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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Category: Health

Published: 15 August 2022

As we make our way through summer and approach fall, it’s a good idea to find ways to boost your immunity. There are several easy ways of achieving this, beginning with making sure you’re current with vaccinations.

A recent survey by the National Poll on Healthy Aging found that about 30% of people aged 50 and older with a scheduled procedure, primary care or dental visit in 2021 postponed that procedure due to COVID, and that many have yet to reschedule or return to their practitioner’s office – especially unvaccinated people. The poll found that while 81% of vaccinated and boosted older adults had rescheduled their COVID-delayed test, procedure or operation, just 44% of unvaccinated older adults had done so.

Staying up to date with vaccinations is crucial – not just for COVID, but also for the flu and shingles, as well as a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) booster. You probably had the Tdap as a child, but the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get a booster every 10 years.
Anyone with a persistent cough, pain or other abnormal symptom should see their provider as soon as possible. I recently had a patient come in for an exam who said he had recurring indigestion, but only while walking; he was surprised to learn that that is a possible symptom of heart disease.

Other Recommendations

For those who have visited their provider recently – and even for those who haven’t (yet) – there are plenty of other proactive measures you can take to boost your immunity. Some are obvious, some not so much:

• Washing your hands
• Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet
• Not smoking
• Getting plenty of sleep
• Getting regular exercise
• Enjoying the outdoors; sunshine is a good source of vitamin D
• Vitamin C: Helps heal wounds and repair and maintain healthy bones, teeth, skin and cartilage; since it is not naturally produced by the body, you can boost your intake of vitamin C by eating most fruits and vegetables
• Zinc: Can help control infections by slowing down the immune response, thus preventing runaway inflammation
• Garlic: Has antibiotic properties that are effective in fighting a varied range of bacteria, fungi and viruses
• Calcium: In some cases can drive the body’s reaction to invading organisms, and decrease that reaction down as the infection wanes.
• Red rice yeast: Long a popular medicinal product in China, certain strains of red rice yeast can significantly lower levels of total cholesterol and specifically LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. However, research indicates that red rice yeast may actually be harmful, depending on how it is prepared.

Obviously, consulting your healthcare provider before starting any of the supplements is highly advised; they may come up with additional ideas depending on your individual condition.

Dr. Michael Finkelstein, board-certified in Internal Medicine and Wound Care, sees patients at the Scarsdale Medical Group office in Harrison. For an appointment, call 914-723-8100.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Category: Health

Published: 07 September 2022

If you dread packing school lunches – here are a few snack ideas to keep your students energized throughout the school day.

Typical school morning. You know the routine. You remind your child to pack her sneakers for gym, even a clean shirt for her school pictures. Then just as she heads out the door, she yells, “Mom, you forgot my snack!

Well, before you throw her a bag of Doritos, take a minute to think about what snack time in school is really about – giving your child the fuel she or he needs to focus, stay alert, and get through an action-packed day – not filling her with empty calories.

Children need a pick-me-up full of protein and nutrients to keep their bodies (and minds) growing and going. “Healthy snacks will provide children with energy, vitamins, and minerals to support their growth and mental alertness to help them focus,” says Samantha Lowe, MD, a pediatrician at White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness in Armonk.

But packing a nutritious snack is just the beginning. You also have to consider your child’s specific needs. Is your child underweight? Overweight? Gluten-free? Nut-free? No worries.

Here are some ideas to help you step up your snack game with nutritional treats that cater to every kid’s diet and taste.

• For the underweight kid with no allergies, try unsalted nuts, trail mix, fruits, and vegetables with cheese, guacamole, bean dip, hummus, or peanut butter.

• For the overweight child, how about low-fat cheese on low-fat whole-grain crackers, baked chips and salsa, and fresh fruit with the fiber-filled skin on?

• For the gluten-free kid, try cheese and rice crackers, yogurt, apples, cheddar and cottage cheese, celery and peanut butter, fresh fruits and vegetables.

• And for the nut-free kid, how about apples, oranges and bananas or other fresh fruits and vegetables? Although yogurt, dried fruit and most dips are fine, anything that comes in a package means you’ll have to read the food label.

Should make the “Mom, you forgot my snack” moment a little less stressful.

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Written by Dr. Eugenio Jimenez de Castro, Acupuncture

Category: Health

Published: 27 July 2022

If you’re feeling anxious about staying healthy this summer, you’re not alone. As the stressors pile up, it may be time to lie down, close your eyes, and go under the needle — the acupuncture needle, that is.

Acupuncture is a treatment that has existed for thousands of years. The fact that this treatment now often qualifies for insurance coverage shows that it’s finally recognized as an important complementary medicine; that is, when used alongside medication and other traditional treatment regimens, acupuncture can support healing and expedite recovery.

In fact, acupuncture is a preventative measure to keep such mood disorders as stress, anxiety and depression at bay, with minimal side effects. Receiving a series of treatments, combined with medication, yields optimal results. I always recommend that my patients use both. As they progress in their treatment, they often need less medication down the road.

The mind-body connection has received more attention than ever, thanks in part to the pandemic; last November, the CDC highlighted the intersection of anxiety, depression, and COVID-19. (Not only does the virus heighten the risk of depression and anxiety, but those with mood disorders appear to be at increased risk for COVID-19.) In keeping with that connection, acupuncture triggers physical changes in the body and brain that regulate mood and mindset.

Inserting the needle stimulates the body’s calming parasympathetic nervous system, increases mood-enhancing brain chemicals, relaxes blood vessels, fights inflammation, and calms regions of the brain associated with stress. Acupuncture is a holistic medicine, in that it can be used to the entire body.

I tailor my approach to the individual patient, using sterile, single-use needles approved by the FDA. With each 45-minute treatment, I work my way down the body from head to foot, inserting needles into specific points. Most patients start to see results after four visits, with optimal effects after 14 treatments. Patients range from teenagers to senior citizens, all of whom benefit from treatment.

My own acupuncture journey dates back to when I practiced as an orthopedic surgeon in my native Cuba, In the 1990s, one of my family members had a herniated disc and went to an acupuncturist for treatment. I was skeptical: “You mean to tell me they’ll feel better with needles?” After several treatments, he did. Then I began to study it more seriously, and began studying acupuncture and complementary medicine on my way to completing advanced coursework in acupuncture for physicians at Harvard Medical School.

For the past two decades, I have focused on acupuncture as a treatment for diseases from cancer to the coronavirus.

This is science, not magic. Acupuncture cannot cure diabetes or hypertension, but it can help decrease blood pressure and increase blood flow. It cannot cure migraines, anxiety, or depression, but it can boost circulation, increase your appetite, and help you start to feel better.

For those preparing for or recovering from surgery, please note that acupuncture stimulates our natural ability for self-healing. And it can help bring the peace of mind that’s key to well-being. Anxiety and stress are underlying factors that can make diseases worse. Acupuncture helps relieve that.

Dr. Eugenio Jimenez de Castro is an acupuncturist at White Plains Hospital and owner of Acupuncture of Northern Westchester PLLC in Mount Kisco and White Plains. For an appointment, call 914-849-7653.