by admin | Jun 14, 2024 | health |
Dear Test, I hope you are enjoying the beginning of summer. This month’s Newsletter is about an important health issue that can be fatal if not recognized and treated promptly—Heat Related Illness (HRI). I developed acute heat exhaustion a few weeks ago, while attending my college reunion outside in hot weather. I quickly developed the symptoms of heat exhaustion—thirst, muscle cramps, and nausea. I had worn a hat, drank a liter of water, and even ate a bag of salted potato chips to ensure I had some salt. But that was not enough. The symptoms came on suddenly within minutes. I was taken by ambulance to the local ER and treated with IV fluids, antinausea medication, and electrolytes. Heat related Illness is on the rise because of Climate Change. There are more heat waves of longer duration and intensity, which increase our risk of heat exposure. (1,2) Heat Stroke vs. Heat Exhaustion Heat Exhaustion: “Heat exhaustion is characterized by an elevated core body temperature up to 104°F (40°C), along with heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, tachycardia, muscle cramps, and fatigue.”(3) Heat Stroke: “Heat stroke is defined as a core body temperature greater than 104°F (40°C) accompanied by hot, dry skin and central nervous system dysfunction such as delirium, seizures, or coma.” (3) Who is at Risk for Heat Related Illness? Basically everybody, but especially people over 60, young children, athletes and adolescents ( because they are outdoors more during the hotter months), people who work outside, people with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, lung conditions, and skin conditions. (1,5,6) Other Risk Factors for Heat Related Illness: (5,6) • No Acclimatization • Medications • Dehydration • Alcohol...
by admin | May 3, 2024 | health |
Ready to Up Your Game in Health and Well-being? Want to Improve your Resilience and have better Stress Management? If yes, then please see below! I am about to launch a state-of-the-art, fun and easy online course, Don’t Mess with Stress™. This course is for people who really want to up their game and transform their health and their lives. But first I need your help. I want to make sure I address the issues that are important to you in 4 key areas: Diet, Stress Management, Exercise, and Sleep. For this, I ask that you answer these 4 Survey Questions with regard to these areas. Thank you for answering these questions. And have a wonderful weekend! Dr. Jill —————————————— Past Newsletters: Please feel free to read my past Newsletters on my blog Dr. Jill Baron Newsletters and Blog which has helpful tips for you to feel good and optimize your health. Feel Free to Forward to a Friend: If a friend has forwarded you this email, I invite you to receive my Newsletter by clicking on the link Dr. Jill Newsletter Sign Up. After filling out the form, you will receive a Stress Management Guide gift in your inbox! Please click on the book image to purchase on Amazon! Disclaimer: Please note that the content on this Newsletter does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a physician before making any medical, nutritional, or lifestyle changes recommended in this...
by admin | Apr 6, 2024 | health |
I hope you are having a nice early spring. Recently, I went to the New York Botanical Gardens and saw the Orchid Show as well as beautiful daffodils and greenery. I even hugged a tree! It was so wonderful to be in nature. I encourage you to experience nature and smell the roses for your health and well-being. Please refer to an earlier Newsletter about Forest Bathing to learn about the therapeutic benefits of being in nature. Speaking of nature and well-being, this month’s Newsletter is about NUTS and their beneficial health effects. Nuts have various salutary benefits, except in people who have allergies or food intolerance to them. Please refer to this excellent reference to learn about nut allergy. It is a common belief that eating nuts causes weight gain. However the research “indicates that higher nut consumption does NOT cause greater weight gain; rather, nuts may be beneficial for weight control and prevention of long-term weight gain. “ (2, 3) Nuts, which are composed of protein, fiber, and fat, increase our ability to feel full and are “rich sources of energy.”(4) For this reason, they are a good choice for a snack instead of chips, baked goods, or other sweets.(3) Eating nuts with a healthy carb such as a fruit instead of eating a fruit alone can also slow down the rise of insulin from the pancreas, a good thing. Types of Nuts: Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts are called tree nuts because they grow on trees. Peanuts (which are really legumes and not true nuts), almonds, and pistachios, have the highest...
by admin | Mar 10, 2024 | health |
I hope you are well. I can’t believe that we are heading into spring. This Newsletter is about a crucial issue that many people struggle with including myself–getting a good night’s sleep. Waking up feeling rested and energized to start the day is a key component of optimal health and well-being. Healthy sleep is one of the four pillars for building resilience and stress hardiness that I write about in my book, “Don’t Mess With Stress™.” (1) The benefits of quality sleep are: “improved cardiovascular health, mental health, cognition, memory consolidation, immunity, reproductive health, and hormone regulation.”(2) Much has been written about sleep in terms of “Sleep Hygiene.” This means ideally winding down for about a half hour to an hour before sleep, reducing stimuli that can stress our system including looking at our screens, watching the news, etc. But new research says there is ONE THING that may trump the behavioral modification of the pre-bedtime routine to encourage better sleep. That is moderate to vigorous exercise during the day.(3) Read the original research article here. (4) The study showed “a strong link between daytime physical activity and improved sleep quality among both children and adults. Analyzing the daily routines of over 2500 participants, the research highlights how higher levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity correlate with fewer sleep disturbances, less daytime tiredness, and overall better sleep quality.” (3) One caveat about the research is that the adults in the study (who were mostly mothers of 11-12 years olds) exercised for 2 hours per day. That is a lot of exercise. However, the authors state that the device...
by admin | Jan 30, 2024 | health |
How much of longevity is attributable to genetic factors, and how much to family history, biomarkers, lifestyle or environment? What are the modifiable risk factors – diet, stress, exercise, medication, human connection, smoking, alcohol, the environment…? How do we define “biological age?” Do we look at changes in metabolism…vulnerability to infection…immunologic status? How does the physician’s perspective on aging compare with the perspective of the patient? Come and hear experts discuss: Cognition and the Brain: Gayatri Devi, MD, MS, FACP, FAAN, is Director, Park Avenue Neurology; Clinical Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, Zucker School of Medicine/Northwell Health; and Attending Physician, Lenox Hill Hospital. Body Changes – Dermatology: Jessica J. Krant, MD, MPH, is a board-certified dermatologic surgeon at New York’s Laser & Skin Surgery Center, a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery. Loneliness, Anxiety, Depression, Frailty: Alan Manevitz, MD, is a clinical associate professor at Payne Whitney-Weill Cornell Medical Center and attending psychiatrist at New York Presbyterian and Lenox Hill Hospitals; he also teaches at the Weill-Cornell Medical School. Endocrine Factors and Longevity: Sofiya Milman, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Divisions of Endocrinology and Geriatrics at Albert Einstein Medical College, and is the Director of Human Longevity Studies at Einstein’s Institute for Aging Research. She is an attending physician in Endocrinology at Montefiore Hospital. Cardiac Risks, New Views on Lipids, the Upsurge in Atrial Fibrillation: Varinder Singh, MD, is Senior Vice President, Cardiology, Northwell Health (Western Region); Paul and Diane Guenther Chair in Cardiology, Lenox Hill Hospital; and Assistant Professor of Cardiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. MODERATOR: Steven Mandel, MD – Clinical Professor of Neurology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. The...
by admin | Jan 2, 2024 | health |
I hope you were able to enjoy the holidays and spend quality time with loved ones and friends. This edition of the Newsletter is focused on how we can have a more creative and satisfying 2024 and in the process, make the world a better place. I was inspired to focus on this topic while listening to Barbra Streisand’s new memoir, “My Name is Barbra.”(1) The audiobook, read by the author in her honeyed voice, is an epic 48 hours long, while the hardcover book spans 992 pages! Listening to Barbra, I feel like I have experienced a Masterclass in excellence, creativity, artistic and intellectual curiosity, perseverance, social activism, relationships, dealing with challenges, and truth. Furthermore, I am energized by her qualities of purpose, passion, vision, courage, integrity, love, and vulnerability. In addition to the extraordinariness of Barbra Streisand, I also learned a great deal about two other remarkable human beings this year, the late Leonard Bernstein and the late J. Robert Oppenheimer, via the movies, “Maestro“ and Oppenheimer.” Bernstein and Oppenheimer share many of the positive attributes I describe for Streisand. To have a finer 2024, how can we embody the characteristics of these three virtuosos to feel fulfilled and also make the world a better place? Here are Some Ideas: 1. Passion and Dedication–by committing to our passions, we can feel actualized and the fruits of our work can contribute to societal progress. 2. Artistic and Intellectual Excellence–by striving for excellence not perfection, we know we have done our best, and the results of our labor may enhance society.: If you are feeling very stressed, and you...
