learn about all VivoHealth Fitness at ProHEALTH has to offer, (516)
608-6840.
For class schedule and more on VivoHealth,
Click Here.
To Return to Table of Contents, Click Here
Tell Us What You Think About ProHEALTH
At ProHEALTH, we recognize that it is a privilege to care
for you and your family, so your opinion is very important
to us.
Please take a few minutes and give us feedback about
your experiences at ProHEALTH. We'd also encourage
you to let us know what you think about ProHEALTH Vital Signs and our
Partner's In Health patient education series. We'd love for you to offer
your suggestions for health related topics to be covered in future
newsletters and classes.
Our goal is to provide superior health care and customer service. Please
send your comments, suggestions, and questions to Vital Signs.
Thank you!
Anthony Ardito, M.D.
Carole Romano
Editors