HealthWorks WIN TER 2024
STAY STRONG!
EASY EXERCISES NALOXONE
SAVES LIVES
WHEN HIS HEART STOPPED
NO ONE GAVE UP
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Montefiore Nyack Hospital Updates FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Readers, As we enter the New Year, it is a good time to focus our resolutions on our most precious asset—our health. If so inclined, and we hope you are, you have come to the right place, our Winter 2024 edition. This issue is filled with expert medical advice to assist you on your journey toward healthy living. From the signs and symptoms of sciatica, which can derail the most committed of exercise enthusiasts, to effective strategies designed to reverse insulin resistance and prevent kidney stones, our expert healthcare practitioners address health-related issues like these and many others. For inspiration, please read the miraculous story chronicling how our emergency department, cardiac catheterization lab and critical care teams worked together to save a community member’s life. Finally, check out the sound advice of an orthopedic surgeon who explains the importance of strength training in maintaining “good bones.” “Good bones” generally refers to having a strong and healthy musculoskeletal system, which is crucial in supporting overall health, mobility and quality of life. Understandably, attention to orthopedic care plays a vital role in maintaining or restoring musculoskeletal health. For those who might require orthopedic services, we are proud to announce the opening early in 2024 of the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Center at 3 Centerock Road in West Nyack. This 60,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility will be a musculoskeletal center of excellence with one-stop shopping for all orthopedic and spine services including Montefiore Nyack Hospital’s ambulatory surgery and diagnostic Imaging centers, as well as faculty practice offices for Montefiore Einstein orthopedic and spine surgeons to see patients. The center will also feature an outpatient rehabilitation facility staffed by experts from Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. This partnership will offer patients comprehensive world-class academic musculoskeletal care and rehabilitation services. From hand, shoulder, knee and foot reconstruction and ligament repair, to minimally invasive spinal intervention, pain management and advanced imaging services, the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Center will offer a complete range of musculoskeletal and spine care in a spectacular brand-new building. To stay updated on this and all the new programs and services we are offering to elevate the quality of care we provide to our community, please visit our website and subscribe to our e-newsletter at www.montefiorenyack.org. Wishing you a year filled with vitality, strength and good health.
Mark Geller, MD, FACR President and Chief Executive Officer
facebook.com/MontefioreNyack @MontefioreNyack @MontefioreNyack To unsubscribe, please email us at publicrelations@montefiorenyack.org.
@Montefiore_Nyack linkedin.com/MontefioreNyackHospital
HOME CARE EARNS PATIENT SATISFACTION AWARD Montefiore Nyack Hospital Home Care has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall patient satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20 percent of all eligible SHP clients for the 2022 calendar year. Award recipients were determined by reviewing and ranking the overall patient satisfaction score for more than 3,200 home health providers and 1,750 hospice providers nationwide. With well over 6,500 combined Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Home Health Care CAHPS and hospice locations on service, SHP is in a unique position to identify and acknowledge organizations that have prioritized high-quality service and have earned high survey scores. Montefiore Nyack Hospital’s Home Health Care, which has served patients in Rockland County since 1979, is licensed by New York State and qualifies for Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance plans. For more information about our Home Care services, call 845-638-8717. Learn more at www.montefiorenyack.org/home-care.
EDITORIAL STAFF Lauren Malone, Assoc. VP, PR and Marketing Rose Croke, Director of Communications Briana Tolve, Marketing Manager Jasmine Gonzalez, Marketing Coordinator Celia Vimont, Writer
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winter
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WEIGHT ISN’T JUST ABOUT APPEARANCE
Maintaining a healthy weight reduces your risk of insulin resistance.
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HELP FOR SCIATICA
Many nonsurgical treatments are available for pain that radiates from your lower back down one or both legs.
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STAY STRONG!
Gain muscle mass at home with these easy strength training exercises.
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‘NO ONE GAVE UP ON HIM’
After Edward O’Rourke’s heart suddenly stopped beating, doctors in the Montefiore Nyack Hospital emergency department, ICU and cath lab saved his life.
2024
IN THIS ISSUE
14
THE OVERDOSE REVERSAL MEDICATION NALOXONE SAVES LIVES
Learn how to use naloxone, which is now available over the counter as an easy-toadminister nasal spray.
14
AVOIDING THE PAIN OF KIDNEY STONES
If you’re prone to developing kidney stones, changing your diet can help to prevent them.
TRAUMA PROGRAM VERIFIED AS A SURGICAL QUALITY PARTNER BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS Montefiore Nyack Hospital’s Level III Verified Trauma Center has received the prestigious Surgical Quality Partner designation from the American College of Surgeons (ACS). As an ACS-verified trauma center, the Surgical Quality Partner designation lets patients know Montefiore Nyack Hospital is dedicated to quality and improving procedures and best practices. Patients can trust that the care they receive adheres to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality. The ACS Trauma Verification, Review and Consultation (VRC) Program helps hospitals evaluate and improve their trauma care. It provides an objective, external review of a trauma
center’s resources and performance. The ACS reviewers, who are nationally recognized trauma surgeons, completed a site review of the hospital and evaluated our trauma team’s outcomes and preparedness. The team also assessed relevant components of our trauma program, including our regional role, the availability of physical and health human resources, policies, patient care protocols and quality improvement processes. Montefiore Nyack Hospital is one of 25 hospitals internationally and one of only three in New York State that met rigorous external standards confirmed by an outside verification process.
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WEIGHT ISN’T JUST ABOUT APPEARANCE MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WEIGHT REDUCES INSULIN RESISTANCE, A CONDITION THAT LEADS TO DIABETES AND OTHER CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
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besity isn’t just a cosmetic issue—it is a disease with serious effects on your health. For example, excess weight increases a person’s risk of developing insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that plays a central role in the regulation of blood sugar levels. When your body builds resistance to insulin, it becomes ineffective at regulating your blood sugar levels. “Insulin resistance predisposes a person to develop prediabetes and/ or type 2 diabetes,” says Nandini Seshan, DO, an endocrinologist with Highland Medical Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “This, in turn, can lead to complications involving the heart, kidney, eyes, nerves and blood vessels.” Fortunately, weight loss—even a modest amount—can reduce insulin resistance and the associated complications. “Every patient whose weight is impacting their health needs an individualized treatment plan that involves diet, exercise NANDINI SESHAN, DO
and, in some cases, medication,” says Dr. Seshan.
WHAT IS INSULIN RESISTANCE? In a person with insulin resistance, the pancreas tries to secrete greater amounts of insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. “Over time,” says Dr. Seshan, “the cells in the pancreas get worn out and can’t produce enough insulin. That’s when we start to see prediabetes and type 2 diabetes develop.” Some people have a genetic predisposition to developing insulin resistance. Aside from genetics, age and obesity increase the risk of insulin resistance.
FIRST STEP TO A HEALTHIER WEIGHT When Dr. Seshan counsels a patient about weight loss, she starts by recommending a food log—a list of everything a person eats and drinks over the course of each day. “Write down everything in a notebook, or use an app on your phone,” she says. “The best way to start making changes is by being more aware of what you’re putting in your body.” The second step is incorporating exercise into your day. Government guidelines recommend a minimum
of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. This can include walking, jogging, biking or swimming. “If you don’t have time to go to the gym, find 10-20 minutes during the day for walking,” she says. In addition to aerobic activity, incorporating resistance training to build muscle can improve your metabolic health. You can use online videos and articles to find exercises that can be done either with body weight alone or with weights and resistance bands. Dr. Seshan also talks with patients about their mental health—their stress level, anxiety and mood. “If they have stressors in their life, we talk about finding tools to address them so they can better focus on their physical health,” she says. If a patient has failed to lose weight with consistent diet and exercise over three to six months, Dr. Seshan may consider utilizing an injectable weightloss medication. These drugs mimic hormones in the body that regulate appetite and satiety (feeling full) and help to control blood sugar levels. “If you’re concerned about weightrelated health problems, don’t wait to talk with your doctor,” Dr. Seshan says. “The longer you wait, the higher the chance you’ll develop chronic illnesses. Take the first step and start the conversation with your physician. We are here to help you.”
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“If you’re concerned about weight-related health problems, talk with your doctor. The longer you wait, the higher the chance you’ll develop chronic illnesses.” Nandini Seshan, DO Endocrinologist with Highland Medical Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and Montefiore Nyack Hospital
The expert practitioners at Highland Medical Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism are here to help. Call 845-897-8371 to schedule an appointment.
M O N T E F I O R E N YA C K . O R G
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HELP FOR
SCIATICA P MANY NONSURGICAL TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PAIN THAT RADIATES FROM YOUR LOWER BACK DOWN ONE OR BOTH LEGS.
ain in your lower back or hip that radiates to the back of your thigh and into your lower leg may be sciatica. It can come on suddenly or gradually, depending on the cause. There are a number of treatments, most of them non-surgical, that can be effective, says Andrew Gitkind, MD, medical director of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.
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“It used to be that people with sciatica were told to stay in bed. Now, we tell patients they need to keep moving.” Andrew Gitkind, MD Medical Director, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Montefiore Nyack Hospital
the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg, becomes compressed or irritated. Sciatica can also cause numbness, tingling or a feeling of a bolt of electricity shooting into the leg. Sciatica can have several possible causes, including a herniated or bulging disk in the spine, or arthritis in the back. It can come on suddenly, after lifting something heavy or just moving the wrong way. Or it can develop over time, as part of wear and tear on the body as a person ages. “It can occur in teens, pregnant women or older people,” says Dr. Gitkind. “While some may be more at risk than others, sciatica doesn’t discriminate.”
HOW IS IT TREATED?
WHAT IS SCIATICA? “Many people use the term ‘sciatica’ to refer to all sorts of back pain, but it really refers to pain that runs down the leg caused by nerve impingement,” says Dr. Gitkind. It occurs when the sciatic nerve, which travels from ANDREW GITKIND, MD
Treatment is tailored to the individual patient, depending on many factors, including the cause. However, no matter the cause of sciatica, keeping active is important, says Dr. Gitkind. “It used to be that people with sciatica were told to stay in bed. Now, we tell patients they need to keep moving. Staying sedentary is one of the worst things you can do.” In some cases, if the sciatica was caused by an injury, it may heal with time and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen. Physical therapy can be helpful. “The goal of physical therapy is to focus on maintaining mobility and building
core strength,” Dr. Gitkind says. “The abdominal muscles, the oblique muscles on your sides, and your back muscles help to stabilize the spinal column. Most people have a weak core unless they work on it. When you build up these muscles, it helps to decrease pressure on the spinal column.” If a person doesn’t improve with these measures, the next step may be to consider an epidural steroid injection into the spine. This is a quick outpatient procedure that reduces inflammation and blocks pain signals back to the brain. “Most patients get meaningful improvement, but the degree of improvement and how long it lasts varies,” he says. The injections can be repeated. Some people may be helped by prescription medication designed to treat nerve pain. The last option, when all other treatments have been tried, is surgery. The type of surgery depends on the cause of the sciatica. If the cause is a herniated disk, it may be removed to stop it from pressing on the nerve. In some cases, the disk can be removed with minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Gitkind says the best way to prevent sciatica is to maintain an active lifestyle and do exercises to strengthen your back and abdominal muscles on a regular basis. “Developing strong core muscles can help you avoid sciatica,” he says, “or prevent it from coming back.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing musculoskeletal pain or discomfort, visit our Find A Physician page to locate an orthopedic specialist: www.montefiorenyack.org/find-physician.
M O N T E F I O R E N YA C K . O R G
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STAY
STRONG!
GAIN MUSCLE MASS AT HOME WITH THESE EASY STRENGTH TRAINING EXERCISES.
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s you age, your muscle mass starts to decrease. This can lead to weaker bones and reduced balance and flexibility. Less muscle mass can also lead to slower metabolism—and the weight gain that comes with it. To increase your muscle mass, you don’t need to go to the gym. There are easy strength training exercises and activities you can do at home, even without equipment, to help increase your muscle mass, says Brittany Olsen, MD,
an orthopedic surgeon at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “Strength training can slow down and possibly even prevent many health conditions,” says Dr. Olsen, who specializes in shoulder injuries and conditions and sports medicine. “It can reduce the risk of osteoporosis, as well as the symptoms of many chronic conditions, including arthritis, back pain, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.” Building strength also increases endurance and balance, which can help
to prevent falls. Getting stronger makes it easier to do daily activities, such as carrying groceries and doing yard work.
GETTING STARTED The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people engage in strength training for 30 minutes, two non-consecutive days per week. But those 30 minutes don’t all have to be done at once, Dr. Olsen says. “You can do what’s called exercise snacking—doing a couple of minutes of
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BASIC STRENGTH EXERCISES
SIT-TO-STAND EXERCISE
SQUATS
WALL PUSH-UPS
• Start seated in a sturdy chair, feet planted on the floor about hip distance apart. • Using as little assistance from hands or arms as possible, engage your core, and tip forward from the hips. • Press your weight through all four corners of your feet and push yourself to stand, extending your knees and hips fully. • Reverse the movement, pressing your hips back and bending your knees to carefully lower yourself to the seated position.
• Stand directly in front of a sturdy chair. Your feet should be slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Extend your arms so that they are parallel to the ground. • Place your weight more on your heels than on the balls of your feet. Bend your knees as you lower your buttocks towards the chair in a slow, controlled motion, while you count to 4. • Pause. Then, slowly rise back up to a standing position as you count to 2. Keep your knees over your ankles and your back straight. Repeat the squat 10 times. This equals one set. Rest for about one minute, then complete a second set of 10 squats.
• Find a wall that is clear of any objects, such as wall hangings and windows. Stand a little farther than arm’s length from the wall. Face the wall, lean your body forward and place your palms flat against the wall at about shoulder height and shoulder width apart. • Bend your elbows as you lower your upper body toward the wall in a slow, controlled motion as you count to 4. Keep your feet planted. • Pause. Then, slowly push yourself back until your arms are straight as you count to 4. Make sure you don’t lock your elbows. Repeat the wall push-up 10 times for one set. Rest for about one minute, then do a second set of 10 wall push-ups.
exercise here and there throughout the day, which add up,” she says. For instance, while you’re waiting for your morning coffee to brew, you can do some squats. During lunch, find a place to do some wall push-ups. Or do heel-to-toe walking, also known as tandem walking. (Place the heel of your swing foot directly in front of your standing foot’s toes and continue to walk in that manner.) While you’re waiting for water to boil when you’re making dinner, do some
sit-to-stand exercises. Or hold on to the kitchen counter and stand on one leg for 20 seconds, then switch to the other leg. As you start to get stronger, you can add some resistance training. That can mean holding a water bottle in each hand while you’re doing squats. You can easily add some strength training to your walking routine, too, notes Dr. Olsen. “Walk a little, then do a couple of walking lunges,” she suggests. “Or carry water bottles so you can do some bicep curls with
the bottles while you walk.” If you have a chronic condition, or if you’re older than age 40 and you haven’t been active recently, Dr. Olsen recommends checking with your doctor before beginning a strength training program. “Start with baby steps,” Dr. Olsen says. “We’re not talking about going to the gym and doing 60 reps with heavy weights. Start with bite-size activities, in small doses, and then you can progress from there.”
Find an orthopedic specialist at Montefiore Nyack Hospital at: www.montefiorenyack.org/find-physician. For more health tips, read our health blog, www.montefiorenyack.org/health-blog.
M O N T E F I O R E N YA C K . O R G
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‘NO ONE GAVE UP ON HIM’
AFTER EDWARD O’ROURKE’S HEART SUDDENLY STOPPED BEATING, DOCTORS IN THE MONTEFIORE NYACK HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, ICU AND CATH LAB SAVED HIS LIFE.
Edward O’Rourke with Besher Kabak, MD, a critical care specialist who participated in O’Rourke’s care.
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dward O’Rourke has always been active. So on July 3, 2022, when the then 84-year-old told his son, Brian, and daughter, Eileen, that he wanted to lie down in the middle of the day, they knew something must be wrong. They told him he needed to go to the hospital. On the way to the car, Edward collapsed. “I went into cardiac arrest,” says the retired New York Police Department lieutenant. “My son knew CPR from his work in law enforcement and started doing CPR on me. By the time the ambulance brought me to the emergency room, I didn’t have a pulse.” Cardiac arrest is a life-threatening event in which the heart suddenly stops beating. Coronary heart disease and irregular heartbeats are risk factors. Edward was in and out of cardiac arrest for about 30 minutes, according to Eli Brown, MD, a Montefiore Nyack Hospital emergency department physician who treated him.
Pictured from left: Caitlin Biggar, RN; Edward and Elaine O’Rourke; William Greenhut, DO; Judah Rauch, MD; Marie Pecora, RN.
COMING BACK TO LIFE “It required the entire emergency department team working together to resuscitate him,” says Dr. Brown. “We had to shock his heart at least 10 times using two defibrillators and load him with various medications to stabilize his heart. I had to tell his son on multiple occasions that there was a good chance he would not come back to life. It is amazing that he had such a good outcome, definitely the most successful resuscitation of my career.” Judah Rauch, MD, director of the cardiac catheterization lab at Montefiore Nyack Hospital, says Edward was one of the sickest patients he has treated. “No one gave up on him,” says Dr. Rauch. “The ER doctors worked on him for over an hour to get him to the point where we could bring him to the cath lab.” In the catheterization lab, Dr. Rauch found the blocked artery and placed a stent to open it. Once his blood pressure was stabilized, Edward was transferred
to the ICU, where he spent four days on a ventilator. He spent a few more days in the ICU and was discharged from the hospital a little over a week later.
THE ROAD TO RECOVERY When Edward returned home, a physical therapist came to the house for about a month to work on exercises with him. “It was a pretty tough road at first,” he says. “I wasn’t in great shape. I wasn’t that steady on my feet.” Two months after he returned home, Edward returned to the hospital so that Dr. Rauch could place two more stents in his heart to open narrowed arteries that were detected in testing during his hospital stay. “It took me about six months before I felt like my old self again,” Edward says.
CPR CAN SAVE A LIFE Dr. Rauch says Edward’s story illustrates the importance of being trained in CPR.
“His son really saved his life,” he says. In retrospect, Edward realizes the shortness of breath he had been experiencing wasn’t just a sign of getting older. Edward and his wife Elaine praise the care he received at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “Everyone showed me great empathy and professionalism,” says Edward. Recently, Edward was part of the hospital’s Celebration of Life, where former patients who have overcome a critical illness return to the hospital for an uplifting reunion with the nurses and doctors in the critical care units and emergency department. Edward and Elaine, along with other patients and their spouses and caregivers, gathered to share stories and express gratitude to the healthcare professionals who were instrumental in their care and recovery. “It was wonderful to be able to say a very big thank you,” Edward says. “I thank God every day for each new day of life.”
Learn more about the lifesaving interventional cardiology program at Montefiore Nyack Hospital at www.montefiorenyack.org/interventional-cardiology.
M O N T E F I O R E N YA C K . O R G
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THE OVERDOSE REVERSAL MEDICATION
NALOXONE SAVES LIVES 12 HEALTH WORKS | WINTER 2024 12-13 Nyack_Narcan_Winter24_Final.indd 12
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LEARN HOW TO USE NALOXONE, WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER AS AN EASY-TO-ADMINISTER NASAL SPRAY.
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PHOTOGRAPHS © FLICKR.COM
aloxone, the opioid overdose medication, was approved by the FDA this past spring as a nasal spray available to consumers without a prescription. With opioid overdoses on the rise around the country, this medication, which is available under its generic name (naloxone) and brand names, including Narcan, is saving lives, says Kristine Medora, a chemical dependency counselor at The Recovery Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “It takes seven minutes on average for emergency medical services to respond in this area, and brain death from an opioid overdose can occur in four minutes. It’s very important to get naloxone into the hands of people in the community to prevent permanent brain damage and deaths from overdoses,” she says. During an overdose, a person’s breathing can be dangerously slowed or stopped, causing brain damage or death. “Not everyone who overdoses uses street drugs like heroin or fentanyl,” says Aaron Salwan, PharmD, a behavioral health clinical pharmacy specialist at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. A person can accidentally overdose on prescription opioids, such as those taken after surgery. “Teens may experiment with prescription opioids from a family member or friend’s medicine cabinet. That’s why it’s important for everyone to have naloxone and know how to use it,” he says. “It’s like a fire extinguisher. You hope you don’t need to use it, but in case of emergency it’s there.”
says Salwan. It can be given safely to people of all ages, from infants to older adults, as well as pregnant women. Each kit contains two doses. While the majority of overdoses can be reversed with one dose, some people need two doses. “If a dose of naloxone wears off, a person can go back into overdose if they used a lot of opioids, so they may need a second dose,” says Salwan. If you think that someone is overdosing on an opioid or another substance, call 911 immediately. Give naloxone as quickly as possible. Don’t wait for emergency workers before giving naloxone, and stay with the person until emergency workers arrive. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to naloxone, even among some physicians, Medora says. “Some people feel that if naloxone is widely available to the community, opioid use and addictive behavior will increase. But studies show that the opposite occurs. We’re saving lives and keeping people alive until they can get into treatment,” she says.
HOW TO GET NALOXONE Now that it is available over the counter, naloxone is widely available. However, not all pharmacies stock it. A two-pack kit costs about $45. If a doctor prescribes naloxone, it
“It’s very important to get naloxone into the hands of people in the community to prevent permanent brain damage and deaths from overdoses.” Kristine Medora Chemical dependency counselor at The Recovery Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital
may be covered by insurance. Some public health organizations provide free naloxone kits. Patients treated at The Recovery Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital are offered a naloxone kit. The center runs support groups for patients’ families, who are also offered a naloxone kit.
LIFESAVING AND EASY TO USE
The Recovery Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital offers a full range of treatment options and services to those struggling with substance use disorder. For inpatient services information, call 845-348-2070. For information on outpatient services, call 845-348-2075.
Naloxone is an easy-to-administer nasal spray. “It is safe, and won’t harm someone if you give it to them and they are not overdosing on an opioid,”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information and videos on how to use naloxone nasal spray: www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/naloxone/.
M O N T E F I O R E N YA C K . O R G
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AVOIDING THE PAIN OF KIDNEY STONES
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IF YOU’RE PRONE TO DEVELOPING KIDNEY STONES, CHANGING YOUR DIET CAN HELP TO PREVENT THEM.
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idney stones can be very painful. In some cases, if left untreated they can even be dangerous. “Although some kidney stones can pass through the body on their own, bigger stones can get stuck and need to be treated,” says Michal J. Tracz, MD, a nephrologist at Highland Medical Rockland Renal Associates in West Nyack. “If a stone is infected, it’s a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.” Kidney stones are hard, pebble-like pieces of material that form in one or both of your kidneys when high levels of certain minerals are in your urine. A small kidney stone may pass through your urinary tract on its own, causing little or no pain. A larger kidney stone may get stuck along the way. A kidney stone that gets stuck can block the flow of urine. This can cause severe pain or bleeding.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS The classic sign of a kidney stone is pain in your side between the upper belly and the back that radiates into the groin. Other signs may include burning when you urinate, lower abdominal discomfort and blood in the urine. If the pain quickly progresses to fever and chills, you need to get to the emergency room right away, says Dr. Tracz. “That’s a sign of an infected stone, which can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency.” Kidney stones tend to run in families. If one or both of your parents had stones, you’re likely to have them too. There are four types of kidney stones. The most common is calcium oxalate stones. If you have stones more than once, you’re likely to have them on an ongoing basis unless you change your diet, says Dr. Tracz. A person treated for kidney stones will have their urine evaluated in the lab to determine what type of stone they have, and the best way to prevent future stones.
TREATMENT Stones that are small (less than 5 millimeters) often can pass through the ureter, the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder. Stones that are over 6 millimeters generally won’t pass through the ureter without help. The drug tamsulosin (Flomax), which is used to treat an enlarged prostate, can help relax the ureter so a larger kidney stone will pass through. In some cases, a urologist will remove a stone or break it into smaller pieces using one of several MICHAL J. TRACZ, MD surgical techniques.
Learn more about our advanced, personalized kidney care at www.highlandmedicalpc.com/nephrology.
3 WAYS TO HELP PREVENT KIDNEY STONES For people with calcium oxalate stones, a change in diet is key to preventing future stones. Follow these tips from Dr. Tracz to help avoid kidney stones. 1. Drink plenty of fluid. Consume enough fluid to produce 2.5 liters of urine per day. The best liquid to drink is lemon water, says Dr. Tracz, because lemon has citrate, a molecule that helps prevent stone formation. Simply squeeze fresh lemon into your water. 2. Reduce the amount of oxalate in your diet. Oxalate is a compound found in foods such as nuts and nut products; rhubarb; spinach; and wheat bran. 3. Eat the recommended amount of calcium. Don’t avoid calcium if you have calciumbased stones. Calcium in foods helps keep your bones healthy. Most people need about 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily. “What you eat matters when it comes to your risk of forming kidney stones,” says Dr. Tracz. “Making changes in your diet can help you avoid going through the pain of kidney stones again.”
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NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID Harrisburg, PA Permit #324
160 North Midland Avenue Nyack, NY 10960
OPENING SOON!
• Montefiore Nyack Hospital Ambulatory Surgery & Diagnostic Imaging Centers • Montefiore Einstein Orthopedic and Spine Surgeons • Burke Rehabilitation Hospital
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Opening in early 2024, this new center will offer comprehensive, world-class academic musculoskeletal care, including: orthopedic care and surgery, minimally invasive spinal intervention, pain management, imaging services and rehabilitation programs. Patients can now access an advanced level of care for all musculoskeletal services in one building, which has been expertly designed for patient comfort and convenience. The Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Center is located at 3 Centerock Road in West Nyack.
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