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​Breastfeeding has tons of benefits for mom and baby, but one thing it doesn’t have is predictability. Your new baby may be nursing just fine while at the hospital, and it may only be when you get home that problems start to crop up. 
 
Maybe she is no longer latching right, or you’re too sore, or you’re sick or depressed or utterly exhausted. Maybe your baby was born premature and you’re having to pump and carefully measure baby’s consumption. Or dozens of other very valid medical or personal reasons.
 
“Mothers need support during the postpartum period as they adjust to the breastfeeding lifestyle,” says Ann Cunillera, a registered nurse and coordinator of the lactation program at White Plains Hospital. “Many moms are discharged from the hospital before the baby is latching effectively, or before they’ve established an adequate milk supply.” 
 
As lactation coordinator, Cunillera has been supporting new moms in their breastfeeding efforts for nearly 20 years at White Plains Hospital. In addition to the lactation team, the mother-baby unit is staffed with highly trained registered nurses – all of them are also certified lactation counselors. 
 
White Plains Hospital offers a family-centered birthing approach: families are supported from the prenatal period through discharge and beyond. For instance, expectant mothers can sign up for the Breastfeeding Basics class to learn about the benefits of nursing, proper positioning, establishing a good milk supply and other common concerns. After delivery, the nurses guide and counsel new mothers one on one through the proper technique, achieving a good latch, as well as helping to facilitate skin-to-skin contact and bonding. 

After discharge, moms are invited to attend a breastfeeding support group, run by International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (the most expert level available), for as long as they want or need. These specialists work with mothers on breastfeeding specific issues, in addition to creating feeding plans and providing baby weigh-ins. Women connect, share general parenting tips, laugh, make new friends and enjoy being part of a robust and welcoming community that is a critical part of the parenting journey.
 
This support that new mothers get from friends and others who have faced the same challenges they are experiencing is one of the biggest predictors of breastfeeding success. 
 
Want to learn more? Click to learn more about White Plains Hospital and its Maternity Support Programs.

Breast milk has often been called "liquid gold" because  it is incredibly beneficial for babies' growth and development and comes only from human moms, who are able to produce it.

Breast milk has benefits for babies, but not every mother is able to produce enough and many parents who adopt children would like them to get this healthy start.

​Fortunately, in Westchester County, breast milk for babies in need is available. The New York Milk Bank is the first comprehensive nonprofit milk bank based in New York State. They collect milk from carefully screened donors, pasteurize it and distribute to infants in New York State and the surrounding area. They currently serve 31 hospitals including these four Westchester hospitals:
Westchester Medical Center, White Plains Hospital, Phelps Hospital, and Northern Westchester Hospital.

So whether you want to give or receive milk, this is an incredible local resource for moms.
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Milk is being delivered in an usual way--  from women on motorcycles, who are are using their bikes to help moms and babies in need as part of a special program that is the first of its kind in New York. Dubbed the “milk riders,” the women are part of the Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club. When they roll up to homes on their Harley’s carrying donated breast milk, it is cause for a celebration.

“When we had this opportunity to help mothers and babies, we were like, ‘we’ve got to do it,’” Sandra Fleming, of Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club, told News 4.

​“They delivered milk at midnight in the middle of winter to some of our hospitals,” NY Milk Bank Founder Julie Bouchet-Horwitz said. “They were amazing.”

​Babies like Viviana are thriving because of the donated milk. She was born by emergency c-section in May with doctors concerned that she may have suffered brain damage. Her weeks in the NICU made it hard for her mom to keep up her milk supply and now she thanks the “village” of people who helped her daughter.

“She does so well because of so many people,” mother Stephanie Noonan said. “We are just so grateful to everyone who’s involved. The women who donate, the bank and the ‘Milk Riders’ who deliver it.”
The donated breast milk is collected, tested and pasteurized at the New York Milk Bank in Valhalla – the only milk bank in the state.

​The 1,700 women who donated milk to the milk bank all went through a rigorous screening process. Since the milk bank opened three years ago, officials say it has helped thousands of babies – both in hospitals and at home – stay healthy.

The milk bank is always on the look for donations from carefully screened donors to provide breast milk for New York’s infants in need. So if you have a large supply of unused milk that you would like to give to someone who needs it, this is the perfect option.

If you are interested in donating, you must be screened for health concerns and communicable disease and meet the following basic requirements:

• In good health and able to breastfeed, with a surplus of milk.
• No use of nicotine products or regular use of milk enhancing herbs, including fenugreek or blessed thistle.
• Minimal use of medications. Call and they’ll help determine whether a medication is safe for milk donation.
• Willing to undergo a thorough health history screening and get a free blood test for communicable diseases.
• Able to donate at least 100 ounces of milk, unless you are a bereaved mother, in which case we will gladly accept any size donation.

They are able to accept previously frozen milk stored for 3 or 6 months prior to your approval date depending on the type of freezer you are using.

There are two convenient drop off locations in Westchester County:

Westchester Depot
19 Pine Avenue
Ossining, NY

The New York Milk Bank
401 Columbus Avenue
Valhalla, NY

Ready to get started? Fill out this form on their website or call 212-956-MILK (6455).

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​When it’s freezing outside and the sun sets before 5:00pm, do you often find yourself just wanting to stay indoors, binge on Netflix, and scroll through your phone until it’s time for bed? When it’s cold and dark out, indoor activities – which often involve digital devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets – tend to take precedence. But what is all this screen time doing to our eyes?

With the prevalence of technology use at work, home, and play – by people of all ages – digital eye strain is becoming a significant concern. Cases of dry eye, blurred vision, eye fatigue, neck and back pain and headaches are on the rise, and are associated with our ever-increasing use of devices as well as indoor light sources such as LED light bulbs, which all emit High-Energy Visible (HEV) blue light. In addition to the physical discomforts listed above, some studies suggest this blue light may also cause damage to eye health in the long term.
 
Other effects of increased exposure to blue light include sleep disruption: lower-energy blue light is beneficial to the eye in proper doses during the day, but when the eye receives too much blue light at night in the hours before bedtime, this can cause not enough melatonin (the hormone that signals it’s time for sleep) to be produced. Even moderate nighttime device usage – including pillowside social media scrolling, late-night online shopping, and “catching up on work emails” – can disrupt one’s circadian rhythm.
 
Research on the long-term effects of blue light exposure is ongoing, but as many eye care professionals have acknowledged, this is a growing issue positioned to become more serious as digital device use increases among the population. With daily hours spent in front of screens hitting double digits, people of all ages are advised to see their eye doctor regularly (once every 1-2 years depending on age, vision correction needs, health history and other risk factors) for a comprehensive eye exam to check both vision and eye health, and to discuss how to mitigate the effects of daily technology use on the eyes.

Eye care providers can prescribe eyewear (prescription or non) with Blue Defense lenses that cut glare and filter out the harmful blue light rays emitted from devices; children, whose eyes’ crystalline lenses are still developing, especially benefit from limited exposure. 

It is also important to modify daily habits when using devices, and the easy-to-remember 20/20/20 Rule is a great place to start: every 20 minutes, look away from the screen for at least 20 seconds, at an object 20 feet away. Also, be mindful of blinking – when you’re staring at a screen, blink rates drop, contributing to dry, red eyes. 
 
Our lives are become increasingly more “connected,” as countertop iPads replace cookbooks, novels are swapped for e-readers, and classroom chalkboards go the way of the 8-track. Today’s children are as savvy with a tablet as they are with Legos, if not more so – rendering proper eye care and protection crucial to ease the effects of digital eye strain, and prevent potentially more serious conditions.

Content Provided by Central Eyes Optical, a locally owned small business serving Hartsdale since 2000. Located in the Hartsdale Shopping Center at 161 S. Central Ave. 914.948.1700∙centraleyesoptical.com

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Just deciding that it’s time to start your family is cause for celebration! Because there’s just so much to do during this exciting time, here’s a checklist to help you focus on some of the tasks at hand now and during the subsequent nine months:

Understand your cycle. Timing is everything – especially when most women have just a three to five day window every month to get pregnant. Today there are tons of apps that can help you chart changes in your menstrual cycle and identify the ideal time to try for baby. If you have been attempting to get pregnant for over a year, your doctor can test you and your partner for infertility issues. Certain medical conditions can also affect your ability to get pregnant, so it’s always good consult with an expert. 

Make your health a priority.Your body is going to go through a lot over the next nine months – you want it in top shape, which means paying more attention to diet and exercise. Women who have underlying medical issues like diabetes and hypertension should be even more diligent about their overall health.

Stop smoking and cut down on caffeine as much as possible. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and avoid soft cheeses (which may contain listeria – a bacteria common that leads to food poisoning that is not healthy for babies) but go ahead and enjoy that sushi! Research shows certain types are safe for pregnant womento eat. 

Exercise and activity is important before, during and after pregnancy -- after all, you’ll be creating, carrying and squeezing out another human being through your pelvis! A lot of women swear by prenatal yoga, which includes a variety of stretches (particularly targeting the hips and pelvis) and breathing exercises, to help ease discomfort both during pregnancy and during delivery. 

Find a good OBGYN. A good doctor is a must from the start. They will be your most valuable resource during your pregnancy. The birth process is extremely personal, so you will want to find an OBGYN who will be your partner and respect your personal preferences in the delivery room.
 “The single most important way to find an OBGYN is word of mouth, through people who have had that full experience,” says Dr. Yoni Barnhard, Director of OBGYN at White Plains Hospital. “Also, speaking with other health care providers in the community that you can trust is a good source of information, especially if you know any labor and delivery nurses.”

During the first visit, your doctor will take your medical history so they can be aware of any conditions or prior issues that would make conceiving difficult. They will discuss lifestyle issues and identify any bad habits that might work against you, such as smoking.

If you aren’t up to date on your exams, your OBGYN will do a Pap smear, take a urine sample and draw blood to make sure you are current on important vaccinations, including chicken pox and rubella. They’ll do a blood typing and Rh factor to keep handy in case complications arise during delivery.

Planning and surrounding yourself with a caring healthcare team will go a long way in helping to make this next phase of life a joyful and healthy one.

By Joanna Winograd and Lauren Lappen; Co-Founders of Wee Sleep Solutions

If you’re having a hard time figuring out the optimal times that your baby should be going down for sleep you are not alone!  As pediatric sleep specialists, we often see parents struggling to find their baby’s natural sleep window.  
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Place your baby down to sleep when they are tired, but not yet overtired, a.k.a. the magic sleep window.   It should be simple, right?  We know it’s not always as easy as it sounds!  Below are some helpful hints at making this task easier!  

We recommend using wakeful periods based on your baby’s age as a guide for determining when your little one needs sleep.  Wakeful periods refer to the average amount of time your child can stay awake before becoming overtired.  Knowing those average times will make your lives much easier! A baby whose awake time is limited to an age appropriate length will be able to settle and drift off to sleep more easily, and will stay asleep longer, than a baby who has been awake and stimulated for too long a time.  

Typically, a newborn can only comfortably stay awake for 45 minutes to 1 hour before needing her next nap.  As a baby gets older that wakeful period will slowly stretch and by 4 months most children will be able to happily keep their eyes open for up to 1.5-2 hours.  By 6 months, usually 2-2.5 hours can be comfortably tolerated, and a slightly older baby may be able to stay awake and happy for up to 3-4 hours.
   
It is equally important to learn your little ones’ tired cues, which can include yawning, looking less alert, pulling his ears and rubbing his eyes. Watch your baby carefully and if you notice any tired cues (even prior to the end of their optimal wake window), begin a brief soothing routine and place him down for sleep.  The opposite is also true.  If the optimal awake time has passed, but you haven’t yet noticed any tired signs, you should still begin your soothing routine and place your baby down for sleep.  Some little ones are very good at hiding tired signals so be mindful of your baby’s wake time and put him down even if he seems ready to party!

Why is it so important to identify this magic window of time?  If your baby has been awake for too long he will become overtired, which means his brain has signaled for the release of cortisol, a.k.a the wakeful hormone.  An overtired baby will either be fussy and irritable, or will appear wide-awake and wired.  Either way, placing your baby down for sleep once they have already reached an overtired state will result in difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.  If you are able to identify your baby’s correct sleep window (by using the clock and sleepy cues as a guide) he will settle more easily and sleep more soundly.  The result: a happier, well-rested baby and family.

Lauren Lappen is a Certified Sleep Consultant and co-founder of Wee Sleep Solutions.  As a mom of daughter Ellie and twins Rebecca and Kira, Lauren recognized the importance of self-care and sought to instill healthy sleep habits in her children so that she could ensure her own rest and be at her best as a parent, wife and friend.   
 
Lauren studied under Deborah Pedrick, a pioneer in the field and founder of the Family Sleep Institute (FSI) and International Association of Child Sleep Consultants. She is thrilled to be able to educate families on the importance of sleep and to empower parents with the knowledge and ability to teach their kids to love sleep as much as her girls do!

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​Almost everyone has a family member, friend, or coworker whose allergies have kicked in. Some say they never had allergies before or can‘t recall the last time it affected them. Nowadays, it seems rather common than previous years, which has everyone asking “why allergies are on the rise?”
 
The symptoms aren’t simple sneezes and runny noses anymore. Today’s allergies come with rashes, hives, cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, swollen tongue and throat, tight chest, and passing out. If today’s allergy sufferers don’t have an EpiPen or can’t call an ambulance, serious complications could result.
 
Science and the medical industry are finding new reasons every day why allergies are rising. The fact is that allergies have become more common since the mid-20th century. Preservatives, pre-packaged foods, climate changes, massive storms, and just about everything synthetic have combined to change the atmosphere in which we live.
 
Changing Lifestyles
Before city and suburban living became the norm, people lived on farms and in the country. From childhood, they breathed nature in all her facets. The immune system recognized potential allergens and would defend against them. Playing outside in early childhood refined the immune system.
 
With the increase in technology, people turned in their relationship with the outside for what one would a homebody lifestyle. They sat in front of TVs, played video games, texted, and talked on Skype. Central air conditioners replaced fresh air, and well water morphed into city water. Though these are changes that were imminent, they affect all of us.
 
Climatic Changes
Whether you call it a hole in the ozone, global warming, or other climatic word or phrase, the air surrounding us has changed and not for the better. In the last 10 to 15 years, the instances of asthma, allergies, and other lung conditions have skyrocketed.
 
The major climatic change that causes the trouble is massive storms. Storms are all about changes in temperature. These are triggers for air pollution, pollen, mold spores, and poison ivy.
 
Massive storms pass, leaving behind bacteria, viruses, mold, and other contaminants that set off asthma and allergy attacks. These are the basis of other illnesses, but asthma and allergy sufferers get hit the worst.
 
Stress
To understand how stress triggers allergic reactions, it would be a good idea to understand how the immune system works. First, pollen or other foreign particulate enters the body. The immune system thinks it’s an intruder because it came from outside. The immune system produces histamine, a substance forcing the body to expel the particulate through runny nose mucus, runny eye water, sneezes, and coughs. Now the immune system knows what the particulate is, how to expel it, and prepares for the next intrusion.
 
Stress is a little different. The particulates are there, but the stress hormones increase the allergic reaction. The “fight or flight” hormones kick in, which makes allergic symptoms worse. This might be why so many allergy medications, both chemical and natural, make you drowsy. If you’re sleepy, then stress hasn‘t taken a huge toll on you… yet.
 
Synthetics
If you take a can of something out of a six-pack ring, eat from a plastic or foam plate or cup, feed the baby from a bottle, carry home plastic grocery bags, or buy takeout in some kind of container, then you are using synthetics. If you wear it, chances are good the fabric is synthetic. Most fabrics made are from petroleum products. When they touch the skin, contact dermatitis is the result. When consumed from products made from petroleum products such as food containers, then allergies result. The only difference is one allergic reaction is inside, and one is outside. Asthma, allergic reactions and other lung conditions result from inhaling such synthetics for a long period.
 
Food Additives
Your red Jello, Vitamin D-fortified cereal and milk, and your vanilla flavored Coke are all about food additives. According to the FDA, additives can be natural or synthetic, and they classify both the natural and synthetic as “Generally Recognized As Safe”, or GRAS.
 
However, some additives cause allergic reactions. Some are preservatives that keep the product fresh or prolong shelf life. Others enhance colors, flavors, or fight botulism.
 
Common additives include Monosodium glutamate or MSG, sulfites which prevent foods from turning colors upon contact with air, sugar substitutes like aspartame, nitrates, and paraben among others.
 
While allergic reactions to food additives typically last only one day, allergic reactions are rare. This being the case, no recorded symptoms exist, so doctors treat the symptoms instead of the cause.
 
Prepackaged Foods
Today’s manufacturers produce varied foods for different brands. You could get a package of pre-made mashed potatoes you can just heat in a microwave. However, its preparation is a mystery to you. The manufacturers could have made the product in the same machine that a peanut product found itself an hour before, all unbeknownst to the consumer. Those allergic to nuts would get sick.
 
While there are sanitary procedures to which every food producer must adhere by law, trace amounts of allergens still get into prepackaged foods. By law, producers must label their prepackaged foods with a list of allergens it contains.
 
Precautionary allergen labeling or PAL has become prevalent worldwide. In fact, the National Institutes of Health tells of an American study in which contamination was worse in labels stating “prepared in shared facilities” to those stating “may contain.”
 
Add to this the fact that the law doesn’t require food manufacturers to list trace amounts of an ingredient. Those trace amounts could be allergens to someone sensitive to the ingredient.
 
Stay Informed With a Specialist
Dr. Kathryn Edwards is an allergist in Princeton and Robbinsville, NJ at the offices of the plastic surgeon Daniel G. Becker. Dr. Edwards’ star has blazed from her undergraduate time at the University of Delaware to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences to a pediatric residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr. Edwards also trained at the prestigious National Institutes of Health.
 
Dr. Edwards’ 16 years in the Army involved treating her patients in Iraq as an allergist and immunologist. She treated seasonal and environmental allergies, asthma, food allergies, and skin conditions.
 
Her educational accomplishments include acceptance into the competitive fellowship program in Allergy and Immunology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, training at and being assistant chief at the National Institutes of Health, and being chief of allergy/immunology her last three years in the Army. Learn more about Dr. Edwards at the Becker ENT site.

By Lauren Lappen, Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant at Wee Sleep Solutions
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The dreaded daylight savings is upon us! We "spring forward" this Sunday, March 10th at 2:00 am. It often feels like we just recovered from one time change, and another is approaching.  So what can we do to help our kids adjust to this change (and keep our sanity!)?

In an ideal world, we could to begin to shift our children’s schedules a week ahead of time. Every few days we’d move their sleep and mealtimes by 15 minutes, so by the time daylight savings hits, they’ve already adjusted. Despite this being the “official recommendation” for a smooth daylight savings transition, I’ve yet to meet one person to actually do it (myself included with my own kids!).  The world outside our homes doesn’t accommodate such a gentle shift; school starts when school starts and you need to get to work on time, not 15-45 minutes late. 

Never fear! Here are some tips to help your children adjust to the new time.

Expose your children to lots of sunlight during the day.  Our circadian rhythms align with the sun, so exposure to natural light helps our bodies adjust to the appropriate time.

Now that it’s lighter later, children often protest going to bed when the sun is up.  About 30 minutes prior to bedtime, dim the lights to help the body transition to nighttime.  Room darkening shades can really help with this, too.  Keep the environment calm, and quiet before bed to get children relaxed and ready to sleep. 

​Stick with your bedtime routine.  If you don’t have a bedtime routine already, now is a great time to start. Children thrive on routines, so having one can be incredibly helpful to give structure to the time before bed.  A quiet routine is calming to them and helps them relax and ease into bedtime. It can be as simple as pajamas on, brush teeth, read a book/sing a song, lights out.  Don’t make it overly complex. You want this to be replicable daily, and easily done by a babysitter in your absence.  

Minimize exposure to electronics at least an hour prior to bedtime. This is true all year round, but especially now when we’re trying to help kids adjust to daylight savings time. Electronic screens emit a blue light that mimics a bright, sunny sky and tricks the body into thinking it is daytime. The result of this is that melatonin, the hormone that helps induce sleep, is suppressed, making it more challenging to fall asleep.

If all else fails, find a big mug and fill it with coffee. I’m sure you’ll be in good company!

Lauren Lappen is a Certified Sleep Consultant and co-founder of Wee Sleep Solutions.  As a mom of daughter Ellie and twins Rebecca and Kira, Lauren recognized the importance of self-care and sought to instill healthy sleep habits in her children so that she could ensure her own rest and be at her best as a parent, wife and friend.   
 
Lauren studied under Deborah Pedrick, a pioneer in the field and founder of the Family Sleep Institute (FSI) and International Association of Child Sleep Consultants. She is thrilled to be able to educate families on the importance of sleep and to empower parents with the knowledge and ability to teach their kids to love sleep as much as her girls do!

By Nidhi Sharma, PT, DPT, OCS
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The time after delivery is known as the postpartum period and this is one of the most important phases in a woman’s life. As the body tries to return to pre-pregnancy state, the physical influences at this time can affect the long-term health of the mother. 

After undergoing radical changes for much of 9 months and an exhausting delivery process, moms are often overwhelmed by the responsibilities of childcare. Their body, specifically the pelvis never gets a chance to heal and recover. 
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Here are the 4 most common physical complaints of post-partum period. 

1. Urinary Incontinence: The “leaky” bladder is not just a problem during pregnancy, it persists in over 80% of women after giving birth! Often, the leaking happens with coughing, sneezing, running, etc. but can happen with almost any activity of daily life. The research shows that leaking does not go away by itself and should be addressed soon after delivery. 
2. Diastasis Recti: In simple terms, it is separation of the superficial layer of abdominal muscles due to excessive intra-abdominal pressure. Women usually notice a protruding belly or a “pouch/bulge” which is most evidentright after childbirth. Sometimes, the mothers notice that they still look “pregnant” after having the baby. The usual exercises for abdominals like crunches and planks can often hurt rather than help the problem. 
3. Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Sometimes due to weakness of muscles and ligaments, the organs like bladder, uterus and bowel can droop down outside the vaginal opening. Again, pelvic floor muscles can be strengthened to help support these organs back into their place. 

4. Lower Back Pain: Lower back pain is extremely common in new mothers and often multifactorial. All of the conditions explained above can compromise core stability and contribute to lower back pain. In addition to that, demands of childcare like frequent lifting, carrying, and breastfeeding, etc.can put repetitive stress on joints in the spine and pelvis.

What can you do? 
Postpartum Rehabilitation focuses on the health of new mothers by customizing the program to the unique physiological changes of pregnancy and demands of childcare. The program focuses on improving posture and alignment, strengthening trunk and pelvic floor muscles, and training in proper breastfeeding/childcare positions. It is important to know that all of the above conditions are closely related to each other and should be addressed as a unit. Often the lower back pain is caused by underlying pelvic floor weakness and won’t improve until incontinence is addressed. A good program looks at abdominal, lower back, and pelvic floor muscles individually as well as a coordinated system. 
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If you are pregnant or recently had a baby, give your body some much-needed TLC. See a Women’s Health Physical Therapist at Func Physio Physical Therapy and get back to things you love. Sooner the better!

Func Physio Physical Therapy
111 Brooke Street, 3rdFloor 
Scarsdale , NY 
Contact : 347 497 0500
www.funcphysio.com

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Turmeric is a ginger-colored spice that’s been a part of Middle Eastern and East Asian cooking for centuries. The warm and flavorful bitter taste is frequently used in curry dishes. Turmeric however is also widely known for its health benefits and has garnered the attention of nutritionists and physicians worldwide. Curcumin, turmeric’s most active and healing compound, is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory which has contributing factors in combating osteoarthritis, heart disease and digestive issues. 
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Turmeric is proven to treat arthritis as it helps reduce joint inflammation according to a recent study. A study by the Nirmala Medical Center provided evidence that curcumin is as effective as anti-inflammatory drugs at reducing swelling and tenderness of joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 
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Another amazing fact about Turmeric is that it can be used to treat wounds, cuts and rashes. Life Sciences concluded that topical application of curcumin has a great therapeutic effect on skin wounds and also concluded that it accelerates wound healing. Add to this its heart health benefits and improved digestion and you can be on your way to better health with just a spoonful of turmeric a day.
 
What is the best way to incorporate this super spice into your diet? Simply sprinkle it on your favorite foods along with a little black pepper to aid with absorption. You can reap these health benefits with a teaspoon of turmeric on salads, soups, and dressings. You can even rub it on your favorite steak before grilling! 
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Turmeric owns the reputation of a powerful anti-inflammatory that can reduce arterial plaque buildup, accelerate wound healing and relieve joint pain. That’s a good reason to spice things up a little when cooking at home! As always, check with your St. John’s Riverside physician before making any changes to your diet and health plan!

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If the answer is yes, you are not alone. The reported cases of sleep deprivation or insomnia are growing to epic proportions nationwide. More than 60 million Americans suffer from poor sleep quality, and more than 40 million meet the diagnostic criteria for sleep disorders. Americans are sleeping less and consequently are putting their health at risk. 

Patients who toss and turn all night will initially complain of lack of energy, irritability, and loss of appetite. Left untreated, inadequate sleep carries with it both short- and long-term consequences including obesity, diabetes, anxiety, stroke or cardiac arrest. 

Why are we losing so much sleep? Insomnia could be caused by a medical problem, a side-effect of medicine, psychiatric illness, or lifestyle. Everything from what we eat what we drink, how often we are on “screen time” to our hectic work schedules can contribute to how well or how poorly we sleep. 

If you believe you are suffering from a sleep disorder, insomnia, sleep apnea, or restless leg syndrome, there are things you can do about it. 

“We now have comprehensive Sleep Centers in both Andrus and Dobbs Ferry” says Rajendra Rampersaud, MD, Pulmonologist.

To meet the growing incidence of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, St. John’s Riverside Hospital now has Sleep Diagnostic Centers available at both Dobbs Ferry and Andrus Pavilions. Both locations offer a convenient, quiet setting that was created to help restore the connection between a well-rested body and a healthy body. 

Having sleep centers in both our pavilions is another way we strive to help patients in their hometowns. St. John’s Riverside Hospital is helping people sleep better and feel better, one wink at a time. For more information or to schedule a consultation with a sleep physician call (914) 964-4337.

​To schedule a sleep study at the Sleep Diagnostic Center call (914) 559-1010.