Sleep Disorders

At some point in life, most men, women, and children have experienced what it’s like to have trouble falling asleep, to lie awake in the middle of the night, or feel sleepy and fatigued during the day. However, when sleep problems are a regular occurrence, get in the way of your daily routine and hamper your ability to function-you may be suffering from a sleep disorder.Sleep Disorders are very common, but many people ask, what causes sleep disorders, what are the different types of disorders and how do you prevent them? Well, we have the answer for you.

A sleep disorder, or somnipathy, is a medical disorder of the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning. Polysomnography is a test commonly ordered for some sleep disorders.

Disruptions in sleep can be caused by a variety of issues, from teeth grinding to night terrors. When a person suffers from difficulty in sleeping with no obvious cause, it is referred to as insomnia. In addition, sleep disorders may also cause sufferers to sleep excessively, a condition known as hypersomnia. Management of sleep disturbances that are secondary to mental, medical, or substance abuse disorders should focus on the underlying conditions.

Everyone experiences occasional sleeping problems. So how do you tell whether your sleeping problem is just a minor, passing annoyance or a sign of a more serious sleep disorder or underlying medical condition? 

The symptoms are as follows:

Do you . . .

• feel irritable or sleepy during the day?
• have difficulty staying awake when sitting still, watching television or reading?
• fall asleep or feel very tired while driving?
• have difficulty concentrating?
• often get told by others that you look tired?
• react slowly?
• have trouble controlling your emotions?
• feel like you have to take a nap almost every day?
• require caffeinated beverages to keep yourself going?

If you answered “yes” to any of the previous questions, you may have a sleep disorder.

Treatments for sleep disorders generally can be grouped into four categories:

• Behavioral and psychotherapeutic treatment
• Rehabilitation and management
• Medication
• Other somatic treatment

For more information regarding sleep disorders click HERE!

To schedule an appointment with a full service sleep disorder center click HERE!

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Depression: The COMMON Disease

Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad. But these feelings are usually short-lived and pass within a couple of days. When you have depression, it interferes with daily life and causes pain for both you and those who care about you.But when feelings of intense sadness -- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless -- last for days to weeks and keep you from functioning normally, your depression may be something more than sadness. It may very well be clinical depression -- a treatable medical condition Depression is a common but serious illness.

Many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment. But the majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment. Medications, psychotherapies, and other methods can effectively treat people with depression.

A manual used to diagnose mental disorders, depression occurs when you have at least five of the following nine symptoms at the same time:

• a depressed mood during most of the day, particularly in the morning
• fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
• feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
• impaired concentration, indecisiveness
• insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
• markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day
• recurring thoughts of death or suicide (not just fearing death)
• a sense of restlessness -- known as psychomotor agitation -- or being slowed down -- retardation
• significant weight loss or gain (a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month)

Though very common, many people believe they don't actually have a problem. If you said YES to five or more of the bullets listed you may have a sign of depression. For more information on symptoms, causes, medicines, etc. on Depression, click HERE!

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HPV: It's not only a "females disease"

The majority of the human population believe that HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is only a females disease; in actuality HPV can also be seen in men. It's a sexually transmitted infection and if left untreated can cause cancer. 

HPV is a common virus, where most sexually active people in the United States (U.S.) will have at some time in their lives. There are more than 40 types of HPV that are passed on through sexual contact; most often during vaginal and anal sex. HPV may also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. HPV can be passed on between straight and same-sex partners—even when the infected partner has no signs or symptoms.

A person can have HPV even if years have passed since he or she had sexual contact with an infected person. Most infected persons do not realize they are infected or that they are passing the virus on to a sex partner. It is also possible to get more than one type of HPV.

Facts about HPV in Men:

• About 1% of sexually active men in the U.S. have genital warts at any one time.
• Cancers of the penis, anus and oropharynx are uncommon, and only a subset of these       cancers are actually related to HPV. Each year in the U.S. there are about:
• 400 men who get HPV-related cancer of the penis
• 1,500 men who get HPV-related cancer of the anus
• 5,600 men who get cancers of the oropharynx (back of throat), but many of these cancers are related to tobacco and alcohol use, not HPV.

Some men are more likely to develop HPV-related diseases than others such as gay and bisexual men (who have sex with other men). They're about 17 times more likely to develop anal cancer than men who only have sex with women.

Men with weakened immune systems, including those who have HIV, are more likely than other men to develop anal cancer. 

Most men who get HPV never develop any symptoms or health problems. But for those who do develop health problems, these are some of the signs and symptoms such as:

Genital Warts:

One or more growths on the penis, testicles, groin, thighs, or in/around the anus.

Warts may be single, grouped, raised, flat, or cauliflower-shaped. They usually do not hurt.

Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person.

Anal cancer:

Sometimes there are no signs or symptoms.

Anal bleeding, pain, itching, or discharge.

Swollen lymph nodes in the anal or groin area.

Changes in bowel habits or the shape of your stool.

Penile cancer:

First signs: changes in color, skin thickening, or a build-up of tissue on the penis.

Later signs: a growth or sore on the penis. It is usually painless, but in some cases, the sore may be painful and bleed.

Cancers of the oropharynx:

Sore throat or ear pain that doesn't go away

Constant coughing

Pain or trouble swallowing or breathing

Weight loss

Hoarseness or voice changes that last more than 2 weeks

Lump or mass in the neck

Currently, there is no HPV test recommended for men. The only approved HPV tests on the market are for screening women for cervical cancer. They are not useful for screening for HPV-related cancers or genital warts in men.There is no test for men to check one’s overall “HPV status.” But HPV usually goes away on its own, without causing health problems. So an HPV infection that is found today will most likely not be there a year or two from now. 

You can check for any abnormalities on your penis, scrotum, or around the anus. See your doctor if you find warts, blisters, sores, ulcers, white patches, or other abnormal areas on your penis—even if they do not hurt.

There is no treatment or cure for HPV. But there are ways to treat the health problems caused by HPV in men. So make sure to get yourself checked out and be safe!

Info from www.cdc.gov

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Cancer: The Rise

With a recently written blog post about skin cancer, cancer has been the most popular and fatal disease of all. Cancer, known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a broad group of various diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. 

When cancer begins, it produces no symptoms with signs only appearing as the mass continues to grow or intensifies. The findings depend on the type and location of the cancer. Few symptoms are specific, with many of them frequently occurring in individuals who have other conditions. 

Breast cancer is the leading cancer for women in the US. Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer and colorectal cancer is third among white women. The number 2 and 3 cancers are reversed among black and Asian/Pacific Island women. For all women, the fourth leading cancer is cancer of the uterus. 

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer for men in the US. It is followed by lung cancer and then colorectal cancer. The fourth most common cancer is race-dependent. It is bladder cancer for white men, cancer of the mouth and throat for black men; and stomach cancer for Asian/Pacific Island men. 

The most common malignancies in childhood are leukemia, followed by brain tumors, and lymphoma. 

Cancer is rare in teens. Certain diseases like breast cancer usually affect adult women — teen girls are unlikely to get this form of cancer. But some types are more likely to occur in teens. Testicular cancer, for example, tends to affect younger guys rather than older men. 

The types of cancers teens get have one thing in common: cells growing in an uncontrolled way. Cells are the basic components or "building blocks" of the human body. 

It’s necessary to get yourself checked out when there is a form of abnormality growing on your body. Just go to your physician and/or dermatologists and they’ll be sure to give you a quick diagnosis. Nothing is more important than your health!

For more cancer information and support groups visit HERE.

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Skin Cancer: Information, Symptoms and Solutions

It’s the season of the year again where males and females will spend their time under the sun to get the colorful glow needed to start the summer right. With tanning being popular, the majority of the population has no idea the effects of doing so. Skin cancer is a dangerous disease that can happen to many and can be the consequence of tannings. Here is information, symptoms and solutions of this disease known as skin cancer. 

There are three types of skin cancer, with melanoma being the most dangerous and potentially lethal because it can spread into other body parts. The other two non-melanoma types, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, are treatable and not as threatening or able to spread as melanoma can. 

Most skin cancer cases are of the basal cell carcinoma type, which can destroy surrounding tissue and disfigure facial skin areas if unchecked. It is advisable to check with a dermatologist if you have any unusual new moles or sores that won't heal anywhere on your skin. Skin biopsies are easy to perform. 

Mainstream medicine blames the sun for all three types, and recommends sun screen lotions to block sun exposure. But recently, the opposite has been determined to be true in both cases. Sunscreens are chemical agents that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. UVB is the chief culprit behind sunburn, while UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply, are associated with wrinkling, leathering, sagging, and other effects of photo aging. 

First, no sunscreen, regardless of strength, should be expected to stay effective longer than two hours without reapplication. Second, "reddening" of the skin is a reaction to UVB rays alone and tells you little about what UVA damage you may be getting. Plenty of damage can be done without the red flag of sunburn being raised. 

So whether you’re wearing sunscreen or not it’s important to stay away from the sun as much as possible. The sun can damage your skin and can also damage your health. If it’s absolutely necessary to get that perfect glow for the summer, tan less than possible.

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Weight Loss: Fact and Fiction

With it being 3 months after January, the majority of the population has either backed out or continued their New Year’s Resolution; the most popular of resolutions being Weight Loss. With it being the most popular, many seem to not know the Fact and Fiction of weight loss. So what are the Facts and Fictions when it comes to losing weight? Let’s start with some facts: 

- Eating a healthy, low fat breakfast is the best option when it comes to losing weight. Breakfast will help you to lose weight and is a better choice than skipping the meal. Skipping it will leave you tired, and may cause you to overcompensate with forbidden foods later in the day. So if you don’t have time to eat breakfast, make time. 

- When eating to lose weight you will need to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. If you love to eat these two foods you are in luck because you can eat as much of them as you like. 

- Exercise! Stretch out your muscles and become very active. A trip to the gym three times a week won’t hurt. Just be sure to somehow fit a workout into your hectic day/night schedule. Whether it’s walking, dancing, sports or any other physical movement it will help you to lose weight. Weight training is also a great idea because it not only increases muscle mass but awaken the metabolism as well. 

- Water flushes your body and is the best thing to drink when dieting. It contains no calories and can be found anywhere and drank any time of the day. 

Now here goes some of the fiction: 

- Most diets recommend that you eat only foods with low calories. Although this is true, you need to be very careful. Studies have shown if a person’s calorie intake drops too low, their metabolism will stop. 

- Fad Diets are not long term solutions, they rely on eliminating or reducing entire food groups, such as fats or carbohydrates, or that are based entirely on consuming large amounts of one type of food (think: grapefruit diet, watermelon diet, soybean diet.) This deprives your body of necessary nutritional elements. In some cases, the body may even conserve fat because it thinks it’s starving. 

- Fiction: “Skipping meals will help me lose weight.” When you skip meals, you don’t give your body the energy it needs to work. Hunger makes you more likely to overeat later on. It’s best to spread your meals throughout the day. Eat at least 3 meals a day. 

- Fiction: “The faster I lose weight, the better.” Rapid weight loss is usually due to loss of water or muscle mass. What you’re trying to get rid of is extra fat. Aim to lose 1/2–2 pounds a week. Then you’re more likely to lose fat rather than water or muscle. 

When losing weight, make sure to understand your fact from your fiction and good luck on your mission to lose weight!

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Meet Our Doctors

Alvaro Alban, MD is board certified in Emergency Medicine. Dr. Alban earned his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he was awarded a scholarship. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Jacobi Medical Center and Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY. Dr. Alban completed one year of Internal Medicine training at Mount Sinai at Cabrini Medical Center in Manhattan and a Molecular Immunology Research Fellowship at Cornell University. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Cornell University.

Jill Swartz, MD is board certified in Family Medicine. Dr. Swartz earned her medical degree and then went on to complete her residency at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Washington University in St. Louis, MO., where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with College Honors. Prior to medical school, Dr. Swartz taught high school AP Biology and Introduction to Biology in Maryland. After residency, Dr. Swartz worked at NYU's Student Health Center both in the urgent and primary care setting.

For more information visit the website HERE!

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