COME ON MEMBERS, TIME TO CALL THE CITY COUNCIL, GO TO THE OUR "ACT NOW" PAGE
COME ON MEMBERS, TIME TO CALL THE CITY COUNCIL, GO TO THE OUR "ACT NOW" PAGE
About 80 percent of all strokes are preventable. Here are the meds, foods, and moves that are key ,
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Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke, and about three-quarters occur in people ages 65 and older. "As people age, their arteries have a tendency to become less flexible," and clogged arteries are more likely, says Doris Chan, DO, an interventional cardiologist at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn. This hikes the risk of an ischemic stroke—the most common type—when a blood vessel to the brain becomes blocked by a blood clot. But about 80 percent of all strokes are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the lifestyle steps you take can be especially powerful in fending off stroke. Here’s what you can do now to reduce your risk.
Keeping certain conditions at bay or managing them properly can cut the likelihood of a stroke. Take high blood pressure, for example, which some research suggests is responsible for almost half of all strokes. A heart-healthy eating plan may help control it. Also try to limit sodium to less than 1,500 mg a day, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly, says Sahil Khera, MD, an interventional cardiologist at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
If your blood pressure is high even with the above measures, ask your doctor what levels you should strive for and whether meds are appropriate. Staying out of the hypertensive range can be challenging with age due to the higher potential for medication side effects. While blood pressure below 120/80 can reduce cardiovascular risk, that target should be adjusted if side effects like dizziness occur, says Hardik Amin, MD, an associate professor of neurology at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.
Another important condition to watch for is atrial fibrillation, an irregular and often rapid heartbeat, which affects at least 10 percent of people over age 80, according to a 2022 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. People with AFib are about five times as likely to have a stroke.
A heart-healthy lifestyle can reduce that risk. But older adults may still develop it, so report heart palpitations, chest pressure, shortness of breath, and dizziness to your doctor right away. Treatments for AFib include blood thinners and procedures like nonsurgical electrical cardioversion or the surgical implantation of a pacemaker.
Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol make you more prone to having a stroke as well, so it’s also important to get them under control, says Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director of Atria NYC, a healthcare organization.
Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, and being overweight or obese is itself a stroke risk—especially for those who carry a lot of fat around the middle. (Even normal-weight women with abdominal fat may have a higher stroke risk, the American Stroke Association says.)
The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity, such as walking, each week. Small bursts of movement, like vacuuming, count, Goldberg says. And stay on your feet as much as you can. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2022 found that people who sat for 13 hours a day or more had a 44 percent higher risk of stroke.
If you’ve been very inactive, start slowly, adding 500 steps at a time. "You don’t have to get them in all at once," says Erin Dooley, PhD, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. "Just walking down the hallway every so often will have benefits."
The best way to eat for stroke prevention is probably the Mediterranean diet and reduced salt intake, Khera says. The diet is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, plus heart-friendly fats like olive oil and small amounts of animal protein, particularly fish. Among the studies on the Mediterranean diet is one published in the Lancet in 2022, which looked at people with heart disease. It found that among those who followed this eating pattern for seven years, the risk of a major cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke fell by 26 percent compared with those on a low-fat diet.
Generally, high alcohol consumption (more than 14 drinks for women and more than 21 for men per week) is linked to a higher stroke risk, according to a study published last January in the journal Neurology. Most older adults should limit their intake to one drink per day, Goldberg says.
And space those drinks out. Binge drinking, which the CDC defines as four or more alcoholic beverages in a short period of time for women and five or more for men, raises heart attack and stroke risk,
Goldberg says.
And if you smoke, work toward stopping. While smoking doubles the likelihood of dying from a stroke, the risk goes down to that of a nonsmoker’s in as little as five years after quitting.
Even short-term exposure to air pollution may raise your stroke risk, according to a review published in 2022 in the journal Stroke. So check the air quality in your area on sites like airnow.gov, and on high-pollution days, limit your time outdoors. When indoors, use exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen, vent clothes dryers, and consider an air purifier.
High stress is associated with an increased stroke risk, says research that was published in 2022 in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open. The study found that one stressful life event raised the likelihood of stroke by 17 percent,
while two hiked it to 31 percent.
To ease stress, Goldberg recommends using mindfulness-based apps such as Smiling Mind, which lets you do calming meditation whenever you want. A 2020 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that these apps may also help reduce blood pressure, a key stroke risk factor.
If you think you might be having a transient ischemic attack (a mini-stroke), call 911. You should be evaluated immediately. Almost 1 in 5 people with a possible TIA will have a full stroke within three months. "It’s hard to diagnose a TIA for sure," Amin says. Symptoms often fade by the time people reach an ER. Here are key tests
that may be done there:
TIA patients are likely to be prescribed aspirin and meds for risk factors like high blood pressure. They should see a neurologist, ideally within 48 hours of discharge. "There’s a high risk of stroke in the days following a TIA," Amin says.
It’s important to know the signs of a stroke and to get emergency help right away if you experience them. The American Stroke Association uses the acronym FAST to help people remember several key signs.
They are:
Some people may have additional symptoms as well. These can include the following:
If you notice any of those symptoms, call 911 immediately (or have someone call), even if they’re mild and subside within a minute or two, as they often do with a mini-stroke.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article also appeared in the June 2023 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced Senate passage of their bipartisan amendment to the FY24 NDAA to close the funding shortfall in the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). The amendment will help address the long-term funding shortfall by delivering $676 million for the program, and will allow excluded Pentagon and Shanksville responders to join the program. The amendment is modeled off the bipartisan 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2023, which was introduced earlier this year by a strong bipartisan group of lawmakers and 9/11 health program advocates, responders and survivors.
“This important amendment will help close the funding shortfall in the World Trade Center Health Program and uphold our promise to care for all those still suffering from 9/11 related illnesses,” said Senator Gillibrand. “There is strong bipartisan consensus that we must support our heroes and I will work hard alongside Senator Schumer and our 9/11 first responders, survivors and advocates to get this amendment passed and signed into law.”
“From the moment of the attack until the last girder was removed from the smoldering wreck at Ground Zero, our brave first responders risked it all on behalf of America. Police officers, firefighters, construction workers, and everyday folks made a sacrifice on that day – and in the months that followed – that honored their country. Recently, we delivered an additional one billion dollars to help sustain the World Trade Center Workers’ Health Program. And today, we have added an amendment to the NDAA that delivers another $676 million dollars to make sure that all responders are completely covered for any health problems that may occur as a result of their sacrifice for us. These funds will help sustain the health program for even longer. I’ll continue to work alongside Senator Gillibrand to make sure this program never runs out of the dollars it needs to ensure our Ground Zero heroes receive the treatments they need and the healthcare they deserve.” -Majority Leader Schumer
Modeled off the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act, the amendment:
After years of efforts and calls on the federal government, Congress established the WTCHP on a bipartisan basis in 2011 with a five-year authorization to provide medical treatment and monitoring for 9/11 responders and survivors suffering from the effects of the toxins at Ground Zero. The program covers the lifespans of all exposed, including responders and survivors of the attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, the Shanksville crash site, children who were in schools in downtown Manhattan on 9/11 and during clean-up, and those who have since experienced, or are expected to experience, adverse health effects that are linked to the attacks in the coming years. The program was reauthorized in 2015 and extended through 2090 with bipartisan support. In 2022, lawmakers delivered $1 billion for the program in the end-of-year spending bill.
Unfortunately, this funding is not enough to keep pace with the anticipated costs of providing the program’s services for over 120,000 9/11 responders and survivors, who span all fifty states and 434 of the 435 congressional districts.
CLICK ON "FIND OUT MORE" TO VIEW A WCBS REPORT ABOUT RETIRED FIREFIGHTER JEFF RAY'S PERSONAL BATTLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS
Please be advised starting June 1, 2022 we are no longer using OptumRx. Our new Pharmacy Benefit Manager is Express Scripts. All WTC-related prescriptions with refills at OptumRx were transferred to Express Scripts, but will NOT refill automatically. To refill your medications you MUST CALL Express Scripts at 800-935-7179 or you can refill online using the member portal at [express-scripts.com]express-scripts.com. Have your WTC Health Program Prescription ID card with you when ordering as you will need you ID number. Remember to order refills 1-2 weeks before running out of your medication. Similarly, if you are receiving specialty medications from Optum Specialty Pharmacy/BriovaRx Specialty Pharmacy, you must now instead use Accredo Specialty by calling 855-540-1780 or going online at [accredo.com]accredo.com. New WTC Health Program Prescription ID cards were mailed out to every member with at least one certified WTC-related condition. Make sure to use your new WTC Health Program Prescription ID card when you need to fill a WTC-related prescription at your local pharmacy. See below for an example of your new WTC Health Program Prescription ID card. Please call the FDNY WTC Health and Wellness Program at 718-999-1937 or email [wtcprescriptions@fdny.nyc.gov]wtcprescriptions@fdny.nyc.gov with any WTC-related prescription issues
My name is Peter Melly and I have been a NYC firefighter for the past 35 years (1983-2018). It is now known that not only is smoke absorbed through the respiratory system, but also absorbed through the skin. The cumulative effects of by-products of fire combustion have had devastating effects on us long timers
I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 5 years ago and had a rather progressive course. I have no known family history of Parkinson"s Disease, even in a family of significant longevity. Last year i had deep brain stimulation (DBS) which involves putting electrodes in your brain controlled by two battery packs implanted in your chest. This was needed to control my left hand tremor, also helps with body stiffness and loss of balance. My other symptoms include constipation, speech difficulties, trouble with writing, and a lack of facial expression.
The standard of care for Parkinson's Disease in the year 2021 is now DBS and medication. My doctor has told me that I will never be off medication but the DBS has cut my medication in half.
Previous studies have found that firefighters have a tenfold higher prevalence of Parkinson's Disease than the general population. NETPR (Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Parkinson's Research) reveals that genetic transmission is a minor component of the development of Parkinson's Disease. This confirms the significance of environmental factors such as exposure to toxins.
Since firefighting is a high-risk profession of chronic, significant chemical toxic exposure, so far, Indiana has recognized Parkinson's Disease as a line of duty disability and Massachusetts is pursuing this protective legislative.
What we need in the York City Fire Department, is a web page dedicated to "New York City Firefighters with Parkinson's Disease". Someplace a firefighter's can go and put his name
on record so we can be counted. One firehouse I was assigned to had 3 firefighters diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. How many other firefighters are now suffering in silence? How many other firefighters have been diagnosed after they leave the job or spent time spent at Ground Zero?
We have to do something now!
Respectfully Submitted,
Retired BC Peter Melly
516-819-2364
THE NYC HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM HAS MOVED TO
22 CORTLANDT STREET NYC, NY 10007
(212) 513-0470
For a member receiving a Cancer Diagnosis and having biopsy and pathology results, FDNY WTC member should contact Nadia Jaber at 718 999-1223-Nadia is a longtime FDNY WTC Health Program staff member and Physician's Assistant. The main FDNY WTC Cancer Care phone number is 718 999-7040.
{Updated Cancer Info: Currently there are 1,530 unique FDNY Members with at least one WTC Cancer certification. Some members have more than one}
VOLUNTEER TO JOIN THE RED CROSS<
FIREFIGHTERS WITH ASBESTOS EXPOSURE PROBLEMS:
https://mesothelioma.net/asbestos-exposure-firefighters/
OUR NEWEST LINK DEALING WITH MESOTHELIOMA:
https://www.mesotheliomahub.com/mesothelioma/risk-factors/firefighters-and-mesothelioma/
HERE'S ONE DEALING WITH ASBESTOS:
WTC De-Stressing (Due to COVID- All programs are on hold)
There is a new program for both active and retired members with health concerns related to the World Trade Center.
It is called:
Mindfulness Techniques for Relaxation,
Chronic Pain and Mood Mgmt Program.
It is offered at Fort Totten every Friday commencing on 10/7/11,
from 10:00-11:30am at the Counseling Service Bldg.
For more information Contact Maureen Healy at
(212) 570-1693 ext: 312
or Send E-Mail: healymfdny.nyc.gov
www.vcf.gov
http://zadroga-act.com
On July 29, 2019, the President signed into law The Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. The VCF Permanent Authorization Act extends the VCF’s claim filing deadline from December 18, 2020, to October 1, 2090, and appropriates such funds as may be necessary to pay all approved claims. The VCF recognizes that claimants will have many questions about the impact of the legislation on their claims. The VCF is committed to processing claims without interruption and issuing full payments to those who received a reduced award. Additional details about the VCF Permanent Authorization Act can be found here. Please check this website frequently for updates.
MANHATTAN: 251 LAFAYETTE ST. 3RD FLOOR
NYC, NY 10012
(212) 570-1693 [answered 24/7]
4th floor: (212) 925-6671
STATEN ISLAND:
1688 VICTORY BLVD, SUITE 101A
SI, NY 10314
(718) 815-4111
QUEENS: FORT TOTTEN, BLDG-413B
BAYSIDE, NY 11359
(718) 352-2140
UPSTATE NY-ORANGE,PUTNAM and
ROCKLAND COUNTIES:
2279 GOSHEN TPKE
MIDDLETOWN, NY 10941
(845) 695-1029
LONG ISLAND (SUFFOLK COUNTY):
SUFFOLK COMMUNITY COLLEGE
1001 Crooked Hill Road-Center Cottage
Brentwood, NY 11717
(631) 851-6888
COUNSELING UNIT
STAY CONNECTED
BREAKFAST SCHEDULE
[Due to COVID the Breakfast Schedule is suspended]
Fort Totten CSU:
Bldg 413B Bayside, NY 11361
(718) 352-2140
meets the 3rd Friday of every month
Meetings begin at 10:00am
~
Long Island:
South Farmingdale Firehouse:
819 South Main St. Farmingdale-
2nd Tuesday of the month at 9am.
~
Staten Island:
1688 Victory Blvd Suite 101 SI., NY
(718) 815-4111
Meets the last Tuesday of every month ,
the location for the breakfast is
Jimmy Max Restaurant
280 Watchoque Rd. SI, NY
~
Middletown CSU:
2279 Goshen Tpke. (845) 695-1029
meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month
Meetings begin at 9:00am
CT Scans Reduce Lung Cancer Deaths (AARP Health Care Page)
(click and read)
Our Newest Link:
National Cancer Research Fund
Featured Link:
MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTONS
WORLD TRADE CENTER
MEDICAL MONITORING PROGRAM
wtcmed@fdny.nyc.gov
(718) 999-1858
STATEN ISLAND HEART IMAGING PC
(State of the Art Nuclear&Echo Stress Testing Facility)
Priority Appointments for UFA&UFOA Members
1497 Richmond Road SI, NY 10306
(718) 351-0500
TOP TEN MEDICAL TESTS YOU SHOULD GET
(click on this link to find out the Top 10 Tests)
VASCULAR DIAGNOSTIC
www.vasculardiagnostic.com
(718) 886-0600
INFORMATION ABOUT 9-11 HEALTH EFFECTS AND SERVICES
go to: nyc.gov/9-11HealthInfo
Therapeutic Yoga for Healthy Living
located in Manhattan and Staten Island
Call Jessica Metz at (212) 570-1693 ex: 380
metzj@fdny.nyc.gov
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