News from NYU Langone Health
I’m A Doctor – Here Are 4 Simple Ways To Lower Your Risk Of Dementia. (New York Post)
The New York Post (12/9) Arjun V. Masurkar, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Departments of Neurology, and Neuroscience and Physiology, said maintaining a healthy mind as we age involves regular aerobic exercise, a heart-healthy diet, socialization, and brain-stimulating activities; he recommends limiting alcohol consumption to one drink a day, correcting sensory problems, and ensuring good sleep to reduce dementia risk.
Cancer Interrupted Their School Lives, But Also Set Them On A Mission. (NPR)
NPR (12/8) EJ Beck, a medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, reflects on her journey from being a pediatric thyroid cancer patient to pursuing a career in medicine at the same hospital where she was treated, expressing gratitude for her current path and saying, “Sometimes it feels as though I’ve lived lifetimes since then, and it hurts to think about, but mostly they just make me feel immense gratitude for where I am now – I’m incredibly blessed,” while Julia Gomez, an education coordinator at Stephen D. Hassenfeld Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, underscores the importance of educational support for young cancer patients, saying, “It’s quite devastating, to the whole child,” as she helps maintain their academic continuity during treatment.
Among those syndicating coverage were Oregon Public Broadcasting (12/8), Iowa Public Radio (12/8), KENW New Mexico (12/8), KNPR-FM Las Vegas (12/8), WOSU-FM Columbus, OH (12/8), WVXU-FM Cincinnati (12/8), KNKX-FM Seattle (12/8), WAMC-AM Albany, NY (12/8), WPSU-FM University Park, PA (12/8), WNIJ-FM DeKalb, IL (12/8), WKNO-FM Memphis, TN (12/8), Tri States Public Radio (IL) (12/8), WHQR-FM Wilmington, NC (12/8), WKYU-FM Bowling Green, KY (12/8), WUNC-FM Chapel Hill, NC (12/8), WYPR-FM Baltimore (12/8), WXXI-TV Rochester, NY (12/8), WSKG-FMBinghamton, NY (12/8), WESA-FM Pittsburgh (12/8), WWNO-FM New Orleans (12/8), WUGA-FM Atlanta (12/8), KLCC-FM Eugene, OR (12/8), WUWF-FM Pensacola, FL (12/8), WLRH-FM Huntsville, AL (12/8), wusf (12/8), and WRVO-FM Oswego, NY (12/8).
City Medical Groups Expand Into The Suburbs. (Crain's New York Business)
Paywalled* Crain’s New York Business (12/8) NYU Langone Health has completed 38 facilities in suburban areas since 2019 and operates about 340 outpatient facilities in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, while expanding into Florida with a $75 million facility in West Palm Beach, according to hospital spokesperson James Iorio, director, media relations; Andrew Rubin, senior vice president, clinical affairs and ambulatory care, said, “There’s no question that it has ramped up in terms of activity,” and described the organization’s shift to “next generation” outpatient growth by adding 1,000 physicians to its 4,100-member network and consolidating 20 smaller practices into comprehensive ambulatory centers.
You Don’t Have To Be Injured To Benefit From Physical Therapy. (New York Times)
The New York Times (12/6) Charles Homoky, PT, DPT, physical therapist, Sports Performance Center, advises against clinics that resemble “P.T. mills” and stresses the importance of receiving at least 15 minutes of one-on-one time with a therapist per session.
Less Than 4% Of Long Island’s Opioid Lawsuit Settlement Millions Spent As Overdose Deaths Continue. (Newsday (NY))
Newsday (NY) (12/6) An investigation by Newsday revealed that only a small portion of the $213.5 million in opioid settlement funds available on Long Island has been distributed, with Nassau and Suffolk counties issuing $97.2 million in contracts and grants since 2022 but disbursing only $8.1 million, amid bureaucratic delays and a cumbersome reimbursement process; Bennett Allen, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Population Health, called for swift investments in drug treatment and prevention, saying, “I would implore public authorities to recognize the urgency of the crisis and think about ways that they can...work within the system, to spend the money as efficiently as possible.”
Rooftop Farm Offers Immigrants Local Produce. (CBS News Streaming Network)
CBS News (12/8) Stella S. Yi, MPH, PhD, associate professor, Department of Population Health, has partnered with Brooklyn Grange to provide subsidized heart-healthy produce to immigrants at their weekly market, addressing the overlooked cardiometabolic risks among Asian Americans, noting that “there is a myth about Asian Americans being healthy when it comes to obesity.”
21 Health Systems With Credit Rating Upgrades. (Becker's Hospital Review)
Becker’s Hospital Review (12/6) NYU Langone Health has had its credit rating upgraded to “A1” from “A2” by Moody’s Investor Services in 2024, reflecting its strong operating performance, revenue growth, market position, and effective leadership.
Routine Abdominal CTs Offer Insight Into Cardiovascular Risk. (HealthImaging)
HealthImaging (12/6) During the annual RSNA meeting, researchers from NYU Langone Health highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to screen for cardiovascular disease using abdominal CT scans, with senior investigator Miriam A. Bredella, the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Professor of Radiology, vice chair, strategy, Department of Radiology, associate dean, translational science, saying “Instead of relying on dedicated CT scans of coronary arteries, which are rare and not always covered by insurance, to find potentially fatal heart disease, we seek to use AI to help screen abdominal CT scans that are done for many reasons to opportunistically catch heart disease more often and earlier.”
Do Wireless Headphones Emit Harmful Amounts Of Radiation? (The Dispatch)
The Dispatch (12/6) Despite claims about the dangers of radiation emitted by wireless headphones like Apple AirPods, experts including Christopher M. Collins, PhD, professor, Department of Radiology, chair, department appointments and promotions committee, state that the non-ionizing radiation these devices emit is not harmful, noting, it is “much more important to limit exposure to ionizing radiation, which occurs at frequencies in the ultraviolet band and above.”
3 Easy, Natural Tips To Lower Blood Pressure Without Medication. (First For Women)
First For Women (12/7) Nearly half of women struggle with high blood pressure, but Nieca Goldberg, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, said, “For most women, it doesn’t take much to get blood pressure down into a healthier range,” and suggested tactics such as taking deep breaths, noting this “easy activity that works so well to lower blood pressure because it decreases levels of stress hormones in your body.”
Your Indoor Air’s Dirty Secret Is Under Your Feet. (Wired)
Wired (12/7) Jonathan Newman, MD, MPH, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, highlighted that air purifiers “appear to reduce blood pressure by approximately 3 to 4 mmHg over various time intervals,” similar to dietary approaches for reducing sodium intake, during a discussion about indoor PM 2.5 levels.
5 Symptoms Men Over 40 Should Never Ignore. (Fortune)
Fortune (12/6) Research indicates men are more likely than women to avoid or delay necessary medical care, Steven Lamm, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Men’s Health, advises, “Don’t ignore your wellness, and don’t give your wellness, or your health, a three-month break.”
USDA Orders Testing Of Nation’s Milk For Bird Flu. (WNYW-NY (FOX)-3)
WNYW-NY (FOX)-3 (12/6) The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a new federal order for widespread testing of raw, unpasteurized milk from dairy farms to monitor the spread of bird flu among cattle, with Rabia A. De Latour, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, saying, “Although there have been no cases of avian flu being spread from raw milk at this time, theoretically there is a risk if you were to drink the milk from an infected cow, you could potentially contract it.”
‘Disease X’ Has Killed Dozens In The Congo. (Fox News)
Fox News (12/6) An outbreak of a mysterious illness referred to as “Disease X” has resulted in 143 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the World Health Organization confirming 394 cases and 30 deaths as of early December; Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, cautioned against labeling the outbreak as “Disease X,” explaining, “I am not sure that I would call the current outbreak of a mysterious killer virus in DRC ‘Disease X,’ because it is too soon, still few cases, and we know too little about it.”
In a separate embedded video, Fox News (12/7) Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, “breaks down the recent USDA orders for milk testing amid a bird flu outbreak on ‘Fox News Live.’”
In a separate article FOX News Radio’s (12/6) “Tonya J. Powers speaks with” Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, “who shares his thoughts and advice on maximizing your health benefits before the year ends.”
Doctors Warn There Is No Safe Level Of Alcohol Consumption. (WHIO-TV Dayton (OH))
CBS (12/8) Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health said, “less is more in terms of alcohol risk,” advising individuals to eat beforehand, plan their drinking, and ensure hydration before, during, and after holiday events; the World Health Organization warns there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, linking it to various cancers and diseases.
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn
NYU Langone Health Hosts AIDS Day Event. (News 12 Brooklyn (USA))
News 12 Brooklyn (USA)(12/7) Patients and staff at NYU Langone Health gathered on Saturday to continue a holiday tradition by creating a memorial quilt to celebrate medical research progress and remember those lost to AIDS, while educating Brooklynites about the disease and its stigma.
Also reporting was News 12 Brooklyn (USA) (12/6).
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island
Holiday Road Safety: Expert Tips To Avoid Emergency Room Visits. (Long Island (NY) Press)
Long Island (NY) Press (12/6) AAA statistics reveal record travel numbers during the 2023 holiday season, with 55.4 million Americans traveling for Thanksgiving and 115.2 million during Christmas, as Jerry A. Rubano, MD, assistant professor, Department of Surgery, regional director of trauma, NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, said, “We want to take business away from our trauma unit because that’s what’s best for the community.”
12 Long Island Hospitals Get A Grades For Patient Safety, Nonprofit’s Report Shows. (Newsday (NY))
Newsday (NY) (12/6) Twelve Long Island hospitals, including NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, received A grades in the latest patient safety report by The Leapfrog Group.
Physician Discusses Effects Of Seasonal Affective Disorder. (News 12-TV Long Island (NY))
12-TV (12/4) Aaron Pinkhasov, MD, professor, Departments of Medicine, and Psychiatry, chair, Department of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, discussed how colder and shorter days could significantly affect mental health, particularly for those with seasonal affective disorder, which impacts two to three percent of adults and is characterized by symptoms such as mood changes, poor appetite, and insomnia, with doctors recommending increased sunlight exposure and physical activity as effective treatments.
