35 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • FEBRUARY 2022
TICKER TIPS
STEPS TO A HEALTHY HEART
NSPC BRAIN & SPINE SURGERY
MOBILE SERVICE DEBUTS
NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery debuted a
mobile office service on Jan. 6, when nearly
a dozen Town of Islip employees were
examined by two NSPC neurosurgeons
during a daylong visit to Islip Town Hall.
According to William Sonstein, M.D.,
president of NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery,
the new service was created to
make it easier for people with an acute
or chronic spine condition to be examined
by an experienced neurosurgeon.
Housed in a customized 26-foot van, the
NSPC mobile office is equipped to visit
worksites, public offices, and other locations
anywhere in Nassau and Suffolk
counties as well as Queens.
“The launch of NSPC Mobile was driven,
in part,” notes Dr. Sonstein, “to accommodate
patients who might be reluctant
to visit a medical office because of Covid
19 concerns.” In addition, he points
out, many patients delay seeing a physician
because they believe “they don’t
have the time for an appointment.”
Founded in Freeport in 1958, NSPC
Brain & Spine Surgery (NSPC) has
grown to seven offices on Long Island
with two neurosurgeons who are experts
in bloodless spine and brain surgery, including
endoscopic spine surgery, laser
spine surgery, ultrasonic spine surgery,
radiosurgery, endoscopic brain surgery,
and other advanced, minimally invasive
techniques. These advanced procedures
are used to treat herniated disc,
spinal stenosis, chronic back pain, brain
tumors, brain aneurysms, trigeminal
neuralgia, and other conditions.
“I’ve been in practice for over 20 years,”
observes Dr. Sonstein, “and the reason
many patients do not consult with me
sooner is the difficulty associated with
taking time off from their job or finding
time in their personal schedule to make
an appointment. Bringing a doctor to the
workplace changes everything.”
According to Dr. Sonstein, “The NSPC Mobile
office provides patients with a convenient
alternative to a conventional office
because it will be available during the business
day. Best of all, this new service may
allow us to quickly determine if a more
thorough exam is needed at an NSPC medical
office or if a referral to another specialist
is appropriate.” An NSPC telemedicine follow
up appointment option is available, too.
To schedule an appointment for an
NSPC Mobile visit, call 516-255-9031
or visit nspc.com/nspc-mobile
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NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery launched the mobile unit. (Photo by Dan Goodrich)
BY MICHELLE GABRIELLE
CENTAMORE
February is American Heart Month. Education
and awareness are key to achieving
and maintaining a healthy heart.
With some proactive steps, you can be
heart healthy and feel great, too, experts
say. Understanding your risk factors
can help you to stay on top of your
heart health.
“You should have full access to your patient
records and be able to review your
labs,” says Dr. Pilar Stevens-Haynes,
F.A.C.C., director of echocardiography
at Mount Sinai Heart at Mount Sinai
South Nassau. Be aware of your cholesterol
levels, diabetes screenings, family
history, blood pressure, abdominal fat,
and your Body Mass Index (BMI), which
measures body fat according to height
and weight.
“A lot of people don’t realize
that their BMI is an independent
risk factor for disease,”
Dr. Stevens-Haynes says.
Screenings have become
much more advanced. “A
stress test is good for certain
populations but in patients
that feel fine it’s hard
to pick up things,” Dr. Stevens
Haynes says. A coronary
artery calcium score,
for example, allows for a
more in-depth scan of the
heart. “It takes fine cuts so you
can actually see vessels of the heart and
measure the calcium,” which further assists
in understanding risk factors, she
notes. Get regular checkups and routine
lab work, too.
Reducing inflammation and stress are
critical components in maintaining
heart health, says Darya Sterling, D.O.,
primary care physician at Peconic Bay
Medical Center. “Maintain a diet rich
in colorful plant foods that provide lots
of antioxidants and fiber,” she suggests.
Be sure to include omega-3 fatty acids—
wild-caught fish, walnuts, or omega-3
supplements. “Dancing, walking, running
around after children, parking far
away, or taking stairs, are great ways
to maintain an active lifestyle.” A good
night’s sleep, limiting electronic
use before bedtime,
and avoiding tobacco use
and excessive alcohol intake
are significant steps you
can take to achieve a healthy
heart, Dr. Sterling notes.
It’s never too soon to take
control of your heart health.
“A game changer for heart
health is understanding the
benefits of healthy living as
early as possible,” states Dr.
Kimberly Joyner of Peds
First Pediatrics in Medford.
“When parents model heart healthy
habits, their children are more likely to
see these habits as second nature. Families
can bond through cooking nutritional
meals and exercising daily,” she
suggests. It comes with a reward of good
health and good memories, too. “The
time together is priceless and it’s a gift
that keeps on giving,” Dr. Joyner says.
February is American Heart Month (Getty Images)
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