Staying Healthy in New York

new-york-1113916_1280Tory Burch gives her take on what’s hot and what’s not when it comes to getting and staying in shape in New York. She says that for a healthy snack she goes to Café Habana has a delicious chicken salad and Milos has the freshest Greek salad and grilled octopus. That’s not to say we always resist steak fries from Eisenberg’s; for juices Juice Press, LED facial treatments with Georgia Louise or Tracie Martyn, a ton of options in Flatiron for fitness classes including Lily Miesmer’s Soul Cycling and then of course there’s the not-to-be-missed Central Park option for New York’s joggers.

Unfortunately, wellness is often impacted by wealth. When it comes to New York, there is some of the most extreme inequality vis-à-vis financial status. However, according to Social Security research and earnings records, New Yorkers live a lot longer than those from other US cities. But, this doesn’t really help the poor in their communities as they do die before the rich in their communities. Still, overall, it seems that the research published in published Monday in The Journal of the American Medical Association found New York to be “a model city for factors that seem to predict where poor people live longer.” Much government expenditure goes toward social services for low-income residents and there are lower-than-average rates of smokers.

Maybe another reason that poverty-stricken New Yorkers live longer is because they are less likely to get into a cab. New research has found that cab drivers are not in the best of health themselves and that this can negatively impact their passengers. Think about it: they are on the worst diets (just grabbing fast food snacks), are completely inactive and, other than the initial health exam they have to undergo to get the job, they never have to prove they are in good health. Many of them have been cab drivers for two or three decades in this status, leaving them much more likely to be the victim of a heart attack, seizure, or other related ailments, right while they are driving long shifts!

Perhaps some of these drivers should take a lesson from Tory Burch and make some “me” time to put them into better shape for being responsible for so many New York passengers who are counting on them.

NYC’s Mosquito Season

mosquitoHow is New York going to deal with the mosquito season that is about to start in April? It’s so much more than just mosquitoes. With the fear of the Zika virus they carry, NYC officials are working very hard. Mosquito experts were called in for consultation by the New York City Department of Health to devise a plan to fight the possible spread of this virus.

However, New Yorkers do not need to run and hide just yet. Thankfully, there have been no known Zika cases in NYC, according to Dr. Mary Basset, Health Commissioner. The kind of mosquito that usually spreads the virus can more often be found in Latin America and the Caribbean; it does not live in this region.

But Basset noted that its cousin – the Asian tiger mosquito – does appear in NYC. It usually breeds in very small water collections, she said. Given that fact, she is trying to encourage those who live in the city to get rid of all standing water they find on their property which could become a breeding ground for the mosquitoes.

For pregnant women of course, contracting the Zika virus can be even more problematic. Hence, as per Gov. Cuomo’s request, pregnant women in the region whose sexual partners have traveled to countries that have been affected by the virus, will be eligible for free tests for the infection.

 

 

New York Nirvana

mindfulnessEstablished by Ellie Burrows at the end of 2015, MNDFL seeks to facilitate meditation for people. Together with Lodro Rinzler (Chief Spiritual Officer and Partner) the ground floor of an 1837 Greenwich Village townhouse has been “transformed into a cozy modern cocoon.” Homepolish interior design was also part of the equation.

At this center, you will find represented the four principal thoughts of Tibetan Buddhism along with Shambhala, Theravada and Zen. One can also take classes in Vedic and Kundalini.

It was created to give people the opportunity “to feel good.” Self-described as “New York City’s premier meditation studio.” Offers a slew of “expert teachers from a variety of traditions offering simple techniques in an accessible manner.” The meditation room is open when there are no classes for the public “for self-guided practice.”

So, book your cushion at 10 East 8th Street, New York, with prices as low as $10 and find a space to breathe today.

AO Research and Development with Geoff Richards Makes Great Strides

It’s always helpful to know about medical institutions that could be of assistance should the need arise, and that are doing innovative work. One such location is the AO Foundation, started in 1958 in Biel. They are a medically guided nonprofit organization that is led by surgeons who specialize in the treatment of trauma and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Today, they have more than 16,000 surgeons, operating room personnel and scientists who are involved from over 100 countries.

With Professor R. Geoff Richards, the Director of AO Research and Development, the AO Foundation’s mission is to foster and expand their network of health care professionals in education, in research and in the development and clinical investigation for more effective patient care around the world.

To this end, they have many innovative endeavors. They have an AO Surgery Reference which is an online reference tool designed for everyday clinical life. It was first introduced in 2006 and was launched with six anatomical modules.

Today, they have a great deal of research and development, led by Prof. R. Geoff Richards. They also have AO Clinical Divisions which include four areas: trauma, spine, craniomaxillofacial and veterinary surgery.

Health News in New York: Firemen’s Association and Mosquito Virus

firemenThe Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) just created a new Health & Wellness Committee. This aims to put in practice one of its key priorities. This is, as Robert McConville, President of FASNY articulated, “A Healthy Firefighter Is Everyone’s Fight.”

According to newly appointed committee Chairperson, Jacqueline Moline, MD, MSc, “FASNY’s Health & Wellness Committee, made up of experts in the medical field, will advise FASNY leadership on matters of health unique to firefighting, focusing on cancer, heart issues and mental health in the fire service. We are honored to have Dr. Jacqueline Moline helm this extremely important committee and are thrilled that she will be providing her expertise and sharing her experience and wisdom in our quest for healthy firefighters.”

In other news, doctors are being told to look out for symptoms of the Zika virus in those entering New York from the Caribbean, Central and South America and Mexico as it is being transmitted in those regions. While there haven’t as yet been any recorded cases in New York, it is still a concern as there is to date, no vaccine yet. Plus, most people who contract it don’t actually get it, but links with the virus and congenital birth defects have been found so it is crucial to prevent it from happening.

Saying Goodbye to S.A.D.

bahamasBetween four and six percent of Americans suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder – S.A.D. A further 10 to 20 percent “may experience a mild form of winter-onset S.A.D.” According to the US National Library of Medicine, “some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and may also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually clear up.” So for those in New York who want to escape the winter blues, what better place to do it than the Bahamas?

A great place to go is between Christmas and News Years, which offers the vacationer the perfect climate.  Indeed, leaving New York’s dreary winter behind is not only good for those encountering any elements of S.A.D., but can be beneficial for anyone who likes a bit of sunshine, rest and relaxation. It’s also a good idea to go before the weather really gets bad as, according to meteorologist Jeff Smith, “some snow and a light mix of precipitation arrived in parts of the New York area ahead of much colder temperatures and gusty winds.”

The cold weather is known to have a negative impact on a lot of people. Being in the sunshine sometimes just makes things seem better, as it is actually brighter. Indeed, according to Laura Geggel, staff writer at LiveScience, “Cold temperatures can influence our thoughts and decisions without our even knowing it, experts have found…Hot and cold temperatures affect the way people judge others all of the time. For instance, compared with when a person is holding a cup of hot coffee, a person holding a cup of iced coffee tends to see others as interpersonally colder, according to a 2008 study in the journal ‘Science.’”

Of course, for those who need to do something even while they are relaxing, they can enjoy a whole slew of other health-enhancing activities in the near vicinity. One of these is swimming with dolphins which is actually used as a therapy in some places. Known as Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT), a 2005 study undertaken by a group of academics at the University of Leicester found that “symptoms improved more among this group [those swimming with dolphins than the others] who swam in the same area but did not interact with dolphins.”

So don’t let S.A.D take over your winter. Find a time to take a break. Enjoy your vacation in the Bahamas and soak up some sun!

When Healthcare Became Political

healthcareExpenditure on healthcare in the US increased “at the fastest pace since President Barack Obama took office.” This was explained by Obamacare and “zooming prescription drug costs.” Prior to Obamacare, the country encountered five years of “historically low growth.” The Department of Health and Human Services undertook a study that found Obamacare just hasn’t been the solution to health expenditure. Indeed, spending on healthcare increased at a faster rate than the entire economy, getting up to 17.5 percent of GDP.

In other news, in Rhode Island, Governor Gina Raimondo requested that health care experts and stakeholders construct a plan to keep health care spending in check by putting a cap on all health care spending.

Perhaps if sodium was reduced at New York eateries, the citizens would not require quite so much healthcare. Currently NYC is encountering a fight in which it may be forced to post warnings on dishes with a high level of sodium. New York has already banned trans fats and calorie counts are posted on menus. Sugary drink volumes remain uninhibited, but in general there seems to be a direction toward healthier food options replacing unhealthy ones in the city’s eateries.

When Fast Food Makes You Fit

vegetablesWhat an interesting phenomenon. Fast food making you fit. But these days, since that is what New Yorkers seem to want, that is what they are getting. So instead of French fries on the menu, you will probably have a “wastED salad,” made up of waste (such as broccoli stalks, cabbage cores, carrot peels, roasted bread heels) and other such stuff that is usually put in the “waste” pile.

Who would have thought – even just a few years ago – that after the sushi craze would come the waste craze with a side dressing of spicy pesto vinaigrette. Toss out your burgers and give me some scraps. Well, people who have been concerned for the environment for many years are now actually doing something about it in their everyday lives. And eateries are responding in kind. Five Guys, Shake Shack, Sweetgreen and more are putting these items on their menus. Highly processed foods are on the out.

However, American diners still want speed and convenience. So how do they match that with fast food? That is where the above eateries have found their niche. People today want it all: great, healthy food, that is fast and convenient. They want to know what is going into their food and are willing to pay more for what they view as healthier.

US HealthCare: A Weighty Matter

healthy-foodWhile Americans spend the most on health care of any industrialized nation, they also have one of the lowest life expectancies. Last year figures for healthcare spending reached $3.8 trillion but life expectancy on average is 79, as compared to 82 in Western Europe and the UK, and 83 in Japan.

Why is America doing so poorly but spending so much? The answer seems to be obesity.   Indeed, according to a recent study undertaken by the OECD on wellbeing, out of Asia, the Americas and Europe, the US “is home to the most obese population,” as well as the most “underperforming students and second in murders and assaults.”

What America is high on the list for is its personal wealth and amount of rooms in each personal home, but vis-à-vis obesity, it is the country with the most problems. Unfortunately therefore it seems that the country’s Agriculture Department (which has been removing sugar and salt from school lunches) and Michelle Obama’s work is not having a strong enough impact.

It’s really a wasted opportunity that a country – potentially so rich – is shooting itself in the foot by not combating the obesity war.

 

Senior Wellness Fairs

elderlyEvery year, around Fall time, Patty Richie, State Senator, presents a series of Senior Health and Wellness Fairs.   In September and October the communities of central and northern New York are privy to such fairs at which they can access tips and tools needed to enhance their wellness.

At these fairs are free lunches, entertainment and more. This year is expected to be “bigger and better than ever.” It is a fabulous opportunity for seniors to find a way to actually enjoy enhancing their quality of life in a fun way. There will be over 50 exhibitors at each event presenting ways to improve health. And the free lunches will be prepared by the “future chefs” at St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES and Oswego County CiTi.”