Going about a return to the gym in a smart way can prevent injuries and illness.
Metro Creative Connection
Health
s chief of thoracic surgery
at NewYork-Presbyterian
Brooklyn
Methodist Hospital, Sebron
Harrison, MD, works with
a multidisciplinary team to
identify and treat lung cancer
during its earliest stages. Test
your knowledge about this
critical condition.
Which of the following
symptoms are warning
signs of lung cancer?
a. Coughing up blood
b. Hoarseness
c. Chest pain
d. All of the above
Answer: d. Lung cancer
typically causes symptoms
during later stages, but individuals
with early stages of
the disease may notice warning
signs. To screen for cancer
at an early stage, when
treatment may lead to better
outcomes, talk with your doctor
about your risk factors
and screening options.
“Because lung cancer is
so deadly, patients should
COURIER L 16 IFE, NOV. 6-12, 2020
never wait for warning signs.
Instead, at-risk individuals
should be thinking about
lung health at every stage of
the game,” Dr. Harrison says.
“Unfortunately, about 40 percent
of patients are not diagnosed
until the cancer is already
stage IV, and at that
late stage, fewer treatment
options will be effective.”
What is the leading
cause of lung cancer?
a. Asbestos exposure
b. Family history
c. Secondhand smoke
d. Smoking
Answer: d. According to
the American Lung Association,
active smoking causes
nearly 90 percent of lung cancers.
But the likelihood of the
disease may also be increased
by factors like family history
and exposure to harmful
chemicals in the air.
What is usually the first
treatment for early lung
cancer?
a. Chemotherapy
b. Radiation
c. Surgery
d. All of the above
Answer: c. Surgical resection
is typically the first line
of defense against early lung
cancer. Once the disease has
progressed, doctors may recommend
chemotherapy, radiation
and additional surgery.
Fact or fiction: If you
have a clear chest x-ray,
you don’t need to be concerned
about lung cancer.
Answer: Fiction. Other
tests may be needed to identify
lung cancer during various
stages of the disease.
“Multiple studies have
shown that a chest x-ray is
not an appropriate screening
method,” Dr. Harrison says.
“A high-risk person should
also have a computed tomography
scan of the chest.”
True or false: If you’ve
never smoked, there’s no
chance that you will develop
lung cancer.
“Roughly 15 percent of all
patients diagnosed with lung
cancer have never smoked
and have no other identifiable
risk factors,” Dr. Harrison
says. “If you experience
symptoms, it is never too
early to see a doctor and discuss
risks and options for diagnosis.”
NewYork-Presbyterian
Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
offers free lung cancer
screenings through the Fred
L. Mazzilli Lung Cancer
Screening Program.
The Program is designed
for people between the ages of
55 and 74 who smoke or have
smoked in the past and have a
history of 30 pack years. This
is equivalent to smoking one
pack daily for 30 years, two
packs a day for 15 years, three
packs a day for ten years, etc.
These people are at the highest
risk for developing lung
cancer.
Call 718.780.LUNG to learn
more about the Program.
Gyms have begun to reopen in
parts of the United States and
Canada after being shuttered to
prevent the spread of COVID-19. It may
have been several months since members
have stepped foot in these facilities.
That means not only will fi tness
enthusiasts need to be smart about
COVID-19 precautions, they also will
need to reacclimate their bodies to
routine exercise.
Fitness resolutions may come earlier
this year as people are eager to
regain fi tness levels achieved prior to
shutdowns. Going about a return to
the gym in a smart way can prevent injuries
and illness.
Ease into workouts
There will be a transition period as
you get back to your gym routine. Start
with fl exibility workouts like yoga or
pilates that can help reacclimate your
body to physical activity. These will
help increase blood fl ow, joint mobility
and range of motion.
Expect that your stamina will have
taken a hit from a prolonged absence
at the gym. So if you once were a cardio
master, it may take some time to
build up to the speed and distance of
a treadmill run or you may need to enroll
in low-impact classes as your body
adjusts.
The last thing you want to do is injure
yourself, so the mantra “slow is
pro” is key. Aim for exercising two or
three times a week to begin with, and
stick to shorter workouts of 30 minutes
or less. Gradually increase the duration
and frequency of workouts as you
notice your endurance improving.
Stretching is essential after any
workout, but especially helpful for
those who are easing back into the
gym. Stretches help avoid muscle tightening
and spasms that can come with
being unaccustomed to working out.
Pandemic precautions
Returning to the gym also means
sharing space with fellow members.
Offi cial guidance on how gyms are to
operate now vary by state or province.
However, certain safety tips can help
you stay safer if you’re ready to work
out indoors. Try working out at offpeak
hours when the gym is likely to
be less crowded, even with capacity restrictions
in place.
“Based on recent research, aerosolized
droplets can remain airborne
for up to three hours, making the potential
for spread in crowded and confi
ned spaces such as fi tness studios
problematic,” said Dr. Robert Glatter,
an emergency physician at Lenox Hill
Hospital in NYC.
Maintaining distance and avoiding
crowds is essential. Ask about air
fi ltration and circulation at the gym.
The rate of transmission of coronavirus
may be higher in hot and crowded
facilities without adequate circulation.
Turn on fans or work close to
open doors when possible.
Many gyms require that masks be
worn while working out. This may
mean members must take more breaks
if the masks impede respiration during
strenuous activity. While gyms
may be spraying down equipment and
high-touch areas, keep hand sanitizer
or disinfectant wipes in your gym
bag so you can do your own cleaning
and keep your hands as clean as possible.
Wash your hands after using any
equipment if it’s feasible to do so.
Return to the
gym safely